Discover Teesdale

 - an initiative to help promote Teesdale to travel trade operators and the general visitor as a quality destination.

In 2006 the Discover Teesdale team won the North East England Business Tourism Award; its multilingual website won the Pride of Northumbria Tourism Website Award 2004.

Attendance at trade shows, the organisation of familiarisation visits and the production of a range of quality promotional literature has resulted in the profile of Teesdale being significantly raised with increasing numbers of tour operators now including Teesdale within their brochures.

www.teesdalediscovery.com / www.visitteesdale.co.uk

Local Food and Produce

 - supporting and promoting the production and use of local produce and products.

A five year operational plan to support rural producers and artisans has recently been developed . This plan is now being implemented by Teesdale Marketing and its working partners.

The plan builds on the the work already done to support and promote locally produced food, drink and crafts through the award-winning Barnard Castle farmers' market, the annual Teesdale Food & Craft Festival at The Bowes Museum, the Local Food & Craft Directory and the farmers market website.

A new website has recently been launched to help to promote local producers, restaurants, and "food tourism". www.eatteesdale.co.uk

Skills Development Programme

- aiming to increase individuals levels of expertise.

This very successful training programme provides up to 50% funding for non-compusory training and is open to anyone who lives or works in Teesdale.

A diverse range of training has been supported through the programme this year including training in stone carving, dry-stone walling, beauty therapy, first aid, dentistry, town planning, joinery, marketing, plumbing, youth work, plastering, bat conservation, tractor driving, sheep shearing and computing.

Contact us for information/application form

The Teesdale Brand

- to help everyone who has an interest in promoting leisure, tourism and trade in Teesdale to give a clear and consistent vision for the region. Click here for details.

Flower Tubs

 - helping to make Barnard Castle more colourful

Barney Bridge

- the proposed "wobbly bridge" across the Tees.

If built, this would be the longest rope suspension bridge in the world and could attract additional visitors to Teesdale to the benefit of local restaurants, cafes and accommodation providers plus other attractions and businesses.