Understanding self-guided trails: two explorative typologies

Abstract

Self-guided trails are a global phenomenon and the trails field continues to grow in size and diversity. They range from local to international, cover a variety of themes and are developed to satisfy a broad range of objectives from socio-cultural to environmental and economic. However, despite their proliferation, little research has been carried out in this growing field and there is a lack of strategy and co-ordination in the sector. This paper therefore explores the various attempts made by the authors to better understand the trails sector. In particular, it discusses two typologies that have been created to explore the management perspective and design aspects of trails. The first typology highlights scale and complexity as a means of differentiation which is a useful starting point for grouping these amorphous leisure experiences. From this generalist typology the researchers then moved on to a more specialist classification which explores the design aspects of trails. Three key trail elements have emerged from this research – the knowledge, reputational and creative components which are potentially useful in conceptualising the narrative and experiential dimensions of trail development and design.