‘Come for a stay not just for the day’ is the invitation from B&Bs, bunk barns, campsites, hostels and hotels, which are reopening on Monday as the Coronavirus lockdown eases.
Usha Gap campsite in Swaledale, run by Louise Metcalfe (pictured), is one of many hospitality businesses in the Yorkshire Dales National Park restarting on the 17th of May.
“I’m quite nervous but excited,” she said, after cutting the grass on the camping fields. “I can’t wait to get back into it. We get lovely people and we’ve missed having that contact with visitors. We just want people back – to make it feel a bit more normal.”
Usha Gap, a renowned place for stargazing in the core area of the Yorkshire Dales Dark Sky Reserve, is one of many accommodation providers listed in the where to stay pages of the National Park website.
“You can find peacefulness and tranquillity here,” said Mrs Metcalfe. “And wherever you look the scenery is amazing. People love to hear the birds and wildlife.
“When we were able to open for a time in July last year it was like a bank holiday every weekend. People were in such good humour. Hopefully it will be like that again. I’ve noticed people are booking for longer, often four or five days rather than two.”
National Park Visitor Centres are also now fully open and Information Advisers are standing by to help people plan their visit.
The National Park Authority’s Member Champion for Promoting Understanding, Kevin Frea, said: “I would like to wish every success to people like Louise who are reopening their hospitality businesses after working hard to make them Covid secure. And to those people who have waited patiently to return to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, or are coming for the first time – welcome.
“There are not only camping pitches or quality hotel and B&B rooms on offer in the National Park, but also pods, yurts and shepherd’s huts. I do hope people will come for a stay not just for the day, and spend money locally and support local businesses.”
