National Park sets out sustainable travel ambitions with launch of Journey Planner app

As part of Scotland’s Climate Week, the National Park Authority has launched a ‘beta’ version of the app to help day trippers access information on travel options more easily and to encourage them to use public transport and cycling where practical.

The National Park Journey Planner app is a pilot project which gives visitors a wider range of travel options in one place, to make it easier to research, plan and book a day trip.

Visitors can also use the app to check and compare the carbon impacts of different modes of travel.

While it is recognised that not all areas of the National Park can currently be reached by public transport, there are alternatives to car travel for some of the most popular parts of the Park.

By encouraging visitors to leave the car at home, the National Park Authority hopes to reduce the pressure on already busy roads and car parks and encourage more climate-friendly travel to and within the Park.

The pilot will also be used to gather valuable feedback and data on the demand for more transport services, to inform longer term planning on sustainable travel.

Kenny Auld, Head of Visitor Services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, said:
“Sustainable transport is vital for tackling the climate emergency and we are developing a programme of measures to make it easier to travel to and within the National Park in a climate-friendly way. This includes electric vehicles for our Rangers, an electric boat for patrolling Loch Lomond and e-bikes for our volunteers.

“While some parts of the National Park are more remote than others, there are many destinations that are accessible by sustainable transport options. Using trains, buses, bikes and even walking to make up your journey brings multiple benefits, including physical and mental health benefits and often, a more enjoyable journey.

“Car parks in our busiest locations fill up early and congestion on our roads is a problem for visitors and communities alike. We are also witnessing the impacts of the global climate emergency within the National Park and opting for sustainable transport options is a positive step we can all take towards reducing emissions.

“We know this shift will take time, and recognise the need for better transport provision in rural areas, so this is a step in the right direction and just one of several projects we are rolling out to encourage and enable more climate friendly, active travel.”

This summer visitors have also been asked to consider ‘A Different Adventure’ by trying out lesser-known walking destinations and a Countryside Trust campaign has encouraged day trippers from Glasgow to leave the car behind and use public transport to visit the National Park.

The National Park Journey Planner app was developed in partnership with Tactran and funded by Transport Scotland as a pilot, to provide data and feedback regarding transport services and demand.

Visitors coming to the National Park can test out this beta version of the app to plan and pay for their journey and to check travel plans throughout the day, even when offline.

Tactran Chair Councillor Richard McCready said: “I am delighted to be working with Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority on the launch of the Tactran ENABLE project. The National Park Journey Planner will raise awareness of active and sustainable travel options for journeys to and around the National Park.

“We hope this journey planning tool can help us refine what the app can do and that this work can be built on to improve sustainable access to all our public services and destinations.”

The National Park Journey Planner is available as a web app and can also be downloaded for Apple devices via the App Store or via the Play Store for Android devices.