{{Short description|Cultural heritage exploration trails}} {{For|specific trails|Heritage Trail (disambiguation){{!}}Heritage Trail}}
'''Heritage trails''' are walking trails and driving routes in urban and rural settings that are identified by signage and guidebooks as relating to cultural heritage. The heritage might be architectural, or it can be associated with a person or historical or cultural event. In most cases it is in public space.
The nature of the trail can be seen to be beneficial for community development,<ref>{{Citation | author1=Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission. Regional Trails Committee | title=Heritage trails : strengthening a regional community : Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Somerest, and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania | publisher=U.S. Dept. of the Interior | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/3680984 | access-date=17 October 2016 }}</ref> community participation,<ref>{{Citation | author1=O'Brien, Avril S | author2=Western Australian Heritage Committee | title=Heritage trails : a concept for community participation | publication-date=1984 | publisher=Western Australian Heritage Committee | edition=PBK | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/30887348 | access-date=17 October 2016 }}</ref> for discovering community heritage,<ref>{{Citation | author1=Karthigesu Thangamma | author2=Soo, Hui Wah | author3=Singapore. National Heritage Board | title=Discover Singapore heritage trails | year=2006 | publication-date=2006 | publisher=National Heritage Board | isbn=978-981-05-6433-9 }}</ref> and for involvement by community in developing the trails.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Brisbane's Living Heritage Network | author2=Brisbane (Qld.). Council | author3=Queensland Community Assistance Program | author4=Queensland Heritage Trails Network. Cultural Tourism Incentive Program | title=Brisbane's Living Heritage Network | publication-date=2001 | publisher=Brisbane Living Heritage Network | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/200640910 | access-date=17 October 2016 }}</ref>
Heritage Walks are a means of publicizing the history of a country and contributing to the preservation of the city's history and character through conservation. The creation of an heritage walk can encourage people to support conservation and the protection of historical monuments and to collect and publish information about them. The residences of prominent citizens are also part of the heritage. Socially, heritage has the potential to contribute to the life and identity of an area. In many cases, they are focal points for community activities: public halls, schools, mechanics' institutes, places of religious worship, and parks.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
== See also == * Historic roads and trails * Pilgrimage
==Notes== {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * Ruitenberg, Claudia W. "Learning by Walking: Non-Formal Education as Curatorial Practice and Intervention in Public Space." ''International Journal of Lifelong Education'' 31, no. 3 (2012): 261–275. * Wynn, Jonathan R. ''The Tour Guide: Walking and Talking New York''. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2011. * Wynn, Jonathan R. "City Tour Guides: Urban Alchemists at Work." ''City & Community'' 9, no. 2 (June 2010).
{{Tourism}}
Category:Types of tourism Category:Tourist activities Category:Heritage trails