A NEW generation of spiritual' tourists could soon be making the pilgrimage to Furness shores if a new initiative hits its mark.

Residents of Low Furness villages laid out their plans this week to tempt tourists to experience the "mysterious remoteness" of the coastal area which can claim to be one of the significant cradles of Celtic Christianity.

Backed by £10,000 from the Hidden Britian project that supports communty-led tourism initiatives, the Hidden Light Low Furness Association launched a new website on Tuesday inviting people to Celtic Cumbria God's trysting place'.

Project chairman the Rev Colin Honour, of Urswick Church, says evidence for mankind's spiritual journeying' from the earliest times lies across the peninsula between Ulverston and Barrow.

There is the stone circle on Birkrigg Common and the christianising' of pagan religious sites can be seen through local religious buildings, including Urswick Church, a site associated with the early Celtic Saints. Historians also believe that monks from Lindisfarne brought the bones of St Cuthbert to Aldingham church in about 880AD.

"It's a very special place in terms of its history, its heritage," enthused Mr Honour. "Within a mile of Urswick we have got 3,000 years of living history. It's also an unspolit place even the casual explorer can uncover amazing things."

He is hoping that around 500 people a year some ten per cent of those who have already logged on to their www.explorelowfurness.co.uk site will be tempted along.

"It will be for the visitor who has a genuine interest in the countryside, in appreciating heritage and those looking for a more spiritual experience," said Mr Honour.

The idea was not to become the North West's answer to Iona or Holy Island, where thousands of religious tourists flock each year, he said. It was more about attracting small numbers of discerning visitors and drawing on a growing interest in spiritual holidays.

"There is an amazing need and search for quiet places of meditation and reflection. The inside of church may not be very fashionable at the moment but people really are searching for spirituality - for that deeper experience."

The project began 18 months ago with support from the Lake District Peninsulas Tourism Partnership, Community Champions and Hidden Britain.

So far, a devoted group of volunteers has helped create walking guides, a new extended guide to Urswick Church as well as the website.

Linked to the project, archaeologist Steve Dickinson is also digging out more of the region's heritage. He has already led a field survey of local walls and discovered numerous Roman stones. A bigger project is now planned for the summer to excavate areas around Urswick.

Also in the pipeline is a Celtic Spiritual Journey' guide, a major exhibition in Urswick church tower and a programme to train guides to lead heritage walks.

Ultimately, the group hopes that a steady stream of visitors will make the area more sustainable and prop up its pubs, local post office and shops.

"If you want Blackpool, go to Blackpool we're after discerning visitors and we don't want tons of people," said project publicty officer Jim Webster. "If this project works, in ten years' time you won't see any difference about the place except for slightly more prosperous inhabitants."