Privacy Policy

Updated March 2025

Our Commitment to You

At The Slow Cyclist, we believe in thoughtful, responsible travel—one that connects people, places, and cultures while leaving a light footprint. Just as we respect the landscapes we journey through, we respect your privacy. This policy explains how we handle your personal data with the same care and responsibility that we bring to every adventure.

The Purpose of This Privacy Policy

This privacy policy sets out how we collect, store, use, and protect your personal data. We only process your data as outlined here or with your explicit agreement, in line with data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK Data Protection Act 2018.

When we talk about personal data, we mean any information that identifies you. Processing includes collecting, storing, using, or sharing your data.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

How We Handle Your Personal Data

Our Role in Data Protection

We are typically a data controller, meaning we determine how and why we process your data. In some cases, such as bookings through third-party travel partners, we may act as a data processor, meaning we handle your data on behalf of another business. In those instances, our processing follows the instructions of the data controller.

What Personal Data Do We Collect?

To provide you with unforgettable travel experiences, we collect data in a few key ways:

• When you make a booking, we collect essential details such as your name, date of birth, contact information, next of kin, insurance details, passport details, and any relevant health information.
• If you sign up for our newsletters, we collect your name and email address.
• When you submit an enquiry or feedback, we may collect your contact details so we can respond.
• If you apply to work with us, we collect the necessary details to review your application.

Special Categories of Data

To ensure you have a seamless journey, we may ask for health-related details such as dietary requirements or accessibility needs. This information is only collected when essential and is handled with the utmost care. You may withdraw consent for us to process this data at any time.

Cookies & Online Data Collection

When you visit our website, we may collect non-identifiable data through cookies and web beacons to improve your browsing experience. These help us understand how you interact with our site, allowing us to refine and enhance our services.

Your Consent

In line with Google’s User Consent Policy and EU GDPR requirements, we ensure that:

• You are asked for clear, informed consent regarding the use of cookies where required by law.
• We seek valid consent before collecting, sharing, or using personal data for ad personalisation.
• You have the option to manage or withdraw consent at any time.
• We provide transparency about how cookies are used and stored.

We retain website browsing data only as long as necessary for analytics and functionality, in accordance with GDPR principles.

Sharing Your Data

We only share your personal data where necessary to deliver your trip, including with:

• Trusted suppliers (such as hotels, local bike guides, or transport providers) who help create your journey.
• Payment providers for secure transactions.
• Government authorities (such as border agencies) if legally required.

We do not sell or share your data for third-party marketing purposes.

Where Your Data is Processed

We store and process your data in the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). In some cases, data may be transferred outside these areas if necessary for your travel arrangements. Where this happens, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or equivalent mechanisms.

How We Protect Your Data

We take security seriously, using technical and organisational measures to prevent unauthorised access, loss, or misuse of your data.

Your Rights & Choices

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct any inaccuracies.
• Withdraw consent for marketing communications.
• Request deletion of your data in certain circumstances.

To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected].

How Long Do We Keep Your Data?

We retain data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined here:

• Booking-related data is kept for ten years for operational and legal reasons.
• Marketing data is kept until you opt out.
• Website browsing data is retained in line with GDPR compliance guidelines.

Keeping You Informed

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in regulations or our practices. The latest version will always be available on our website.

If you ever have concerns about how we use your data, please contact us. If you’re unsatisfied, you can also lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

At The Slow Cyclist, we believe in thoughtful, sustainable journeys—for both our guests and their personal data.