A town trail

Abstract

A town trail is a planned or self-guided route through an urban area. It may be walked by anybody who is interested in their environment. There is a distinction between an urban trail and a walk, although they are both concerned with directing the user around an indicated route. A walk is more an itemised path pointing out structures and providing historic and architectural background while a trail attempts to demand a response from the user. The route may be indicated by markers in the townscape or as in this case a map and a description in a brochure. Part of a trails purpose is to attempt to manage perception of the environment and direct the senses to specifically chosen sites and sights, however, these directions will reflect the interests of those involved in it's preparation. It may have an historical basis, a social bias, a conservation bias or a visual bias, but it could contain a co-operation between these groups. A town trail should attempt to enlarge the visual curiosity of the walker. This means developing techniques such as methods of making environmental appraisals of the quality of townscape. A trail may be divided into focus points, linking routes and outlooks, but the most important objective is to encourage trackers to take a critical look at their environment. Some of the things it is possible to consider when preparing a trail are; alternatives, barriers, colour and discolouration, decay, improvements, spaces, warmth and cold and because of these considerations it is possible to learn and experience the value of making and designing a route and observing and analysing the environment.