VisitScotland has partnered with UNESCO to launch the world’s first digital UNESCO Trail. Scotland is the first country to bring together all its 13 UNESCO sites into one trail.
The trail offers something for everyone. Start by exploring the breathtaking nature Scotland offers, or if you like to travel into the past, there are many different historical spots, creative hubs and Geoparks.
The trail includes six World Heritage Sites, three Creative Cities: Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, two Biosphere Reserves, and two Global Geoparks.
St Kilda
This gorgeous set of the islands Hirta, Dùn, Soay, Boreray and Levenis are a collision between the breathtaking beauty of nature and diverse ecosystems. The natural habitats of these isles have been able to develop and adapt over millions of years.
They also offer unique history – there is a landscape abandoned by an entire community in 1930. There are also preserved archaeological sites and relics, revealing the islanders’ close relationship with their unique natural environment.
Photo by @ali.horne
Photo by @ali.horne
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
While strolling around the streets of the Old Town, surrounded by astonishing architecture, you will get the chance to learn more about the creation of the New Town. There is a new view on every corner that will just steal your heart, and you will forever be bound to this fantastic city.
Photo by Simon Hird
The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
The monuments here are proof of the everlasting impact that architecture can make. They are a tribute to the skills of the prehistoric people of Orkney who built this site 5,000 years ago. This spot creates a sense of place because you will see how the sites relate to the landscapes around them and imagine how the communities lived their day-to-day lives.
New Lanark
The cotton mill was operated for two centuries; from 1785 to 1968, it was actually considered to be the largest industrial facility in the world at one point. It is a site ahead of its time and is best known for Robert
Owen’s social reforms, such as shorter working days, ending child labour under the age of 10, and free medical care for workers in the mill. It has become an example of a purpose-built 18th-century mill village.
The Antonine Wall
This is the Roman Empire’s most northerly frontier. Built on the orders of Emperor Antoninus Pius around 142 AD, the border was lined with 17 forts and patrolled by 7,000 soldiers. Impressive, right? The site allows people of all ages to learn more about it in a less academic way through replica distance slabs and Roman-themed playparks.
Forth Bridge
Considered one of the most iconic structures of its kind, it’s 2,529 metres (8,296 ft) long and over 100 metres high. The red railway bridge was revolutionary as it was the first major engineering structure in the world to be built from mild steel, a more cost-effective and reliable material than Bessemer steel
Photo by Simon Hird
Dundee
The city of design – Dundee is where innovation and creativity collaborate, turning its focus from textile and shipbuilding industries to a multidisciplinary design hub. There is so much to explore in this city, from Discovery Point, where the RRS Discovery is situated, to the Dundee Rep Theatre. Don’t forget to enjoy the views from the dazzling waterfront as well.
Edinburgh
This city has left a mark on literature with iconic writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns, JM Barrie, Muriel Spark and JK Rowling. In 2004, Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature. The charming views inspired so many legendary figures, making the city’s contributions to the literary scene outstanding
Photo by Simon Hird
Glasgow
The city’s music scene contributed to Glasgow becoming the city of music. The number of music venues, unique record shops, buskers and hundreds of music events every week makes the atmosphere of this city as lively and vibrant as it could be.
Photo by Simon Hird
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere
The biosphere covers 5,268 square kilometres of southwest Scotland, centring on the hills and moors of the Merrick. It offers an array of geological adventures, stunning landscapes and incredible biodiversity.
Photo by Simon Hird
Wester Ross Biosphere
Situated in the northwest Highlands of Scotland, Wester Ross is where communities live in harmony with the land and sea. The idyllic beaches, gleaming lochs, centuries-old pinewoods, deep glens and majestic mountains will make you forget about your problems and escape in the serene world of nature.
The Northwest Highlands Global Geopark
It’s a destination that offers a variety of different rock geologies, including the oldest rock in Europe, the Lewisian Gneiss, which is about 3 billion years old! The earliest evidence of life anywhere in Europe was also found here.
Shetland Global Geopark
Shetland allows you to combine having a stroll on an ancient ocean floor, exploring an extinct volcano and walking across shifting sands all in one place. It has one of the best-preserved archaeologies in Europe due to the lack of trees and a plethora of stones.
Ready to explore the UNESCO Trail? Head over to the VisitScotland site.
