Dan Boys established AT Creative (formerly ‘Audio Trails’) in 2006 after creating the UK’s (and probably Europe’s) first downloadable MP3 audio guide – the Moors for the Future “audio tours of the moors” are still available to download today.

At this time Dan was working for the Peak District National Park Authority with the objective of unobtrusively interpreting the perceived wild moorland areas of the Dark Park.

Sticking interpretation panels across the landscape was not an option. In the lead up to this move, Apple were still dipping their toes into the mobile device market, but the growing popularity of the iPod and iTunes made him think, “if you can download an album of songs why can’t you download a narrative of audio files that guide you along a walk?” It turns out you could. Dan did some research and came across a driving tour project in the United States: MP3 files you could download and listen to at set locations.

Over the course of the next two years Dan taught himself sound engineering and recorded National Park Rangers delivering their standard guided walk patter for popular walking routes. Initially five audio trails were launched and overnight, the Rangers had become virtual guides. No more did visitors have to try and book onto over-subscribed guided walks that may only be advertised once a year. Like photographs, the audio trail user leaves nothing but footprints.

Dan’s first audio trail as a freelance consultant was at the National Trust’s Hughenden Manor in 2005. In the years since he has written and produced over 150 audio guides. Several audio trails have featured characters. Some have been based on instantly recognisable historical figures, such as Charles Darwin, whilst others focus on the mystical, including Gwladys the Goblin in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

Many of our audio trails incorporate oral histories and reminiscences. Nothing quite beats the authenticity of recording passionate people and sharing their stories of the places they have loved, studied and explored, and capturing the ambient sounds of each place adds a unique depth to the audio trails.

A large selection of the audio trails we have produced are available on the Places and Trails app, which is free to download.

I’d like help with creating an audio trail

Listen to our audio trails

Download the free Places and Trails app to listen to a large selection of our audio trails.

Places and Trails app