Geotourism Interpretation in the Southern Welsh Borderland Area

Outdoor geotrails and geopanels are the commonest means of promoting geology and geoconservation to the public. Originating in the mid-19th century, they became common from the last quarter of the 20th century. Research into their communicative efficacy was only undertaken from the closing decade of the 20th century; there is little evidence that its outputs have been heeded. However, unlike projects dating from the 1980s to the early 2000s, some recent projects around the southern Welsh Borderland appear to have adopted some of the best practice suggested by that research; such findings followed dedicated fieldwork and empirical analyses of their geomedia. The projects are explored and historically contextualised within the broader aspect of modern geotourism and geo-interpretation underpinned by a theoretical framework. Limited general conclusions are drawn. Some suggestion for future studies are given.