For those of you who don’t know me, I am Denise Smalley, Business Development & Town Centre Manager for Maryport. I have worked as part of the Regeneration team, Regeneration Maryport for nearly six years.

I was born in Derbyshire but having spent 15 years living in the Western Lake District I now class Cumbria as home.  I have a passion for the Western Lake District, and for many years my family and I were on the tourist trail visiting Cumbria alongside millions of others.

Our annual camping trip incorporated Silloth & St Bees amongst other beauty spots, and if we were lucky we had glorious sunshine. On some trips we battled with the wind and rain, but the warmth and raw natural beauty on offer in this part of the county kept us captivated, and so we returned year after year, eventually settling in the Western Lakes. Where else can you get wonderful sunsets, magnificent cliff top views, blue flag beaches, mountains, lakes, shopping, and a history and heritage any County would be proud of.

Now with the help of the Partnership major changes have been made, and I believe that this partnership is an essential vehicle for the marketing and promotion of the area, and I am privileged to be part of that team.

Here’s to the future!

New Holiday Guide – The fantastic new 2007 Holiday and Short Breaks Guide for the Western Lake District has been launched. We were the first area in Cumbria to complete production of our Holiday Guide and began distribution in early November. 60,000 copies of the new 38 page glossy brochure will be distributed nationwide and will be supported by a media and public relations campaign.

If you are an advertiser and haven’t already received a copy of brochure and would like one please contact us on info@western-lakedistrict.co.uk

New Attractions Leaflet – We have just finished work on the 2007 Top Visitor Attraction Leaflet which is due to begin distribution in the New Year. Over 200,000 copies will be distributed during 2007 throughout Cumbria and the rest of the UK. It includes the best attractions the Western Lake District has to offer as well local restaurants. It is designed to make the visitors life a little easier when they are visiting the Western Lake District giving them ideas of where to go and visit and where to stop for a bite to eat.

New Website Coming Soon - As well as the new print publications for 2007, we are also re-launching our website. It’s being totally redesigned and will include completely up to date information on local events, attractions, restaurants & accommodation in the Western Lake District.

The website will also for the first time give the customer the chance to check availability of the accommodation providers making it much easier for people to plan their holidays.

Please log on to our website in the New Year and let us know what you think.

Also if you have a business or event or even some news that you would like featured on the site please contact us on info@western-lakedistrict.co.uk

Group Travel Brochure – Another new project for the Western Lake District is a Group Travel brochure we are producing in conjunction with Cumbria Tourism. The brochure is a joint venture with Keswick Tourism Association. It will feature fantastic ideas for itineraries for Group Travel & Coach companies as well as contact details for all the main attractions in the Western Lake District. The brochure will go out to Group Travel organisers, as well as coach companies and drivers. If you would like to receive a copy or want more information please contact us on info@western-lakedistrict.co.uk

Annual General Meeting 2007 – This is to take place on Wednesday 7th February 2007 at Sellafield Visitors Centre.It will involve a short meeting to outline what the Partnership has achieved in 2006. There will also be an election to decide on new members for the Partnership’s Steering Group.

If you would like to attend or would like to put yourself forward to join our Steering Group please contact Lucy Wilson on lwilson@western-lakedistrict.co.uk

Welcome to Excellence – Welcome to Excellence is the most successful customer service training initiative in the UK. The one day courses are organised across the country and provide front line staff and managers with the skills they need to produce consistently high standards of service. In 2004, over 500 Cumbrian employees benefited from the one day training courses.

For course dates and more details please contact Cumbria Tourism on 01539 822222 or see website www.cumbriatourism.org

Brian Sherwen Photography Services – Brian Sherwen is a local photographer from Whitehaven who supplies the Partnership with all of our beautiful images, including the ones used in the new publications and on the website. If you would like to use any of Brian’s images or would even like him to take some photographs to help promote your own business please contact him to discuss the costs etc further on 01946 63891 or e-mail brian.sherwen@virgin.net

Maryport Medleys – For those of you who’d like to learn more about Maryport, you’ll be pleased to know there is a DVD now out to help you do so. Maryport Medley is a Maryport Regeneration film that had its launch in October. It includes short films on Impressions of Maryport, Maritime Moments and Marra! Copies are available for £8.99 from the Regeneration Office in Maryport. Please contact Val Routledge on 01900 818447 or e-mail admin@maryportregen.fsnet.co.uk

Tourism and Conservation Partnership - Not ours but ours to look after….

The Tourism & Conservation Partnership is a not for profit organization that promotes positive change within the tourism industry, encouraging businesses to fundraise for conservation and develop environmentally sustainable practices. The Partnership currently works with over two hundred tourism related businesses in Cumbria who are committed to supporting a variety of landscape and conservation projects within the county. If you are interested in joining please contact Tori on 015394 34630 or email tori@ourstolookafter.co.uk

The Tourism and Conservation Partnership also offers environmental advice and support through Green Advantage sessions. The Green Advantage scheme is designed to help businesses learn how taking an interest in the environment can earn you brownie points with your customers and save you money.

The Partnership is interested in holding a workshop in the Western Lakes, to register your interest in this please contact Sarah on 015394 34630 or email sarah@ourstolookafter.co.uk

Seatoller Barn – A Western Lake District information centre has reopened after a gap of two years thanks to Honister Slate Mine. In partnership with Cumbria Tourism, which has provided the latest touch screen Destination Management System & Accommodation Booking Hotline, visitors will be able to find out information by using the newly installed Visitor Information Point which is located inside the barn. For more details please contact 017687 77714

West Cumberland Heritage Walks – Friendly, fairly leisurely walks every Friday. Between 4 & 5 miles (in the winter) starting at 10am and finishing with a pub lunch!

Visitors are always welcome. Especially suitable for those who prefer not to walk on their own – often for one partner where another has gone off on the fells.

Contact: Diana Stewart on 016973 21999 or dbsholplans@aol.com

• Tell us about yourself:

I was born and bred in Borrowdale Valley, growing up on a farm and attending the local schools.  I started my first business when I was 14 and have been my own boss ever since.  I now live near Loweswater with my partner, Jan, and my three children, Prentice, Piers and Georgina.

• What are your hobbies?

Wow, well the list is endless, I love horse riding, but the type where you get out on the fells with nature, and go through the woods, I love walking out with the kids, and at night time tinkering with motorbikes or attending to the helicopter.

• Tell us about Honister Slate Mine:

When the Mine closed down in the late seventies, it was as if the Valley had lost an arm and some of its life blood.  My grandfather and uncle had worked there and most of the families in the valley had one or more relatives who no longer had a craft to follow.  The Mine has been there for more than 350 years deep inside Fleetwith Pike where miles and miles of tunnels bear witness to the labour, skill and ingenuity of generations of men.  That skill has produced the best slates in the world, slates which started their life about 450 million years ago and now roof some of the world’s most prestigious buildings.

• How did it all begin – tell us about your journey:

In 1985 I was a helicopter pilot and as a birthday treat, I took my grandfather, John Taylor for a flight over the Lake District to see al the places he had worked and lived, when ‘Boss’ as I called him, gazed down over Honister, he asked almost rhetorically “Why is it closed?”. This got me thinking and over the next few months I made enquiries as to who owned the Mine.  I found that it had been bought out by Alfred McAlpine, who owned the North Wales quarries and arranged a meeting at a hotel in Manchester.  That meeting took no longer than 45 minutes and I came out having bought the Mine.  That’s when the hard work began. 

• Do you have anything new you would like to tell us about?

My staff will tell you that I am always two years ahead in my plans – some things come to fruition others don’t.  This year I have taken over the Visitor Information Point at Seatoller – it had been closed for almost 2 years in the LDNP’s cuts – again it was cutting off Honister from the much needed visitors.

New beginnings, I’m always trying to think of new things to do, this year I’m working on access up the vertical side of Honister, where the miners eked out their living. My idea is for willing brave participants to strap a harness on and climb the vertical edges as the miners did, as a matter of course. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Check out Via Ferrata on Google to see what I mean.

• How long have you worked in tourism?

In a way, all my life – my parents ran a B & B and Tea Shop at the farm – then I ran a restaurant in Penrudock.  All were dependent on visitors to the Lake District.  Since taking over the Mine, tourism has been a vital part of reviving the industry and ensuring the old skills are not lost.

• Do you have any favourite places within the Western Lake District?

I have several which are remote and rarely visited and I’d like to keep them as my secret!  I’m 40 now and the WLD never ceases to impress me. I’m in awe of its ever changing landscape and weather patterns every day is different and beautiful.

• Sum up the WLD in one word, if you can:

Surprising!