A new campaign and digital platform, Explore UNESCO South West Trails, has launched, offering visitors an inspiring and sustainable way to discover the rich cultural and natural heritage of South West England including Bath and Bristol.
Launched in partnership with Great Western Railway, exploreunescosouthwesttrails.co.uk/ offers a curated collection of two-day trails inspiring opportunities to discover eight UNESCO-designated sites across the region. From dramatic coastlines and historic cities to globally significant landscapes, the platform invites users to explore the South West through immersive journeys that celebrate heritage, creativity, and sustainability.
Explore UNESCO South West Trails provide a unified gateway for discovering World Heritage Sites, a Biosphere Reserve, Global Geopark, cities of culture and other internationally recognised locations that highlight the area’s global importance.
To mark the launch, promotional posters will be displayed at key GWR railway stations, encouraging passengers to ’start their journey by rail’.
Image - Bath Skyline
The campaign highlights how rail travel can unlock easy access to multiple trail starting points, supporting low-carbon travel while celebrating the rich diversity of heritage across the South West. Through interactive content, route ideas, and practical information, users can plan journeys that not only enrich their own experience but also support local communities and reduce their environmental footprint.
As part of the launch, visitors are also invited to take part in a competition designed to encourage engagement with the trails. By following a QR code link, visitors will have the chance to win a choice of trail-based activities with first place including rail travel,
showcasing the very best of the region’s UNESCO destinations.
Key features of the trails include:
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Clear and easy to follow routes around eight UNESCO sites in the South West
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Inspirational itineraries to showcase the best of each site over 48 hours
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Information on sustainable travel options and local experiences
The launch comes at a time when travellers are increasingly seeking meaningful, place-based experiences. By connecting heritage, nature, and culture through themed trails, Explore UNESCO South West Trails aims to position the region as a leading destination for
sustainable and experiential tourism.
Image - GWR
Kathryn Davis, CEO, Visit West said: “The South West is home to some of the UK’s most remarkable UNESCO designated landscapes and cultural sites including Bath, a double inscribed World Heritage Site and Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film. This initiative brings them together for the first time, making it easier for visitors to explore, understand, and appreciate their global significance while travelling sustainably and caring for the wider environment.”
Adrian Neilson, City of Bath World Heritage Site Manager, said: The Explore UNESCO South West Trail is the result of positive and constructive collaborative working between UNESCO sites and site managers in the Southwest in partnership with UK National Commission for UNESCO and GWE. It provides a great opportunity to promote all UNESCO site inscriptions, including World Heritage Sites, Biospheres, Geoparks, and Creative Cities, and to provide a platform from which visitors can explore them using sustainable rail travel. The City of Bath World Heritage Site is proud to have contributed to this fantastic initiative.
GWR Regional Partnerships Manager, Ruth Powell, added: “We’re proud to support this initiative, helping customers connect with some of the South West’s most internationally celebrated landscapes and cultural sites by train. Rail is one of the most sustainable ways to travel, and this campaign showcases just how accessible these world-class destinations can be.”
Nushin Hussain, Project Implementation Manager, Local to Global Programme said: “We’re absolutely delighted to support the launch of the Explore UNESCO South West Trails initiative through the UK National Commission’s Local to Global programme, made possible thanks to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This project is a fantastic example of how partnership working can bring together some of the region’s most significant heritage sites, alongside partners such as Great Western Railway, to make them more accessible and inspiring for both local communities and visitors. By connecting these unique UNESCO locations through engaging trails, we’re not only celebrating the South West’s rich cultural and natural heritage, but also encouraging more sustainable exploration of the area. We’re proud to be part of a campaign that will help more people discover and appreciate these exceptional places.”
Partners in the campaign are grateful to have received funding support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund through UK National Commission for UNESCO's ‘Local to Global 2.0’ which has made the initiative possible.
Explore UNESCO South West Trails is now live and accessible to visitors worldwide.
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