Pentir Pumlumon: Upland Regeneration  2016/17

Project

Pentir Pumlumon has asked independent specialists Miller Research (UK) Ltd to carry out a research and development project looking at ways of building tourism and economic activity in the uplands area. The work aims to build on the current offer to visitors, networking resources and identifying themes to encourage extending the season, lengthening stays and increasing spend.

What is the Aim?

The Ceredigion Uplands form part of the Cambrian Mountains and offer one of the UK’s last great wilderness areas. However, aside from the tourism honeypot of the Vale of Rheidol Railway and the Devil’s Bridge Falls the visitor offer is very much focused on independent travellers and long-term repeat visitors. There has been little marketing to build awareness of the area’s outstanding natural resources, important heritage sites and potential for world class activity tourism.

How Does it Work?

Miller Research are arranging a series of workshops to discuss the project and to determine how the area can be developed further.

∙Workshop 1 took place on 19th October 2016; looking at what the area has to offer visitors and how visitor stay and spend can be increased through providing more of what people want.

∙Workshop 2 will be centred on identifying the key selling points for the area, developing a collective vision and outlining some project ideas to build collaboration. The session will discuss the concept of co-ordinating the offer to visitors and how that can be used to create a “networked destination�? focused thematically around activity tourism, nature, culture and heritage. This meeting will be held in the Talbot Hotel, Tregaron on 15th November 2016 from 10.00am – 2.00pm

∙Workshop 3 will be an action planning event, where outputs from previous sessions will be developed into robust action and investment plans for delivery over a five to ten year period. This workshop will take place at the Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre on Monday 5th December 2016 from 4.00 – 7.00pm.

For further information, please contact: Nick Miller at Miller Research on 01873 851882, or e-mail: nick@miller-research.co.uk

How Can You Become Involved?

Plans mean nothing unless local businesses and residents take part. Delivery will require true partnership across businesses, residents and other groups, with the support of community and county councils. At the workshops we aim to attract a representative sample of the local community so please get in touch, come along to the workshops and have your say in developing your action plan for a more successful area.

Workshop Schedule  2016

What’s involved?

Workshop 2

The second workshop will build upon the visitor journey workshop which took place on the Rheidol Railway and at the Hafod Hotel on the 19th October.

The second workshop will recap on the previous workshop and the ideas generated about the visitor experience of the Uplands. We shall then delve further into understanding the unique features of the area that will allow us to attract and retain visitor spend for local businesses.

We will then split into groups to further consider the vision for Pentir Pumlumon by developing “Mood Boards�? for the area to represent the unique offering available

to visitors. An example is shown of a similar exercise we have carried out in the Brecon Beacons.

Please bring along any magazines / leaflets that you will be able to draw inspiration from and that you do not mind cutting up as part of the workshop.

For further information, please contact: Nick Miller at Miller Research on 01873 851882, or e-mail: nick@miller-research.co.uk

Following this shared vision for the area, we will discuss ways Sample Mood Board from Brecon Beacons Project to increase visitor numbers and spend, ensure visitors return

to the area and ways to build networks / linked attractions and package to keep visitors in the area. We shall begin to develop project ideas to take forward over the next five to ten years.

We will also be joined by Professor David Austin to discuss the importance of Strata Florida and the tourism offer that could be developed further.

To get involved, come to the workshop at the Talbot in Tregaron at 10.00am on the 15th November. (The event will finish by 2.00pm). We would very much appreciate it if you could let us know ahead, so that we can cater appropriately. If

you would like to join workshop, please e-mail susie@miller-research.co.uk to confirm your attendance.

We are also running an afternoon workshop to discuss the feasibility of developing Tregaron Old School. This will be in the Talbot in Tregaron from 3.00pm until 7.00pm. Please let Susie know if you would like to attend this workshop or require further information.

Workshop 3

Workshop 3 will take place on Monday 5th December at 4.00pm in the Visitor Centre, Bwlch Nant yr Arian.

We will begin by recapping on the previous sessions, to refresh the vision, mood board themes and shortlisted projects. Following this, we will work in thematic groups to rate each project for impact and deliverability within each theme – being careful to identify any quick wins that could be used to pump- prime the process and build momentum.

Once projects have been prioritised, we will explore linkages and networks that could be used to bring an overall offer together and assign a timeline for delivery, approximate costs and responsibility for delivery for the top three projects within each theme.

To complete the day, we will agree next steps and if required, pencil in a next meeting date for the group to take the plans forward.

If you would like to join workshop, please e-mail susie@miller-research.co.uk to confirm your attendance.

For further information, please contact: Nick Miller at Miller Research on 01873 851882, or e-mail: nick@miller-research.co.uk