One million and counting at The Sill
National park centre reaches visitor milestone. Tony Henderson reports
A gateway to Northumberland National Park welcomes its one millionth visitor as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of its landscape designation.
Since opening in 2017, The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre has transformed how people connect with the landscapes, nature, and cultural heritage of Northumberland and beyond, says the park authority.
Conceived through a pioneering partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority and YHA (England and Wales), The Sill was made possible via a £7.8 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant and the generosity of many donors.
From the outset, The Sill was imagined as a place where visitors could experience, learn from, and feel part of the landscape. Its fully accessible design includes a Changing Places facility, the world’s first fully accessible Whin Sill rooftop walk, and a wheelchair-friendly viewing platform overlooking some of England’s most dramatic scenery.
The Sill hosts regular activities and events for diverse groups to help people foster connections with the national park for their health and wellbeing.
Visitors have discovered exhibitions on landscape, culture and heritage from the Lost Words to Shaun the Sheep, peat bogs to dark skies, and enjoyed community and learning spaces, with the centre’s shop celebrating local makers and producers.
Since opening, 51,000 people have participated in 1,500 events; 69,000 students have taken part in over 1,000 learning and schools programme events; over 112,000 people have had overnight stays in the 90-bed Youth Hostel, and the centre café has sold 295,000 hot drinks, 55,000 scones and 39,000 ice creams.
The Sill’s achievements have been recognised nationally and internationally, with accolades including:
Recognition by the Council of Europe as a “source of inspiration” for landscape conservation; Gold, 2023 North East Tourism Awards; RIBA North East Award (2018); Highly Commended, RICS Tourism & Leisure (2018); Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design (2019); A national ESRI award for its Digital Landscapes exhibition
Tony Gates, park chief executive, said: “Reaching one million visitors in less than eight years from opening is a remarkable achievement for The Sill and a testament to the vision, commitment, and community effort that brought this unique visitor centre to life.
“That this milestone arrives in the park’s 70th anniversary year makes it especially meaningful, inviting us to celebrate our heritage while looking ahead to the future we are helping to shape.
“The Sill was created to inspire people of all ages and abilities to discover and enjoy the national park. Designed with a target of attracting 100,000 visitors each year, The Sill has always achieved well above target.
“As we mark this moment, we are celebrating not only where we’ve been, but the importance of how people connect with place and the legacy we will continue to grow for generations to come.
“As The Sill steps into its next chapter, Northumberland National Park Authority remains committed to expanding opportunities through exhibitions, projects, activities and events for people to enjoy, understand, and care for the landscapes that make the national park extraordinary.