Visit County Durham is encouraging visitors to ‘go wild’ in Durham with the launch of their This is wild, This is Durham national marketing campaign.
The campaign, delivered in partnership with Durham Heritage Coast, Hamsterley Forest, Raby Estates and North Pennines Area of Outstanding National Beauty, aims to showcase the best of the county’s rural attractions, activities and accommodation to help drive overnight stays, whilst key events including the 2nd North Pennines Stargazing Festival (20 October – 4 November) provide further reasons to visit.
The campaign, which is also supported by a further 31 of the county’s tourism businesses, features a partnership with BBC Countryfile magazine, collaboration with national travel bloggers ‘Family Travel Collective’ and a series of video adventures, with all activity directing visitors to the dedicated campaign website – thisisdurham.com/outdoors.
Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “With each overnight stay contributing an extra £156 to the visitor economy compared to a day visit, our campaign aims to persuade visitors to stay longer and experience more of Durham’s great outdoors. With research suggesting visitors are seeking more experiential ways to take time out from their everyday lives, This is wild, This is Durham showcases adventures including kayaking at the Durham Heritage Coast, discovering England’s largest waterfall High Force, dog walking across some of the county’s idyllic rural trails, mountain biking in Hamsterley Forest, and stargazing in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.
In addition to outdoor pursuits, the campaign also showcases the variety of accommodation, rural attractions and eateries across the county which supports the opportunity to increase short breaks.
Alex McLennan, Forestry Commission’s Recreation and Public Affairs Manager, added: “We are delighted to support this outdoor campaign and capitalise on this opportunity for Durham, especially as 2019 marks the 100th anniversary since the Forestry Commission was formed. Hamsterley Forest is an important all year round attraction and offers so much for its visitors who come to enjoy a short break in Durham. It is vital how the public interact with the forest today and This is wild, This is Durham reinforces the outdoor pursuits we have to offer visitors all year round”.
This is wild, This is Durham campaign is live on www.thisisdurham.com/outdoors and the November edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine is out now.
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