New UNESCO Sites Rail & Bus Trail

A new UNESCO UK trail launched in partnership with Great Western Railway inspires sustainable exploration across the South West, including Wiltshire’s world-celebrated stone circles.

New website Explore UNESCO South West Trails  helps visitors and residents to discover the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage by rail and bus. 

In Wiltshire, a two-day Wiltshire World Heritage itinerary starts at Salisbury train station, traveling to Stonehenge and onto Devizes by bus. The next day, take the bus to Avebury before finishing at Swindon train station. The trail includes museums, market towns and the iconic monuments and landscape of Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site. 

Fiona Errington, Head of Marketing for VisitWiltshire said  “We are delighted that the trail showcases Wiltshire’s extraordinary heritage in a way that’s both inspiring and sustainable. Visitors can now experience the magic of our World Heritage Site, Stonehenge and Avebury and our vibrant market towns with ease, using rail and bus connections that support a lower‑impact way to explore and truly connect with what makes Wiltshire so special.” 

The collection of 48-hour trails through the South West’s eight UNESCO-designated sites highlights the region’s global importance. From dramatic coastlines and historic cities to internationally significant landscapes, the website unites the South West’s World Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve, Global Geopark and City of Culture UNESCO designations. 

The campaign includes route ideas and practical information to plan memorable journeys that also support local communities and reduce environmental footprints. Rail users will spot promotional posters at GWR railway stations encouraging passengers to start their UNESCO journey by rail, with a QR code competition to win a choice of trail-based activities. 

A spokesperson for the initiative said: “The South West is home to some of the UK’s most remarkable UNESCO designated landscapes and cultural sites. 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.”

Partners in the campaign are grateful to have received funding support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund through UK National Commission for UNESCO programme ‘Local to Global 2.0’ which has made the initiative possible.  

Explore UNESCO South West Trails is now live and accessible to visitors worldwide.