Heritage walks and cycle paths are a great way to get out and explore Britain. From the South West Coast Path, one of the UK’s longest national trails that joins Somerset to the Jurassic Coast and into Devon and Cornwall to the City Walks and Blue Plaque Trails of some of the world’s most popular heritage locations, there are plenty of places for a heritage adventure.
Former railway trails
One way you can enjoy heritage trails around the UK is by following former railway lines, many of which have been decommissioned and turned into cycle tracks and walking routes. In some cases, these trails have remains of their previous life dotted along the route, so you can find everything from WWII era pillboxes to original wooden railway runners.
Heritage trails or community parks and other areas that are built on former heritage attractions will quite often have wayfinders that detail the area’s history and point out areas of interest. Former mining communities often have these to mark where colliery buildings used to be, as well as any notable events that took place in the region.
City Walks
One way to get to know a city during a short break is by joining a guided city walk, or just grabbing a map and heading out on your own. Many of the UK’s cities offer tours by foot, some of which are themed, such as the Edinburgh Ghost Walk or the Jack the Ripper walk in London’s east end both of which help you uncover some of the grislier side to the area’s history.
During different seasons, many cities host family trails and walks that involve finding certain heritage attractions or following a specific map to raise money or awareness of local causes. A number of years ago, the city of Bath held a sculpture trail where residents and visitors had to find a number of brightly coloured owls which were then auctioned off for charity, similar trails have taken place in cities like Luton and Wells. Many cities have Blue Plaques or something similar highlighting important dates and residents and you can often learn more about the region by following the plaques from building to building.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
