Scotland is home to 15 UNESCO designated sites. These are recognised for their internationally-significant cultural or natural heritage value.
UNESCO sites include awe-inspiring natural landscapes, historic sites, vibrant cities, and stunning architecture.
Scotland’s UNESCO Trail, launched in October 2021, is the world’s first ever national UNESCO trail. It brings together the country’s full range of UNESCO place-based designations.
These include World Heritage Sites, Global Geoparks, Biospheres and Creative Cities. The digital trail also promotes responsible tourism.
This digital toolkit will give you more information about the Trail and how your business can get involved.
Scotland’s UNESCO Trail is a digital trail. It connects 15 place-based UNESCO designations across Scotland.
It has won three awards for excellence in sustainable tourism:
The interactive trail map on visitscotland.com details each UNESCO designated site.
The creation of the trail comes through a special and global-first partnership, bringing together:
The creation of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail allows us to tell the story of Scotland in a new way. It is innovative, exciting and most importantly responsible.
The trail aligns with UNESCO’s values of peace, education, and sustainability, as well as Scotland’s focus on responsible tourism.
It presents Scotland in an exceptional way to new audiences by celebrating the past, present and future through the 15 designations.
The UNESCO "badge" is globally-recognised as shorthand for high-quality. It demonstrates that a place, item, or location is unique and of global significance and interest.
Biospheres improve the relationship between people and their local environment, globally. They are sites recognised by UNESCO that find creative ways for people and nature to thrive together. They are also testing grounds for innovative approaches to sustainably managing ecosystems.
Renowned for its stunning landscape, Galloway & Southern Ayrshire is a natural playground. It is ripe with outdoor adventure and geological interest, teeming with rare wildlife.
Read more about Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere on visitscotland.com.
Wester Ross is one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. It is home to a collection of rare and unspoiled habitats where wildlife, fauna and Highland communities co-exist.
Read more about the Wester Ross Biosphere on visitscotland.com.
UNESCO's Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas of geological significance. They're managed through a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
Both of Scotland’s geoparks have internationally-significant geology. They are community-led partnerships that promote an appreciation of natural and cultural heritage. They also support local sustainable economic development through geological and eco-tourism.
Spanning three billion years, the geology of Shetland forms one of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes in Europe. This includes three of Northern Europe’s most important examples of prehistoric architecture.
The North West Highlands Geopark is a prehistoric landscape of outstanding natural beauty. Its geological heritage is among the most precious in the world.
Read more about the North West Highlands Geopark on visitscotland.com.
These sites tell the fascinating story of Scotland’s contribution to the world. They show the development of human history through art, architecture, religion, industry, and more. These sites belong to everyone, and it is everyone’s duty to protect them for future generations.
The Antonine Wall marked the final frontier of the Roman Empire in the north. Emperor Antoninus Pius built this mighty fortification in 142 AD.
This is a vast expanse of blanket bog, sheltered straths, moorland, and mountains, stretching across Sutherland and Caithness. It's one of Scotland’s most important natural resources and the UK’s newest natural World Heritage Site.
Spanning the Firth of Forth, the iconic Forth Bridge stands as a seminal moment in the history of engineering. It remains one of the world’s longest-ever cantilever bridges.
The Heart of Neolithic Orkney is a collection of the best-preserved New Stone Age sites found in western Europe.
Find out more about the Heart of Neolithic Orkney on visitscotland.com.
This 18th century mill village is the vision of philanthropist and social reformer, Robert Owen. It was purpose-built as an ideal working and living environment for labourers and their families.
The beautiful architecture of Edinburgh shows an important development in city building.
Discover more about Edinburgh's Old and New Towns on visitscotland.com.
St Kilda is home to a compact landscape of rare beauty and drama. Powerful volcanic and glacial forces as well as two millennia of human habitation have shaped it over millions of years. It's the UK's only dual World Heritage site.
Scotland has four of these, each with a unique perspective, economy, and culture. UNESCO places creativity and cultural industries at the core of their urban development. This is to make their cities safe, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.
Dundee was once best-known for its flourishing textile and shipbuilding industries. It is now the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design. It continues to place innovation at its heart, emerging as a cutting-edge multidisciplinary design hub.
Read more about Dundee UNESCO City of Design on visitscotland.com.
Books and reading have been at the beating heart of Edinburgh’s rich cultural life for centuries. It was designated the world's first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004.
Read more about Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature on visitscotland.com.
Glasgow is home to one of the largest and accessible music scenes in the world. It became the UK’s first (and world’s third) UNESCO City of Music in 2008. This highlighted its diverse culture, history, and musical identity that sets the city apart.
Read more about Glasgow UNESCO City of Music on visitscotland.com.
Perth is the UK’s first UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Arts. The city’s history and character is woven throughout its grand museums, art galleries, outdoor installations, and trails.
Read more about Perth UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Arts on visitscotland.com.
A listing helps you to connect with visitors across the world and is free for all types of tourism businesses.
The website has 23 million visits per year and is translated into five languages. By showcasing your business through a web listing, you can let visitors know that you are open and ready to welcome them.
For promotion alongside Scotland’s UNESCO Trail activity, you must be Green Tourism accredited. This means that you align with UNESCO values and responsible tourism.
Run by Green Tourism UK, this well-recognised award is an important part of Scotland’s future as a sustainable tourism destination.
Visitors seek sustainable options when planning their holiday. So, joining this scheme is worthwhile for all businesses.
The Green Tourism logo will appear on your VisitScotland web listing, and visitors will be able to search and filter for your business.
Becoming a Green Tourism business is a great way of reducing not only your carbon footprint, but also utility, water, and waste bills.
Find out more about the Green Tourism scheme on green-tourism.com.
Explore how your business can benefit from responsible tourism practices.
Familiarise yourself with the story of your local UNESCO sites, so you can share this information with visitors. You can make use of our content on visitscotland.com to find some useful information about UNESCO and Scotland's UNESCO Trail.
You can use UNESCO Trail imagery from our Media Toolkit for use in your own promotions. Register for free, then search UNESCO Trail.
You can also consider featuring local UNESCO designation(s) in your promotional materials, such as your website, e-newsletters, or social media channels.
Feel free to link to relevant sections of our UNESCO Trail pages on visitscotland.com to help your visitors find out more.
The following provide more information on UNESCO, responsible tourism, and Scotland’s green ambition.
The Green Key award is the standard for responsible and sustainable tourism.
Tourism Declares supports tourism businesses, organisations, and individuals to reduce their carbon emissions.
This membership scheme helps to make it easier for anyone who wants to support the North West Highlands geopark.
Work with businesses and communities on economic and environmental sustainability.
These 17 goals provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
Join the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Charter.
Find out how to become a member of the North West Highlands Geopark.
The central hub for all UNESCO-related matters within the UK.