One of the North East’s top tourist attractions is looking forward to a boost in visitor numbers, thanks to a new website created by a Middlesbrough creative design agency.

Bamburgh Castle has launched its new website www.bamburghcastle.com, designed by Middlesbrough-based E-Strands. The third most popular tourist attraction in Northumberland, after Alnwick Castle and Gardens, more than 150,000 people visited Bamburgh Castle, styled “The King of Castles” in 2016, an increase of more than five per cent on the previous year, and Chris Calvert, Director of Bamburgh Castle, is expecting to beat this in 2017, thanks in part to the new website.

He said: “E-Strands has brought our website up to date technically and creatively to better show off the North East’s most iconic castle. It now works on mobiles and tablets and offers a full virtual visit to the castle and grounds, so that visitors can see what we have to offer and plan their trip accordingly. It’s so detailed they can even read the information panels and notices in the state rooms.

“The new website is much clearer and brighter and much easier to use, and has already got a good reception. For example, the opening times and admission prices are much more prominently displayed, cutting down on the number of phone calls we get about these.”

Bamburgh Castle plays an important part in the local economy, continuing to open at weekends throughout the winter season and supporting many local businesses. The new website has an improved section on places to stay, eat and visit in the area. Mr Calvert continued: “It’s important for the sustainability of the castle and the local community that more of our visitors spend time and money with local businesses and stay in the area for longer, and we hope the new website will provide many more with the necessary information to do this.”

E-Strands specialises in creating websites for tourist destinations. Bamburgh Castle appointed the creative agency on the back of a website it created for Vindolanda, the Roman Fort and Museum on Hadrian’s Wall. Mr Calvert said: “We were impressed with E-Strands’ work for Vindolanda and delighted with the website E-Strands has created for us. Their communications have been fantastic throughout the project and they have worked hard to ensure we got exactly what we wanted.”

Michael Janes, E-Strands’ Managing Director said: “We are very pleased with Bamburgh Castle’s reaction to the new website. We are passionate about providing high quality design and communications which will help to boost visitor numbers to tourist attractions.”

E-Strands can be contacted on tel. 01642 688 710, by email info@e-strands.com or via its website www.e-strands.com