Saturday, 5 December 2009
Lighting Up Hadrian’s Wall. What For?
Our friends at Hadrian’s Wall Heritage may struggle to publish their annual bus timetable before June, but still find the time for the really important activities, like placing gas burners at 250m intervals along the entire length of the wall and lighting them. Really. It’s going to take place on 18 March.
Apparently this will create “something really quite extraordinary to bring to life Britain’s longest and greatest piece of heritage, and celebrate the landscape of Hadrian’s Wall Country” or so thinks Linda Tuttiete, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage’s Chief Exec.
Did someone say global warming?
HWH claim the event will generate £1m for the local economy. It’s difficult to see how. Optimistically we could expect maybe 1000 non local people to visit the area because of the event, and maybe half of those will stay the night, and a quarter the weekend. Allowing for £50 a night average B&B, £50 a person for eating out, and £30 spend each in local shops, we’re struggling to get to £150,000.
Locals turning out to see the spectacle could amount to a few thousands, but how much extra will they spend ? Maybe £10 each on average – so no more than another £50,0000, most of which would be spent in the local economy anyway.
So where’s the rest? Well I guess they would argue the awareness of the “Hadrian’s Wall Brand” has been raised. Maybe so – but by how much? Luckily for HWH, we can’t measure this, but to get anywhere near the £1m we’d need well over 2000 extra overnight visitors – just because they have seen the Wall with lights on it? Mmm.
The job in maintaining the Wall, maintaining and improving the National Trail is an important one the HWH the do reasonably well on limited resources . Without that, the tourism industry in the region would be dead. This is what HWH should be spending it’s £1m plus budget on.
Ensure the historic fabric of the wall and forts is maintained in first class order. Make sure the national trail is really well managed and maintained, through sensitive historical and environmental area. Improve the footpaths and bridleways linking the wall to the towns and villages along the way, (so often overlooked at the moment ). Develop facilities along the wall are fit for purpose, and really add to the visitor’s experience. That kind of sensitive, long term investment will result in a steady, long term growth in sustainable tourism – much better than a flash in the pan media circus measured in media exposure.
Apparently this will create “something really quite extraordinary to bring to life Britain’s longest and greatest piece of heritage, and celebrate the landscape of Hadrian’s Wall Country” or so thinks Linda Tuttiete, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage’s Chief Exec.
Did someone say global warming?
HWH claim the event will generate £1m for the local economy. It’s difficult to see how. Optimistically we could expect maybe 1000 non local people to visit the area because of the event, and maybe half of those will stay the night, and a quarter the weekend. Allowing for £50 a night average B&B, £50 a person for eating out, and £30 spend each in local shops, we’re struggling to get to £150,000.
Locals turning out to see the spectacle could amount to a few thousands, but how much extra will they spend ? Maybe £10 each on average – so no more than another £50,0000, most of which would be spent in the local economy anyway.
So where’s the rest? Well I guess they would argue the awareness of the “Hadrian’s Wall Brand” has been raised. Maybe so – but by how much? Luckily for HWH, we can’t measure this, but to get anywhere near the £1m we’d need well over 2000 extra overnight visitors – just because they have seen the Wall with lights on it? Mmm.
The job in maintaining the Wall, maintaining and improving the National Trail is an important one the HWH the do reasonably well on limited resources . Without that, the tourism industry in the region would be dead. This is what HWH should be spending it’s £1m plus budget on.
Ensure the historic fabric of the wall and forts is maintained in first class order. Make sure the national trail is really well managed and maintained, through sensitive historical and environmental area. Improve the footpaths and bridleways linking the wall to the towns and villages along the way, (so often overlooked at the moment ). Develop facilities along the wall are fit for purpose, and really add to the visitor’s experience. That kind of sensitive, long term investment will result in a steady, long term growth in sustainable tourism – much better than a flash in the pan media circus measured in media exposure.
Labels: Hadrian's Wall, Hadrian's Wall Heritage, Hadrian's Wall walk
Friday, 20 November 2009
Hadrian's Wall Walk – Sites Worth Seeing
For anyone considering a walking holiday on Hadrian’s Wall next year – there are a couple of sites I have come across lately which you might find interesting.
First up, an interview with David Glade, the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail Officer on Country Walking Magazine’s site, Live for the Outdoors. A bit of history on Hadrian’s Wall walk, and a few conservation tips for people on walking holidays along the wall. The quality’s a bit amateurish (could they not find a microphone holder?) but some useful information.
The second 2 sites are anything but amateurish – 2 websites of local photographers both worth great Hadrian’s Wall portfolios:
Roger Clegg, from Hexham, has recently won the Northumberland National Park Authority’s prize in the Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition, with a number of fine Hadrian’s Wall pho’s showcased on the Journal Live site . I particularly like Walltown Crags in the sunrise.
The second site is Joan Thirlaway’s After the Rain site , with a whole host of Hadrian’s Wall pictures, in a number themed galleries. Checkout the sunset at Crag Lough. It’s not often you get such glassy calm water in the evening.
First up, an interview with David Glade, the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail Officer on Country Walking Magazine’s site, Live for the Outdoors. A bit of history on Hadrian’s Wall walk, and a few conservation tips for people on walking holidays along the wall. The quality’s a bit amateurish (could they not find a microphone holder?) but some useful information.
The second 2 sites are anything but amateurish – 2 websites of local photographers both worth great Hadrian’s Wall portfolios:
Roger Clegg, from Hexham, has recently won the Northumberland National Park Authority’s prize in the Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition, with a number of fine Hadrian’s Wall pho’s showcased on the Journal Live site . I particularly like Walltown Crags in the sunrise.
The second site is Joan Thirlaway’s After the Rain site , with a whole host of Hadrian’s Wall pictures, in a number themed galleries. Checkout the sunset at Crag Lough. It’s not often you get such glassy calm water in the evening.
Labels: Hadrian's Wall walk, National Trail, photos
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Hadrian's Wall Sponsored Walk
Ashanti is a poverty stricken region of Ghana and the Friend of Ahanti Ghana is small charity dedicated to hleping its development. In summer 2008 a group of walkers undertook the Hadrian's Wall Walk to raise funding for the charity. Mickledore Travel made a donation to the charity and the group successfully complketed their walk, raising over £200 for the charity. Their account can be found here: http://www.friendsofashanti.co.uk/wordpress/?p=32
Labels: clients' experiences, Hadrian's Wall walk, sponsored walk
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