News from View Marketing

Dumfries & Galloway has taken on the mantle as the UK’s home of environmental art in one of the most creative rural destinations with the launch of Destination Dumfries & Galloway’s (DD&G) Spring into Summer Campaign. Creative, adventurous and inventive minds have long known that the unspoilt region is a stimulating and inspiring place and now private and public sectors have come together to tell the world about Scotland’s best kept secret.

Within easy travelling from Glasgow and Newcastle, Dumfries & Galloway’s Spring into Summer will invite creative tourists to get out of the cities and experience the pleasure of discovering the wealth of creativity that abounds in the area. The 10 week campaign combines imaginative PR, advertising and web use.

New website www.createscape.co.uk will, for the first time, highlight the vast range of creative attractions and activities available to visitors who demand more from their valuable holiday time. The website also offers a selection of promotions and packages not available anywhere else. The site has been designed to evolve over time with the support of the local community.

Dumfries & Galloway is now firmly established as the home of environmental art. Not only does the landscape have work by globally-renowned artists, many choose to live in this beautiful area too. Recent exciting projects include internationally-famous sculptor Andy Goldsworthy’s Scottish Natural Heritage commission Striding Arches in the forest land around Cairnhead and the Big Hush collaboration between sculptor Matt Baker and writer Mary Smith at the Cairnsmore Reserve.

The area is also well known for it’s stunning natural creative landscapes including the Southern Upland Way and the Solway Firth as well as Galloway Forest Park, the largest forest park in Britain covering over 300 square miles of spectacular forest, moorland and lochs. Light pollution is at a minimum and in November 2009 Dumfries & Galloway was awarded Dark Sky status offering unrivalled views of shooting stars, satellites, our own solar system and distant galaxies. Only a handful of other places in the world have been recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Over 50 private sector businesses have contributed to the campaign including the, the Association of Dumfries & Galloway Accommodation Providers, Easterbrook Hall, Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate ,Cream o' Galloway, Gretna Green Group, McMillan Hotels and Gillespie Leisure. These organisations have joined forces with public sector bodies VisitScotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Scottish Enterprise and Forestry Commission Scotland to develop tourism across the region. The campaign has excited the local community and more than 100 smaller businesses are backing the campaign.

The bulk of financial support for the Spring into Summer campaign came from Dumfries and Galloway Council and the VisitScotland Growth Fund which contributed £36,000.

Liz Chambers, Chair of DD&G said: “Dumfries & Galloway has inspired creative minds for thousands of years and we’re pleased to have the support of so many businesses and public bodies in sharing this spirit with the rest of the world. The Spring into Summer campaign highlights what an incredible range of attractions and activities there are in the area and we’re sure people discovering this unspoilt region will return again and again.”

Hilary has just returned from hosting an extremely successful hiking press trip to Kitzbühel, Austria.

The Stevens View Partnership is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a contract to review the positioning of Cardiff City.

Drumlanrig Castle & Country Estate will start the 2010 season with a spring in its step following its recent success within one of the country’s most favoured guide book listings.

Named as Best Country Park in Scotland in Pete Irvine’s annual publication, Scotland the Best, the Dumfriesshire visitor attraction is described as being “much more than merely a country park".

Featuring at the top of a list which includes other well established country parks such as Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire, Haddo House in Aberdeenshire and John Muir Country Park in East Lothian to name but a few, Drumlanrig was praised for the variety of things to do and see on site.

In addition to being named Scotland’s Best Country Park, the Scotland the Best guidebook also named Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate as one of the best places to take kids in South West Scotland.

Commenting on the recent success, Mark Coombs, Estate Manager, says, “We are delighted to be launching the 2010 Season with these recent accolades under our belt. We have made recent investments in our products and services here at Drumlanrig in order to enhance the visitor experience, offering visitors more and giving them even better value for money. It is really encouraging to see our efforts pay off and be rewarded with recognition like this.”

In addition to the majestic castle are over 40 acres of enchanting gardens and a wide range of activities for all the family. These include challenging mountain bike trails, numerous walking paths, a regular programme of Ranger-led walks, a children’s adventure playground, local shopping opportunities, impressive gardens, the Scottish Cycle Museum – home to a diverse display of over 70 cycles, weekly hands-on workshops for children, and a comprehensive events programme featuring highlights such as outdoor theatrical performances, medieval jousting re-enactments and monthly farmers markets.

Mark Coombs continues, “Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate has had an increase of visitor numbers by 62% over the past 2 years and aims to improve on that once again this year, an aim which we feel should be within easy reach thanks to the increasing momentum behind tourism development in Dumfries and Galloway. With the emergence of a Destination Development Organisation for the area and a new Spring / Summer campaign to help support the Destination Development Organisation activity, the area looks set to enjoy a thriving visitor season.”

The opening hours for the 2010 Season are:

Gardens & Country Estate: Friday 26th March – Sunday 24th October, daily 10am – 5pm
Castle: Friday 26th March – Tuesday 31st August, daily 11am – 4pm (educational and private groups at other times by request)
Country Estate, Visitor Centre, Gardens and Stableyard will be open throughout the season from 10am at weekends and during school and bank holidays.


For further details please call 01848 331555 or visit http://www.drumlanrig.com

We are delighted to announce the start of a new contract with the prestigious and newly opened Grand Tirolia Golf & Ski Resort. Located in the dynamic Austrian destination of Kitzbühel, the Grand Tirolia is a 5 star haven and we are looking forward to working with this high profile hotel.

Throughout 2010, View Marketing will undertake the Grand Tirolia’s UK marketing and PR activity, focussing on selling the hotel for golf breaks within the UK market as well as gaining PR for the whole product offering including golf, ski and spa breaks.