Long distance cross-border hiking trail “The Forest Trail”

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Finland - Estonia - Latvia - Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2023-11-11

Description

Description (EN):

Forest is a magnetic nature attraction with great potential for hiking tourism. Forests in Latvia and Estonia are covered with dense network of forest roads and trails. Surprisingly, one could hike from Riga to Tallinn almost without leaving the forest, but for hikers’ convenience, the Forest Trail route will also visit hospitable local villages and towns. The Forest Trail will guide hikers through ca 1050km of most beautiful nature territories as they would follow the marked route, with a map or a mobile device in hand. Covering walking distances of average 20km per day, hikers will be welcome to overnight and have meals in country hotels and guest houses conveniently located along the Forest Trail. The Forest Trail guidebook, web site and apps will offer attractive forest interpretations allowing hikers to learn about and enjoy the forest life - nature processes, landscapes, animals, birds, trees, mushrooms, etc. The Forest Trail will cross protected landscape areas, two national parks – Gauja and Lahemaa, will pass through the land of Seto people being proud of authentic folk heritage, and will wind along the Lake Peipsi. Riga and Tallinn as start or end points will make the Forest Trail easily accessible to foreign guests, as it will be linked with the routes of European long distance hiking path network. Project partners will form a network to implement and maintain the Forest Trail, each partner being responsible for activities in certain trail parts. The Latvian and Estonian rural tourism organizations will be responsible for network coordination and Forest Trail promotion while Latvian State Forests, Latvian Nature Conservation Agency, Vidzeme Planning Region, Kurzeme Planning Region, MTÜ Setomaa Turism, MTÜ Peipsimaa Turism and MTÜ Ökokuller in Lahemaa will manage activities locally.

Achievements (EN):

Forest Trail created a long distance hiking route: The Forest Trail project created a long distance hiking route. It leads through the most forested lands, regional, nature and national parks of Estonia and Latvia. The total length of the Forest Trail Northern part approximately 1060 km. The route is split in ca 20 km sections or hiking days. Each day of the Forest trail has a description, maps and downloadable GPX routes - start and end points, how long the expected walk will be, what the road surface is, and what will be worth seeing along the way. Hikers can read more information about the most interesting and significant places, landscapes, nature landmarks and see the photo, so as not to miss the views on the way, also find information on places to eat, buy water and snacks, and also spend the night. The developed Forest trail route in the Central Baltic project is connected to the southern route (from the Lithuanian / Polish border through Kurzeme to Riga) developed in the Latvia-Lithuania Interreg programme project. Both trails will be part of the E11 route of the European long distance hiking trail network by ERA – European Ramblers’ Association. The total length of the Forest Trail in all three Baltic states will be more than 2000 km, and the trail will include all forest types and wildlife features typical of the Baltic States. More information about the route: https://baltictrails.eu/en/forest Materials in all languages can be downloaded from the project website: https://baltictrails.eu/lv/forest/publications

Website: http://centralbaltic.eu/

Expected Results (EN): R2.1. More sustainable joint natural and cultural heritage based tourist attractions

Expected Outputs (EN):

Forest Trail, the project’s main result, links to the program indicator “More sustainable joint natural and cultural heritage based tourist attractions”. While it represents one single attraction, the impact in the program territory is still wide due to geographical coverage. The Forest Trail core route (ca 1050km in total for Latvia/Estonia) was set during the project preparation phase with contributions from all partners. The route is put on the map, and it will be fine-tuned during the project by means of hiking inspection and local planning. The Forest Trail route as defined so far is found here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1XtTgSeY2Zw0EJDbd5f19h4IC4ewkkdfQ&ll=57.49817477661168%2C25.090359056232614&z=8 The Forest Trail as a tourism product represents the following: - the hiking route marked and visible in nature thanks to route marking, direction signs to orientate tourists, information stands to explain forest values and processes. The route will use the existing forest roads and paths, as well as minor country roads and village roads, where necessary, to reach overnight, food, transport and other services. Marking and signposting together with maps and mobile version of the Forest Trail will allow tourists to orientate en route; - availability of overnight, food, transport and other services en route will allow to experience the Forest Trail in comfort and safety. The route will be divided in average 20km walking distances per day (in total more than 50 days), with indicated start and end points and services available; - useful, practical route information available printed and online for advance planning and use during hiking. Promotion and marketing activities will reach: 1) specialized tourist profiles – long distance hikers and their associations, 2) general interest tourists; 3) specialized tour operators and travel agents.

Thematic information

Cultural heritage and arts Tourism

Specific Objective: Natural and cultural resources developed into sustainable tourist attractions

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06c) Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage

Partners (9)

Lead Partner: Latvijas lauku tūrisma asociācija Lauku Ceļotājs

Department: N/A

Address: Kalnciema 40, LV-1046 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.countryholidays.lv

Total budget: EUR 259 638.00

ERDF budget: EUR 205 114.02

Vidzemes plānošanas reģions

Name: Vidzemes plānošanas reģions

Address: Jāņa Poruka 8/108, LV4101 Cēsis, Latvia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.vidzeme.lv

Total budget: EUR 141 375.00

ERDF budget: EUR 111 686.25

AS Latvijas Valsts Meži

Name: AS Latvijas Valsts Meži

Address: Vaiņodes 1, LV –1004 Rīga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Website: https://www.lvm.lv

Total budget: EUR 21 788.00

ERDF budget: EUR 17 212.52

MTÜ Setomaa Turism

Name: MTÜ Setomaa Turism

Address: Pikk 12 Pikk 12, 64001 Värska, Estonia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.visitsetomaa.ee

Total budget: EUR 157 367.00

ERDF budget: EUR 124 319.93

MTÜ Eesti Maaturism

Name: MTÜ Eesti Maaturism

Address: Vilmsi 53G, 10147 Tallinn, Estonia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.maaturism.ee

Total budget: EUR 165 430.00

ERDF budget: EUR 130 689.70

MTÜ Ökokuller

Name: MTÜ Ökokuller

Address: Vallamaja tee Vallamaja talu, 74808 Kolgaküla, Kuusalu vald, Estonia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.facebook.com/VisitLahemaa

Total budget: EUR 50 000.00

ERDF budget: EUR 39 500.00

Rīgas plānošanas reģions

Name: Rīgas plānošanas reģions

Department: Project Management Unit

Address: Z.A.Meierovica Bulv. 18, LV1050 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.rpr.gov.lv

Total budget: EUR 149 000.00

ERDF budget: EUR 117 710.00

MTÜ Peipsimaa Turism

Name: MTÜ Peipsimaa Turism

Address: Metsakivi 2, 60306 Kolkja, Peipsiääre, Estonia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.visitpeipsi.com

Total budget: EUR 163 777.00

ERDF budget: EUR 129 383.83

Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde

Name: Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde

Department: Vidzeme Regional Administration

Address: Baznicas 7, LV-2150 Sigulda, Latvia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.daba.gov.lv

Total budget: EUR 107 345.00

ERDF budget: EUR 84 802.55

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Long distance cross-border hiking trail “The Forest Trail”

Project acronym: Forest Trail

Project start date: 2019-04-01

Project end date: 2021-12-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 215 720.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 960 418.80

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 960 418.80.

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Finland - Estonia - Latvia - Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-11-11

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

137 / 137 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

663 / 663 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://centralbaltic.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-08, 2023-01-12 and 2024-03-08.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Long distance cross-border hiking trail “The Forest Trail”

Description

Thematic information

Partners (9)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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