UNESCO UK launches 'Rail Trails'

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.

This news story was first featured in the Global News pages of our free Green Traveller magazine

The Matthew, Cumberland Basin, Bristol. Photo: Nick Greville

Launched in partnership with Great Western Railway (GWR), the initiative 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 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”.

Nushin Hussain, Project Implementation Manager, Local to Global Programme said:

“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.”

Promotional posters will be displayed at key GWR railway stations, encouraging passengers to ’start their journey by rail’. 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.

The Roman Baths, Bath. Photo: Chris Wakefield

Adrain 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."

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.”

More information: exploreunescosouthwesttrails.co.uk

Broadsands beach. Photo: Riviera BID Company Ltd