Tourism

Rory launching Tourism week at Lowther CastleTourism is our main income-earner, bringing in over one billion pounds a year, and supporting over ten thousand families in Penrith and The Border. People come to Cumbria for its wild and unspoilt landscape, its traditional small farms and its close-cropped fells. Cumbria’s competitive advantage remains its rural beauty, and any long-term strategy for the area must recognise that it is the protection of our landscape which will protect our economy. I was instrumental in launching the Cumbria Tourism APG in recognition of this.

The hugely successful “Cumbria Day”, held in Westminster since 2013, showcases the best of what this county has to offer, and any wider strategy has to continue to promote the area further afield. The Lake District is an incredibly powerful and internationally recognised brand that we must continue to develop and reinvigorate. In so doing, I see no reason why we cannot find ourselves in a world where tourists coming from China, India or Brazil see a photo on top of Blencathra as much an essential part of any sight-seeing trip to the UK, as Big Ben or Stonehenge.

​RORY THANKS VOLUNTEERS ON A VISIT TO CARLISLE CASTLE

Rory visited Carlisle Castle to see the Poppies: Weeping Window installation on Friday and to talk with volunteers. While at Carlisle Castle, Mr Stewart met with representatives from English Heritage and discussed visitor numbers, the overwhelming response from volunteers and the development plans that will follow. Rory also spoke to several of the volunteers, almost […]

RORY BIDS FOR A TORNADO FOR THE SOLWAY AVIATION MUSEUM

Rory has called for a Tornado aircraft fuselage to be donated to the Solway Aviation Museum, in recognition of Cumbria’s importance to the RAF. Cumbria and the Lake District have, for over seventy years, been home to RAF bases and squadrons, functioning as training areas and sites for experiments. Today, Cumbria’s connection to the Air […]

RORY PAYS TRIBUTE TO HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES ON HIS TRIP TO CUMBRIA

It is always a pleasure to welcome HRH the Prince of Wales to Cumbria, particularly to mark so important an occasion for our communities. UNESCO’s recognition of the Lake District, unquestionably one of the most beautiful parts of the world, is fantastic news for our businesses, tourism and our heritage. It has been a truly […]

RORY VISITS WARWICK BRIDGE’S HERITAGE ASSETS

Last week, Penrith and The Border MP​ Rory Stewart paid a visit to two of Warwick Bridge’s heritage assets; Warwick Bridge Corn Mill, and Our Lady and St Wilfrid’s Church​.Rory was accompanied to the Corn Mill by local residents, including Councillors Doreen Parsons and Marilyn Bowman, and met with representatives from Historic England and the North of England Civic […]

RORY PRAISES RESILIENCE OF RICKERBY RETREAT

Rory Stewart MP last week paid a visit to the Rickerby Retreat, to meet with Spa Manager, Amy Bristo, and to look at how the spa and restaurant was recovering following damage sustained during Storm Desmond in 2015. The family business, owned and run by Rachel and Daniel Ferguson was launched in 2014 and was only […]

RORY WELCOMES HISTORIC LAKES AND DALES EXPANSION

The Lakes and Dales decision will create the largest area of English National Park land. Rory Stewart MP and DEFRA Minister has today warmly welcomed the news that Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire will share the largest area of almost continuous National Park land following the decision to extend two of England’s most celebrated National Parks, […]

“EXPAND OUTDOOR INDUSTRY IN CUMBRIA”

Speaking to a packed out audience at the Outdoors Industry Association AGM, Rory Stewart MP said the outdoors was “the soul of Britain’ and encouraged the outdoor industry to focus more on Cumbria. ‎He argued that Cumbria could learn more from Austria and Switzerland on how to make the Outdoor Industry transform the economy. The […]

Pint of Drovers Gold for English Tourism Week please Landlord

Eden’s pubs were in the spotlight last week as part of a special event to launch English Tourism Week which runs from 14 – 22 March. The highlight was the unveiling of Drovers Gold which will go on sale at over 40 pubs around the Eden Valley during the week. Brewed by Penrith based Eden […]

RORY HELPS SECURE FURTHER PROGRESS FOR SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY

Following further support from local MP Rory Stewart, the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society have received written confirmation from the Secretary of State for Defra that state-aid rules will not apply to the STR project, ensuring the group can again raise funds from public sector grant-awarding organisations. Rory Stewart MP and patron of the STRPS […]