Travel writers are beginning to see the attraction of other parts of our county as Cumbria Tourism shines a spotlight on the coastline and Western Lakes

As tourism businesses across Cumbria continue to navigate their way through the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cumbria Tourism says it has seen a rise in the number of enquiries by national travel writers with an appetite to write about lesser-known parts of the county including the Western Lake District and entire coastline from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth.

The county’s official destination management organisation coordinated a highly publicised visit to Cumbria for National Geographic magazine at the start of the year, resulting in extensive articles online and in print, highlighting more than 100 miles’ worth of what the west coast has to offer.

Since then, working closely with Copeland Borough Council, Cumbria Tourism has been instrumental in securing further coverage in travel and outdoor magazines about why this part of Cumbria is an attractive option for those who are seeking a more socially-distanced visit to the county. In total, the resulting coverage so far has reached an audience of almost three million people.

Ongoing social distancing measures mean many people are looking to spend time in new, fresh open spaces, prompting The Telegraph to include the town of Whitehaven in a list of six nationwide seaside town ‘must-visit’ recommendations. In recent weeks, Cumbria Tourism has worked with The Jewish Chronicle and WI Life magazine on Western Lake District and coastal features.

Country Walking magazine has published a special feature in this month’s issue about the county’s ‘hidden gem’ walks, as recommended by a range of Cumbrian experts including mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington and compiled by Cumbria Tourism. The organisation also arranged a visit by Khush Wedding magazine this month, to write about the coast’s potential as a great destination for wedding ceremonies and parties.

Further national interest is expected due to planned improvements including several new cycle and footpath routes and the commissioning of a coastal art trail. Work is also underway for a stretch of path along ‘Cumbria’s Hidden Coast’: A 40-mile-long trail linking Millom to Whitehaven, as part of the ambitious project to open-up a footpath circling the entire United Kingdom, with Countryfile magazine expected to pay a visit in the coming months.

There’s something for every adventurer too, with the Lake District coast offering clifftop walks, water sports and beach horse-riding opportunities, starting points for routes like The Coast to Coast and links to The Cumbria Way, with plenty of great cycling routes to enjoy.

With praise for the area continuing to build, Cumbria Tourism will continue promoting autumn and winter visits to journalists as part of the organisation’s #theperfectplacetobe Recovery Marketing campaign.

Speaking to Cumbria Tourism recently to sum-up his love of the western Lake District and coast, mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington said, “It is a fascinating area for walking, while for climbing it is absolutely superb. The coastline is just as interesting as the lakes and fells thanks to its magnificent sandstone cliffs, providing people with yet another wonderful area to visit in its own right. Cycling around the Western Lakes is absolutely superb, and yes, it takes a bit more effort to get to, but it’s well worth the trip and I can’t recommend it highly enough.”