County Durham’s Bowlees Visitor Centre set for refurbishment

Bowlees Visitor Centre County Durham is set for refurbishment

The North Pennines AONB Partnership is a step closer to re-opening Bowlees Visitor Centre in County Durham with the announcement that North Pennine Dales LEADER has awarded the project £75,000 towards refurbishment costs.

Once refurbished, the centre will provide high quality locally sourced food and will feature a new interpretation and retail area selling items of local interest. The centre will provide information about the whole of the North Pennines AONB & Geopark and what it has to offer; local places to visit, places to stay and things to see and do.

Jon Charlton, Programme Development Manager for the Partnership said: “This really significant contribution from North Pennine Dales LEADER will enable us to get on with the project in earnest. We are pleased to be starting work on the next phase of the scheme this week and work will be completed by early in the New Year. Over the winter we will put everything in place to enable us to re-open the centre.”

The funding is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union.

The Partnership’s plans for the centre include the creation of an enlarged first floor with a new staircase, a new kitchen, servery and retail areas inside with a new toilet block and enlarged seating area outside. Accessible parking, an electric vehicle charging point and an enhanced external lighting scheme are also planned.

The centre, which is leased from Raby Estate and located in the heart of Upper Teesdale, boasts a tranquil stream–side picnic area with ample car parking and fantastic walks nearby. Beauty spots including the river Tees, High and Low Force waterfalls and Gibson’s Cave are all within easy reach.

For more information contact Jon Charlton, Project Development Manager at the North Pennines AONB Partnership, on 01388 528801 or jcharlton@northpenninesaonb.org.uk.