Visitor economy

This page has resources for tourism and hospitality businesses, and information about all the tourism-related projects we are involved in.

Visitors seeking general tourist information should visit Cumbria Tourism and www.lakedistrict.gov.uk.

Our Tourism Development Officer

Our Tourism Development Officer, Katie Read, is here to support and advise tourism businesses and lead our tourism programme. You can contact her at katie.read@cumberland.gov.uk.

Katie can help you with things like product development, sourcing funding, marketing, business support and more.

Her role is funded by Sellafield Ltd and hosted by Cumberland Council.

The Cultural Strategy for West Cumbria

We have created a strategy to help shape the future of the arts in West Cumbria.

The document aims to raise the area’s cultural profile and celebrate it as a great place to visit. It will support funding applications, guide and encourage investment in the cultural and heritage sector, and flag up opportunities for development.

Developed with more than 100 partners, the Cultural Strategy for West Cumbria was funded by Arts Council England, Sellafield Ltd and the council. It covers the former areas of Copeland and Allerdale, and complements the Carlisle Cultural Framework.

Western Lake District and Coast

We are a key member of the Western Lake District and Coast partnership. The not-for-profit organisation promotes this quieter part of Cumbria to tourists, and supports its businesses.

It has a website, which includes a free events section, and a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

It also hosts a network for any businesses involved in, or reliant upon, the tourism sector, and has a blog that you could share with your customers.

Cumbria Tourism

This county-wide tourism organisation offers extensive information for visitors and tourism businesses. It includes booking services, general information and itineraries and other content to help you engage customers. Additional content is available for paying members.

The website includes a section dedicated to the western lakes.

Connecting Cumbria's Hidden Coast

The Connecting Cumbria's Hidden Coast project includes several initiatives aimed at celebrating and improving our coast for visitors and locals.

It includes Deep Time - a wide-ranging arts project incorporating a large piece of public art, a new beach cafe at Silecroft, family-friendly story maps (see Tale Trails below), and improvements and extensions to existing coastal paths..

The Connecting Cumbria's Hidden Coast project is led by Copeland Council and funded by £1.15m from Sellafield Ltd and more than £1m from the Government's Coastal Communities Fund.

Visitor maps

We have created these useful maps for visitors. You can download them here, and they are also available in some local businesses.

Millom and Haverigg

Whitehaven

Cleator Moor and Cleator

Egremont

Videos and images

Our most recent video footage of the borough is stunning. It is a series of high-quality, attractive films of various towns and villages in Copeland. Please take a look and feel free to use it in your marketing. It was commissioned as part of the Welcome Back campaign.

If you would like to access beautiful images of our area to help market your business, you can use these fantastic pictures(link is external) by Sam Scales, commissioned by us as part of the Connecting Cumbria's Hidden Coast project. If you have any issues accessing the images, please contact eric.barker@copeland.gov.uk(link sends e-mail).

We also have some additional beautiful drone footage to attract visitors - why not add it to your website, or use it in your social media? Contact eric.barker@copeland.gov.uk for a copy, or read more about this footage here.

We recently commissioned some amazing footage of Roman sites in west Cumbria. Take a look at the trailer here, and look out for the seven minute version in the Beacon Museum, Senhouse Museum, Muncaster Castle and Tullie House. You are welcome to use the trailer in your marketing, and the full length version will be available for your use soon.

Cumbrian Coastal Route 200

The CCR 200 – initially aimed at motorhome users but also accessible by car and rail, is being relaunched.

If you would like to use this unique coastal route in your marketing, pictures, logos, background information social media content are all available to download. A limited number of window stickers are available for businesses on the route to display or give/sell to customers. These are available from The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven.

Tale Trails

Writer Anja Phoenix has been working with the council and The Outdoor Partnership to create six 'Tale Trails' for walking routes between Whitehaven and Millom.

These interactive story walks are based around local points of interest and are accompanied by a colourful hand-drawn map.

Whitehaven story and map

St Bees story and map

Ravenglass story and map

Haverigg story and map

Silecroft story and map

Drigg story and map

Walking trail apps

Our Beacon Museum has its very own trail app. It includes three trails to follow, two around the town and picturesque harbour, and one further afield, suitable for driving. In each, you'll get to hear about points of interest, and interact with colourful virtual characters.

Norman Nicholson's Millom is a walking trail app celebrating the renowned poet's work and taking you to the places he frequented. It was funded by the Towns Fund - you can find out more here and download it from Google Play and the App store.

The Beacon Museum

As well as being our fantastic visitor attraction, the Beacon Museum has a visitor information point in its reception area.

The museum has four floors of fantastic, interactive fun - everything from prehistory right up to a section on the Sellafield Story. Its attractive harbourside building also has a gift shop.

The Copeland blog

The Welcome Back campaign has funded a blog about planning a trip to our area - why not share it with potential customers? It includes events, attractions and useful tips for potential travellers.

The rural villages blog post explores our hidden gems: St.Bees, Seascale and Ravenglass.