Historic Cockermouth trail moves into 21st century with online app

People wanting to explore Cockermouth are now able to do so using their phones.

Cockermouth & District Civic Trust introduced a self-guided Town Trail round Cockermouth Conservation Area 23 years ago.

Numbered plaques were installed at key points of interest along the 2km trail, with a descriptive leaflet made available from the Tourist Information Centre.

"Over the years, many locals and visitors have enjoyed exploring areas of the town that would not normally be seen," said trust chairman Phil Campbell.

At the launch, Civic Trust members Duncan Keeler, Shirley Campbell, Phil Campbell, Elizabeth Silman and Georgina Dent, Helen Leech from Cumbria Archives and Pamela Wilkinson from the Tourist Information Centre (Image: Brian Coley)

Cumbria Archives teamed up with the Civic Trust to produce the on-line app that automatically provides verbal commentaries and photographs at the way points along the trail.

All the visitor has to do is scan the QR code in the town trail leaflet into their smartphone and the commentary and photograph for each location will be provided on arrival.

The Town Trail App was launched jointly by Cumbria Archives and Cockermouth Civic Trust on Monday. It uses software kindly supported by North West Sound Heritage.

Mr Campbell said: "It's bringing us into the 21st century and enabling younger people to take part using the technology they are used to to find out more about Cockermouth.

"The Archives approached us, they wanted to do it for their purposes. We were glad to be able to be part of it and are really pleased with how it works."

Eve Fisher tries out the app on her smart phone outside Wordsworth House. Pic Brian Coley (Image: Brian Coley)

Helen Leech of Cumbria Archives and Phil Campbell of Cockermouth Civic Trust agreed that they were very happy with the collaboration of the two organisations and hope that the public will enjoy this new venture.