Businesses along Cumbria’s coastline are being invited to take part in a new series of workshops designed to get their businesses ready for the Cumbria Coastal Route (CCR), a developing long-distance route celebrating the area’s landscape, communities and heritage.
The first ‘Getting Ready for the CCR’ workshop took place at the Captain Nelson Tavern in Maryport earlier this month, with a strong turnout and plenty of enthusiasm in the room. Attendees discussed local stories and distinctive features that make the Cumbrian coast so special.
Two further workshops are now planned for Whitehaven (4 November) and Millom (20 November), giving more businesses the chance to get involved, share ideas and find out how they can benefit from being part of the CCR journey and find out some of the great opportunities available to help businesses thrive.
Developing the Cumbria Coastal Route into a multi-user sustainable, active travel route linking walking, cycling, train travel, horse riding, camping and other outdoor activities, is a key action in the county’s Destination Management Plan. The aim is to highlight the coast’s distinctive character, attract new visitors and boost year-round footfall for local communities.
Bringing forward some of the short and medium-term development opportunities identified in the CCR Viability Study published earlier this year, the project is being delivered by Cumbria Tourism, commissioned by Cumberland Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Its aim is to support coastal businesses and communities to make the most of this exciting new opportunity, which is set to become a key driver for tourism growth and investment along Cumbria’s coast.
Avril Routledge, owner of the Captain Nelson Tavern in Maryport, said: “It was great to be in the room with so many people who are so passionate about our amazing area and are looking at driving the Cumbria Coastal Route to succeed. We would encourage other businesses to attend these workshops and to get involved in shaping the future of our beautiful area.”
Sue Clarke, Marketing Manager at Cumbria Tourism, added: “We had a really positive turnout for our first event in Maryport, and it was fantastic to see such energy and local pride. The next sessions in Whitehaven and Millom will give even more coastal businesses the opportunity to share ideas and find out how they can get involved.”
The upcoming events are open to any business operating in the visitor economy across the Cumberland coastal area. They will explore how to become a CCR Champion, how to build the route into marketing and itineraries, and how to make the most of new opportunities as the route develops.
Next events:
Getting Ready for the Cumbria Coastal Route (Central Coast)
Date: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Time: 11am–1pm (arrive from 10.30am for refreshments)
Location: Solway Hall, Lowther Street, Whitehaven
Book Here
Getting Ready for the Cumbria Coastal Route (Southern Coast)
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 4pm–6pm (arrive from 3.30pm for refreshments)
Location: Trackside Café & Bar, Station Road, Millom
Book Here
If you have any questions, please contact Alison Hilton at ahilton@cumbriatourism.org.