‘Discover Druridge’ is a long term partnership plan that could deliver a positive, lasting legacy for Druridge Bay and the wider area. Banks Mining has heard from many local people, organisations and businesses that tourism is crucial to the local economy and local people and so we want to help deliver, through the Highthorn surface mine, a tourism offer that will sustain the Druridge Bay area for years to come.
Highthorn could be the catalyst to bring about the ‘Discover Druridge’ visitor attraction by addressing the severe lack of investment in the area. Druridge Bay has many assets and points of interest, but this lack of investment has left many of these assets geographically remote from each other, at risk of falling into decline or ruin and unknown to many but the immediate local communities.
As such, Discover Druridge is designed to provide a collection of improvements, such as new habitats, attractions and recreational facilities, all aimed at helping people discover what Druridge Bay has to offer. No longer will people come to Druridge Bay for a stop off just to visit the beach and then continue onwards up to Warkworth, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh or Alnwick. Discover Druridge is designed to attract people to the area and keep them at Druridge Bay exploring the trails and tracks, playing in the parks and beach, exploring nature and the Northumberland coast and spending their money in Druridge Bay.
It is envisaged that Banks Mining’s start-up funding commitment, which would be provided through the granting of planning permission, could allow other benefits to be delivered through the Discover Druridge collaborative partnership, such as:
- Improved hide facilities
- Wider access route improvements
- Funding for a formal coastal path
- Improved car parking facilities at Druridge
- Establishment of bay wide grazing regimes on the dunes
- Improved visitor facilities at Druridge Bay Country Park
- Gateway features to the bay and dunes
- World War II signage and interpretation
- Dark skies facilities
- Cycle shuttle
- Dedicated management officer
The map below gives you an idea of what’s there now and what could be there through ‘Discover Druridge’.
