BAMBURGH Castle will open in the off-season for the first time ever in a bid to boost what is on offer for February half-term visitors to north Northumberland.
The castle, which normally closes from November to March, will open its doors from Saturday, February 13 to Sunday, February 21 in response to visitor demand and to support other tourism businesses in the area.
Bamburgh Castle director Chris Cal
vert said: "We've taken the decision to open Bamburgh Castle during February half-term this year as a reaction to the needs of the growing numbers of people visiting the area out of season.
"It was becoming apparent to us from the number of enquiries we were getting from both visitors and accommodation providers that there are people coming to the area to stay who were looking for places to visit earlier in the year.
"While the area undoubtedly has some of the UK's finest scenery and landscapes, visitors, especially those with families, want to be able to explore the unique attractions we have here in Northumberland when they come here on holiday or for a day trip away."
Mr Calvert added: "Opening the castle in February will support local tourism businesses who are working hard to attract off-peak visitors.
"Bed and breakfast establishments, pubs, hotels and shop owners have called for us to support them by opening out of season so their customers can visit the castle, which is just what we're going to do.
"Bamburgh was once the capital of Northumbria in Anglo Saxon times.
"Our goal is to put Bamburgh on the map as Northumberland's tourism capital. Opening the castle in February is a step further towards achieving this," he added.
Holiday cottage owner Julie Gregory, whose family own Springhill Farm Accommodation, near Bamburgh, said: "We're really pleased the castle has chosen to open out of season.
"People do ask when they're enquiring about booking holiday cottages whether attractions are open.
"At the moment we're losing out on off peak bookings when people find out the major attractions like Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh are closed," she said.
"The castle's opening will certainly be an added draw to the area's visitor appeal."
Geoff Hodgson, chairman of the North East Tourism Advisory Board, added: "Reducing seasonality and increasing the numbers of tourist days in the shoulder months is one of our key objectives.
"There is great potential for tourism growth during these periods and I applaud the team at Bamburgh Castle for their decision to open in February.
"They have demonstrated a commitment towards establishing Bamburgh and the surrounding area as a year-round visitor destination."
Mr Hodgson added: "I hope their decision will open the window for others in the tourism attraction community to explore more flexible opening times off season which will bring about increased visitor spend and improve the quality of our tourism offer."
A new handbook, souvenir DVD and commemorative book will be launched as part of the castle's celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first Lord Armstrong, who transformed the castle from a decaying ruin into the architectural masterpiece it is today.
These will complement the castle's successful audio tours which were introduced last year.
Following the half-term opening, the castle will close for one week's staff training and development before reopening for the 2010 season on February 27.
