We are extremely proud to be a part of the world’s first ever UNESCO trail with Scotland’s Biospheres, Geoparks, World Heritage Sites and Creative Cities!
Featured cover image by Visit Scotland of Tourism Minister Ivan McKee who is joined by Scotland’s UNESCO Trail project representatives at V&A Dundee to unveil a specially commissioned mural by Dundee based artist Jagoda Sadowska set to be incorporated into Open/Close Dundee inspired by Scotland’s UNESCO Trail.
EXPLORE SCOTLAND’S UNESCO TRAIL HERE
This digital trail connects our country’s 13 place-based UNESCO designations, showcasing history to science, music, design and literature, to nature and cityscapes! Scotland’s UNESCO Trail provides information and inspiration to visitors across the world, whilst also celebrating businesses and communities that are committed to responsible tourism business practices and promotes sustainable travel options.
Scotland’s UNESCO Trail tells the authentic story of Scotland in a way that is progressive, pioneering and inclusive. This aligns with the UNESCO values and ethos that encourage partnership work based on the pillars of peace, education and sustainability.
Developed by VisitScotland, the Scottish Government, the UK National Commission for UNESCO, Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland and our country’s 13 UNESCO designations, this trail aims to position Scotland as a place that celebrates, champions and offers world-leading educational, scientific, cultural and sustainable tourism via UNESCO.
This will sustain and enact national strategies and build upon the momentum of the preceding themed years that have taken place in Scotland, such as its year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in 2017 which was a great success. It will bring new audiences, celebrating the historical past, looking at present and future sustainable growth in an outward looking, welcoming and innovative way.
The following 13 UNESCO designation areas form the trail:
- St Kilda UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire, The Antonine Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Old and New Towns of Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site
- New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Forth Bridge UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
- Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
- Dundee UNESCO City of Design
- Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature
- Glasgow UNESCO City of Music
- North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark
- Shetland UNESCO Global Geopark
As part of the national launch for Scotland’s UNESCO Trail on 15th October 2021, a specially commission mural by Dundee based illustrator, Jagoda Sadowska celebrating each of our 13 place-based UNESCO designations, was unveiled at V&A Dundee.
“It’s been a great pleasure to work on this project and create the artwork to support the opening of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail in Dundee. My job as an illustrator was to find appropriate representation of landmarks that showcase all thirteen UNESCO-certified places included in the Trail, connect them and transform into one cohesive illustration that will be later hand painted on the door and become a part of Open/Close Dundee.
“It was a great fun to do the research and learn about all those places, Scotland never stops to amaze me with how beautiful and unique it is. I tried to share that in the illustration. For someone who is not originally from Scotland but considers it a second home, it feels really wonderful to be involved in the project.”
Jagoda Sadowska, October 2021.
