Two Cumbrian heritage attractions, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ and Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, have won in two categories at the recent British Coach Tourism Awards.
Part of the Lake District Estates portfolio, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ won the River and Inland Cruise Operator category, while its sister attraction Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway won the Heritage Railway category.
Both attractions were shortlisted for their commitment to welcoming coach groups and for creating new experiences tailored for group travel. These include the Lake District Steam Tour in partnership with National Trust, and Boots, Boats & Marmalade as part of the English National Park Experience Collection, all launching in 2019.
Rachel Bell, Head of Marketing & Development at Lake District Estates, said, “We are thrilled that both our heritage visitor attractions, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ and the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway are winners at the prestigious British Coach Tourism Awards. It is testimony to the dedication of our employees and focus to continually improve, enhance and updat our product offering for today’s and tomorrow’s consumer.”
Mark Horton, General Manager of Ullswater ‘Steamers’ said, “There was strong competition in this category so we are delighted that the investment we’ve put into improving our piers and facilities for groups at Ullswater ‘Steamers’ has been recognised with this award. Groups are an important part of our business and our team works hard to provide excellence service on a daily basis.”
Lisa Braithwaite, Attractions Marketing Manager for both attractions said, “We welcome groups at Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and are delighted to receive this award, especially given the high quality railways in the category. Alongside our top class facilities at the station and excellent customer service, it is our partnerships with other key tourist attractions in the Lake District to create group itineraries that really add value to the visitor experience. I’d like to thank the Railway team staff and volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure visitors have a memorable experience.”
The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway will be holding a series of special events from 4 – 6 May in celebration of a number of big birthdays for its locomotive engines, including River Irt (125 years), Whillan Beck (90 years), Perkins (90 years) and Shelagh of Eskdale (50 years). More information on the events can be found here.
