Tall tales to boost visitors' stays in the Yorkshire Dales (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Tall tales to boost visitors' stays in the Yorkshire Dales

2:38pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Skipton & The Dales

Legends, tall stories and old myths are in demand for a special project aimed at entertaining visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The appeal is part of the authority’s Distinctly Dales project. The stories will also be used by local artist Ian Scott Massie as part of an exhibition of paintings, prints, poetry and stories about places in the Dales.

The exhibition will be staged in July next year. The Distinctly Dales project works with local people and businesses to identify and develop the special qualities of their communities and show how they can attract visitors and tempt them to stay longer, so boosting the local economies.

Stuart Parsons, the authority’s member champion for promoting understanding, said: “The project hopes to use local stories to bring the Dales to life in the minds of visitors with the ultimate aim of encouraging them to explore the tales and the immediate locality of their bed and breakfast, campsite or hotel further – keeping them in the national park for longer.

“The project will make a collection of the stories, myths and legends available to businesses in and around the national park and Nidderdale.”

Anyone who would like to contribute to the growing collection of myths, legends and anecdotes should log onto yorkshiredales.org.uk/sustainabletourism and go to Distinctly Dales