English Tourism Week heralds New season on Exmoor
Exmoor National Park has been marking English Tourism week, as part of gearing up for the new season.
North Devon MP Ian Roome made a special visit to Lynton and Lynmouth with Visit Exmoor this week, to sample local produce and highlights for visitors in the area, including a visit to the Exmoor National Park Centre at Lynmouth Pavilion.
"Tourism is worth an estimated £232m to the rural economy of Exmoor, but its value is so much more." Said Dan James, Enterprise and Communications Manager at Exmoor National Park. "National Parks were created to not only protect our most precious landscapes but to give everybody the opportunity to access them. With the nature and climate crisis and continued social pressures it's never been more important to reconnect people and nature.
Exmoor National Park will be opening its three National Park Centres, in Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth, 7 days a week from 10 until 5, from Saturday 29 March until early November.
This year will be the first season for the Dulverton Centre in its new location within the historic building of Exmoor House, a former Victorian Workhouse and now head office for the National Park Authority. Like the other two Centres at Lynmouth and Dunster it features Exmoor films, hands on displays and a wealth of information about the National Park, as well as local products and guides.
Local residents and businesses are also invited to a special open day at the Centre on the 26 March between 4 and 7pm providing an opportunity to see the new Centre and meet members of the Rural Enterprise team.
A range of events and activities take place in the Centres from art workshops to illustrated talks. Lynmouth is currently hosting an exhibition by renowned photographer Mark Asprey, while Dunster is showcasing a series of moorland paintings by acclaimed artist Emily Grocott.
The Centres carry a range of free leaflets and publications, including the ever popular 'Your Exmoor' annual newspaper and the recently launched programme for the inaugural 'Exmoor Nature Festival' being held in May this year.
Dan James concluded: "Our Centres offer a warm welcome and expert advice on discovering more of Exmoor and its special qualities. We hope to share some of Exmoor's story and encourage people to give back by helping us to keep Exmoor special and supporting our rural communities."
"Our award-winning Centres are here for everyone - visitors and local communities alike. For decades we've been helping people to find 'their' Exmoor and after the last couple of challenging years we’re hoping for a great start to the season.”
Further details at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/centres
