We hold a number of events and workshops throughout the year aimed at tourism businesses. These sessions also provide an opportunity to meet other businesses, network, learn from each other and share experiences and talk about tourism initiatives in the area. The team hold major events and forums to bring businesses together, spread good practice and provide ideas and inspiration, and help improve their environmental sustainability.
Details of upcoming business events and workshops are promoted here, on our Yorkshire Dales National Park Tourism Partnership: communication group and included within our ‘Tourism Talk‘ newsletter.
Upcoming events
Whilst there are no business events planned, we will update this section as soon as we have anything to tell you!
Recent events
Westmorland Dales ‘Sense of Place’ workshop 2023
On Monday 2 October we held a ‘Distinctly Westmorland Dales training workshop’, arranged for all Westmorland Dales tourism businesses as part of the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership project.
Led by consultants, Countryscape, and supported by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the event covered:
• Tailoring your branding and marketing, and add value to your products and services by capitalising on the benefits living and working in the Westmorland Dales can bring.
• Honing your ‘visitor welcome’ and making best use of your local knowledge.
• Working together with other local businesses and organisations to boost the identity of the Westmorland Dales as a whole, so that everyone benefits.
Astro-tourism and Dark Skies workshop 2023
On 23 March 2023 we held a workshop and networking event (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) at The Engine Shed for local businesses in the Westmorland Dales area.
We heard from expert astro-tourism astronomer Richard Darn who gave an informal and enjoyable introduction (via video link) to what our International Dark Sky Reserve Status means for the Westmorland Dales and the wider Yorkshire Dales and what benefits this might bring to local businesses.
Westmorland Dales Social Media Training workshop 2023
On 16 January 2023 we held a workshop and networking event (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) at The Engine Shed for local businesses in the Westmorland Dales area to help them stand out and make the most of what is special about the Westmorland Dales.
The focus of the session was on digital marketing and how businesses can use it to promote their business, including Websites, Google Profiles, Email Marketing, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Business Reviews.
The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Interpretation Officer also presented the interpretation work that has been carried out as part of the project and the FREE materials that have been produced for businesses in the Westmorland Dales.
Astro-tourism workshop 2022
On 16 March 2022, we hosted an online session focussing on astro-tourism, the annual Dark Skies Festival and the opportunities it creates for tourism businesses, dark sky lighting advice and the availability of grants to fund businesses looking to upgrade their lighting.
Content summary and recording of the workshop
View the full, recorded Astro-training session (approx 1hr).
The session has also been edited and broken up into the various sections as described below:
- Helen Dalton (Part-time YDNPA Tourism Officer) introduces the Dark Skies Festival and outlines the opportunities for your business and how you might get involved.
- Katy Foxford (Part-time YDNPA Tourism Support Officer) explains the key social media statistics and data collected during the Dark Skies Festival and includes some suggestions on how tourism businesses can promote their business throughout the Festival.
- Kathryn Storey (Part-time YDNPA Tourism Officer) briefly outlines why you might want to consider applying to become a Dark Sky Friendly Business.
- Guest speaker, Neill Sanders from Go Stargazing, introduces what Astro-Tourism market is and the opportunities it presents to businesses.
- Hannah Kay (PA to the YDNPA Park Services Director and Dark Skies Project Officer) talks about the key features of Dark Sky Friendly Lighting and the funding that is currently available to help businesses make the required changes.
- Finally, Nethergill Farm near Oughtershaw was approached by CBBC Newsround to put together a short film about the Dark Skies Festival that would appeal to a younger audience. I’m sure you’ll agree, the family did a fantastic job!
Astro-tourism workshop 2021
In January 2021 we held our first free astro-tourism training course for tourism businesses in the Yorkshire Dales. Run by astro-tourism experts Neill Sanders from Go Stargazing and Richard Darn, it was a great opportunity to learn more about what our International Dark Sky Reserve Status means for the Yorkshire Dales and what benefits this might bring to local businesses such as the growing interest from visitors looking to experience a truly dark sky.