Staffordshire Moorlands is enhancing its tourism appeal with the launch of a new microsite for visitors, following a 35 per cent surge in visitor numbers since the pandemic.
The district has experienced some of the highest growth in visitor figures across Staffordshire since 2019. This increase is driven by more people enjoying the countryside for walking, cycling, and exploring rural attractions, alongside visits to the ever-popular Alton Towers Resort near Cheadle.
In collaboration with the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Visitor and Economy Partnership (LVEP) and the team at Visit Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has created www.discoverstaffordshiremoorlands.co.uk. This microsite is the first of its kind by a Staffordshire district to complement the county’s new tourism website, www.visitstaffordshire.com.
The microsite offers around-the-clock access to information and opens with a short video showcasing highlights of the area, including Alton Towers, the Churnet Valley Railway, Peak Wildlife Park, the Roaches and Cheadle’s stunning Catholic church, known as Pugin’s Gem.
Visitors can explore sections dedicated to the three towns of Leek, Biddulph, and Cheadle, as well as attractions, accommodations, food and drink, outdoor activities, events, and planning tips, including advice on using public transport.
Local photographer Cathy Bowers from Leek provided many of the site’s images, while the introductory video was created by Inspired, a Stoke-on-Trent-based production team.
Cabinet member for leisure and tourism, Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, who is also an LVEP board member, said: “We are delighted that more and more people are discovering the gems we have in our district.
“Tourism is important to the local economy and promoting what we have here is crucial. But at the same time we want to ensure that the natural assets we have, which includes a third of the district lying within the Peak District National Park, can be enjoyed in a sustainable way.
“The microsite has comprehensive information to enable visitors to stay longer with us, promotes sustainable walking and cycling routes including details for public transport, and will eventually have itineraries to follow.
“The site is a key asset for the whole tourism community in the Moorlands, so we encourage tourism businesses to work with us, including letting us know about their events by contacting the tourism team at the council.”
Charlotte Cain, LVEP Manager, said: “The Moorlands is an important part of Staffordshire’s £2.9 billion visitor economy as the content in the new microsite shows.
“This county has a lot going for it and that is especially so in the Moorlands, including the great outdoors, a rich heritage with links to the arts and crafts movement, and having national product that rivals other UK destinations, namely the UK’s biggest theme park in Alton Towers Resort.”
The new microsite was unveiled at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent LVEP’s Big Tourism Conference, which was held last week at Keele University.
