Project History

From Discover Newquay

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The Newquay Discovery Trail

The original Newquay Discovery Trail Map was first printed in 2003 to advocate the town’s history and was one of a number of projects funded through the Newquay Tourism Enhancement Initiative, led by Newquay Chamber of Commerce and managed by a small group of private and public sector partners.

With funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the Governments Single Regeneration Budget, Restormel Borough Council and Newquay Town Council, the project operated between 2000 and 2003 and was able to support a range of small initiatives designed to enhance the overall image of the town and the range and extent of local information available to both residents and visitors.

Peter Martin, a sculptor who had previously undertaken commissions for a number of organisations including the Eden Project, initially put forward the idea for the Discovery Trail. Simon Riordan of SRStudio was commissioned to produce the wonderful pictorial map that accompanied the trail and the Newquay Old Cornwall Society provided much of the historical data, which was then compiled by David Faulkner who developed the light, informative and entertaining style of the text.

The 14 discs and ‘key stone’ located with Disc 1 on the Killacourt, are each around 1 metre in diameter, and were hand carved in Peter’s workshop in Redruth. In total there are 1470 characters on the discs, 1590 arrows and diamonds are included, and 121 individual words and phrases. The words on the trail were deliberately chosen for their ambiguity, curiosity and obscurity, and high-lighted stories in the history of the town and its people, giving residents and visitors alike an interesting, fun and informative view of the town’s history.

Discover Newquay Map

The second phase of the project was somewhat fortunate, with Newquay Zoo’s environmental officer Ruth Grant trying to encourage visitors to the town without the ‘car’ and stumbling upon what she thought was the perfect vehicle in which to do so. By incorporating the sustainability message and updating the map to integrate key messages in a fun and interactive way, Ruth coordinated a small but dedicated team of people from both the private and public sector, including Gill Moore who coordinated the original Newquay Discovery Trail.

The team included Simon Riordan to recreate the brand and update the map, Gill Moore Newquay for Excellence, David Faulkner, Veryan Jones Restormel Borough Council’s Community Sustainability Officer, Lesley Barlow & Rebecca Jackson from Cornwall County Council Transport Department, Andy Weir Chairman of the Newquay Chamber of Commerce, and from the private sector Barry Templeman and Linda Frear from Trevella Holiday Park, Gill Pipkin from the Headland Hotel, Sara Cross from Twenty Twenty Marketing, Matt Hocking from Leap Media, Jonathon Parker from Wow-Wow Eco Design and finally the Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project (CoaST).

The team worked on the project from September 2007 and printed 50,000 2nd edition maps now renamed as the ‘Newquay Discovery Map’ in July 2008. The new updated version incorporates the heritage trail around the border of the front of the map, showing the two original ‘HETTY and ‘ADA’ walks that help you navigate the Discovery Trail. The new version now not only serves as Newquay’s very own interactive attraction, it incorporates the important message about helping the local people of Newquay look after the environment whilst enjoying it at the same time.

On the reverse of the map the border illustrates some of the beautiful wildlife on our doorstep, it has a second illustrated map from Holywell Bay to Mawgan Porth, with a bus route plan and map incorporated to help people navigate their way both in and out of Newquay. Finally along the bottom of the map there is the important CoaST message about how to be a good visitor with some handy hints and tips about buying local produce, saving energy and recycling.

NewquayMap.co.uk

The third phase of the project is the Newquay Discovery Map website launched in January 2009, sponsored by the Newquay Town Council and produced by SRStudio.

The website is designed to give the viewer better and more information on heritage, history, wildlife, education, recycling, car free days out, public transport, walking and lots more.

Its purpose is to improve the communication of Newquay’s community, with an in built forum included into the design. It is also there to spread the sustainability message, support the ‘car free’ campaign, bring trade into the town from all over the country, and most importantly is a valuable resource for the local people of Newquay, schools and visitors to the area.

This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by the local people, public and private sector working together to communicate the sustainability message in a fun and interactive way.

Be part of it… This is a unique opportunity to show ‘one and all’ that your business is a stakeholder in the future of Newquay! The sponsor form can be found under the sponsors section, why not fill it out today!

Meur ras (Thank you)

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