Dating league table fails to highlight Durham�s romantic hot-spots, says County Durham Tourism Partnership

(Durham - May 13, 2009) Tourism chiefs have challenged claims that Durham is the worst place in the UK to find a date by highlighting the ten most romantic places in the county to take a loved one.

Today saw the release of a national survey by an online dating website which claims that Durham is the worst place in the UK for dating because there are fewer organised events here than in any other part of the country.

Craig Wilson, marketing manager for the County Durham Tourism Partnership, said: �What�s clear from the results of the survey is that people in Durham are finding love in other ways than through organised dating events. There are so many beauty spots with the wow factor and stylish restaurants where you can impress a date, that perhaps, we are actually the best area in the country for dating the classic way.�

�Durham best place in UK for dating the classic way�

�It may be that people in Durham are quite good at finding a date and once they have there is no shortage of romantic hot-spots where love can blossom,� said Wilson.

County Durham Tourism Partnership has drawn up a list of the top-ten places for a Durham date in order to highlight the fact that the county is an ideal destination for anyone considering a romantic getaway, a perfect place to propose or a fun-filled weekend away.

Top-10 places to fall in love on a date in Durham

1) Enjoy views of World Heritage site Durham Cathedral and Castle with a romantic row in a traditional rowing boat down the River Wear

2) Spend a night in the lush crimson �Le Boudoir� room, or the Russian Bride suite, at The Fallen Angel themed boutique hotel in Durham City

3) Stare longingly into your partner�s eyes in the outdoor hot tub at Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa before enjoying a couple�s aromatherapy massage

4) Speed through the hay meadows and purple heather clad Durham Dales on the back of a powerful three wheel trike with Weardale based North of England Trike Tours

5) Take the plunge together on an adrenaline filled date at the Peterlee Skydiving academy

6) Spend an afternoon appreciating fine art at the Bowes Museum, the French style chateau in Barnard Castle, built by John Bowes to celebrate his love for his French wife Josephine

7) Enjoy champagne and strawberries at North East England�s number one picnic spot at the Tanfield Railway near Causey Arch

8) Share a dessert at fine dining restaurant Gourmet Spot � winner of Restaurant Magazine�s �Best Dessert of the Year� 2007

9) Hold hands during a romantic stroll along the Durham Heritage coast, admiring sea views and rare wild flowers

10) Get swept away with romance at England�s largest waterfall at High Force in Teesdale

ENDS

Media Enquiries For more information, interview requests and other images, please contact Matthew Moore, Senior PR Executive, on tel: 0191 383 7419, or email: matthew.moore@cdtp.co.uk

Picture Caption:

Image 1: �Durham lovers sitting pretty� � couple enjoy a romantic row beneath Durham Cathedral and Castle � CDTP�s number one dating place in Durham

Image 2: A couple enjoy chess on Prebends bridge in Durham City.

** credit VisitBritain for both images.

Notes to Editors:

Dating Trail.co.uk Survey � The research was carried out by Dating Trail.co.uk between January � March 2009

� To access the full research please visit: http://www.datingtrail.co.uk/downloads/Q1EventsByRegion.xls

� To access a �heat map� showing the best & worst areas for dating visit: http://www.datingtrail.co.uk/downloads/Q1EventsByRegion.pdf � * Source: City Statistics

MEDIA CONTACT: Simon Corbett T: 020 7873 2156 / 07974 093 994 E: simon.corbett@jargonpr.com

About CDTP In April 2006 responsibility for developing tourism in County Durham was placed with the County Durham Tourism Partnership (CDTP), a Destination Management Organisation. The central responsibility of the CDTP is to provide leadership and coordination in the county and work closely with tourism networks, local authorities, local associations and tourism businesses to ensure tourism plays a major role in the county�s visitor economy.

The CDTP is charged with six key areas of activity: Visitor experience, product development, marketing, information services, business support and work-force development.

CDTP is a member of Tourism Network North East a partnership involving One NorthEast Tourism and four Area Tourism Partnerships that is committed to providing a range of integrated services for visitors and tourism businesses in North East England.

The partnership has been in development since One North East took responsibility for tourism in North East England. It is a private, not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, with a board of nine directors and an executive director, six from the private sector and three from the public sector.