Back in November 2010, the Cotswold Way was invited to attend the first World Trails conference on Jeju Island, South Korea. The conference was attended by Trails from all over the world, and was hosted by the Jeju Olle Trail, a new and breathtakingly beautiful long distance walking route around the coast of the island.

One of the many ideas discussed at the conference and earlier in the year when the Cotswold Way played host to representatives of the Jeju Olle Foundation, was the concept of ‘friendship trails’. Essentially similar to twin towns, the basic idea is for trails in different countries to team up in the name of partnership, mutual publicity and international alliance.

Keen to be part of this exciting idea, the Cotswold Way teamed up with Jeju Olle and the new ‘Cotswolds Korea Friendship Trial’ was launched on the 19^th April as a mark of friendship and cooperation between our two countries.

Mr. Honki Kim, Director of the Korea Tourism Organization, London office commented that ‘hiking and walking in Korea is loved by many, so the Jeju Olle/ Cotswold friendship trail, will allow better cultural understanding, the sharing of mutually beneficial trail management initiatives and most importantly greater enjoyment of both natural resources’.

A short circular walk following the Cotswold Way around Stinchcombe Hill near Dursley will be signed with special markers, introducing people to one of the most beautiful parts of the Cotswolds, whilst raising awareness of walking in other countries. Similarly, a section of Jeju Olle will be marked with the familiar oak sign posts seen along the Cotswold Way, inviting visitors to the island to come walking in the one of England’s most stunning landscapes.

The Cotswolds Korea Friendship Trail is one of the fist ‘twin trails’ in the world, and it is hoped that the idea will spread across the globe, promoting understanding and walking, whilst boosting tourism and local economy.

James Blockley, National Trail Officer for the Cotswold Way says, “This is a real opportunity to promote international friendship and cooperation. We are proud to be joining up with Jeju Olle, and hope this special relationship will benefit people, landscapes and conservation in both our countries.”

For more information on the Friendship Trail, Jeju Olle and the Cotswold Way, visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold and/ or contact the Korea Tourism Org – London office on details shown below.

Notes to editors:

Jeju Olle:

• Jeju Olle is a series of walking routes on Jeju Island, 130km off the southwest coast of Korea.
• This beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site is almost sub-tropical in climate, its scenery passing from windswept coastline, through countless tangerine groves criss-crossed by distinctive stone walls, and up to the 6,400 foot peak of Hallasan.
• Work on the trail began in 2006 when a dedicated group of volunteers began seeking out a way of promoting access to the coastline of Jeju, discovering old paths and creating new ones.
• ‘Olle’ is a Jeju dialect term meaning a path that links a dwelling to the main road, and is used to represent the trail linking countryside with the outside world. It also means ‘will you come?' inviting people to visit the island and the trail.
• For further details, visit: http://221.139.0.180:8080/eng/

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For further information please contact:  
Mr. Ramy Salameh

Tel: 020 7321 2535

Email: london@gokorea.co.uk