THE world’s first-ever Unesco trail – bringing together some of Scotland’s most iconic, diverse and culturally significant sites – has been launched today.

The trail connects the country’s 13 place-based Unesco designations, including World Heritage Sites, Biospheres, Global Geoparks and Creative Cities, to form a dedicated digital trail.

Designed specifically to support ambitions to make Scotland a world-leading responsible tourism destination, it aims to take visitors on a cultural journey across the country, experiencing history, science, music, design, literature, nature and cityscapes.

The trail encourages visitors to stay longer, visit all year round, make sustainable travel choices, explore more widely and at the right time of the year, and in turn contribute to the sustainable quality of life of those communities surrounding the designated sites. It also celebrates businesses and communities that are committed to responsible tourism business practices and promotes sustainable travel options.

Scotland is the first in the world to create such an initiative; developed through a partnership between VisitScotland, the Scottish Government, the UK National Commission for Unesco, Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland and Scotland’s 13 Unesco designations, the project has received £360,000 funding from the Scottish Government to support the strategy for the sustainable recovery of Scottish tourism.

Tourism Minister Ivan McKee officially launched the trail in Dundee, the Unesco City of Design, by unveiling a specially commissioned design by illustrator and printmaker Jagoda Sadowska, a graduate of the city’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.

The design has been printed onto a door, which will be incorporated into the city’s Open Close tour as a permanent legacy of the trail.

McKee said: “Scotland has always been a pioneering nation and I’m pleased to see we’re leading the way with the world’s first UNESCO digital trail.”

The digital trail is available at www.visitscotland.com/unesco-trail