A Golden year on Dartmoor
Dartmoor National Park has had a golden 2015/16 with top awards going to a number of Dartmoor based tourism businesses. In an award ceremony held last week Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centres were awarded Gold in the 2015/16 Devon Tourism Awards. The Centres at Princetown, Postbridge and Haytor scooped the Golden Award in the Tourism Information category.
But it wasn’t just the National Park Visitor Centres receiving a golden accolade - it was great night for Dartmoor in general with Bovey Castle, Ilsington Hotel, Home Farm café, Glazebrook House Hotel and Canonteign Falls winning Gold too!
The Awards celebrate Devon’s finest establishments with winners going through a three stage judging process, including assessment of their websites, mystery visits and an independent judging panel.
The judges’ commented on the National Park Visitor Centres that:
‘The team made me feel I wanted to visit and experience the magic of Dartmoor!’
Chairman of the Awards Panel, David Fursdon, said: “I know how important the tourist industry is to Devon. The wonderful reputation that this very special County enjoys in this area depends on maintaining the highest standards and this year's winners across a wide range of categories illustrate just that and personify one word; Excellence.”
Richard Drysdale, Visitor Services Manager for Dartmoor National Park Authority said:
‘We were delighted to receive this recognition which is due reward to the team at the three Visitor Centres for their knowledge, professionalism and hard work. The Centres welcome 180,000 people annually and we strive to ensure that each and every visitor comes away appreciating what makes Dartmoor and Devon such an excellent place to visit and enjoy responsibly.’
Come and see what makes Dartmoor so special this winter. The National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown has a fabulous Christmas Fair on Saturday 26 November, from 11 am to 3 pm. Come and buy that special gift from our Dartmoor Range and meet local suppliers for a bit of Christmas cheer. The Centre is also hosting Finding Prehistory, a new exhibition brought to you by Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery in partnership with Dartmoor National Park. It showcases some of the Museum’s prehistoric Dartmoor collection and will remain on display in Princetown until the new Plymouth History Centre is completed.
Postbridge has a fascinating exhibition on life in the Bronze Age and Haytor is a great stepping stone to explore the popular Haytor Down area. Each Centre has unique displays which will inform and entertain young and old alike – and if you want some good advice on how to enjoy Dartmoor National Park our staff are experienced, knowledgeable and happy to help – it’s official - Dartmoor’s Golden!