Route Planning in Scotland by AI

I’m part climbing a LEJOG in the UK from the southwestern tip of England to the northeastern level in Scotland. It’s an extended stroll, between 900 and 1200 miles, relying on the route you select to take. Many individuals piece collectively the UK’s nationwide trails to cowl main parts of the space, filling within the gaps with cross-country journey or highway strolling. Most of my climbing to date has been in northwest Scotland, north of Fort Augustus, however I’ll start an England phase this spring, strolling the Pennine Means, which is about 250 miles from south to north.

The northern terminus of the Pennine Means ends on St Cuthbert’s Means in a small city referred to as Kirk Yetholm, in the course of nowhere. To get to Edinburgh, the place there’s an airport to fly again to america, I’d deliberate to west hike alongside St. Cuthbert’s Method to Melrose, a couple of 2-day stroll, after which take the prepare from there.

However I’ve been fascinated by a return journey, the place I’d hike from Melrose to the underside of the West Highland Means, then comply with that to Fort William, after which comply with the Nice Glen Method to Fort Augustus to wrap up my mileage north of the UK/Scotland border. However it’s not totally apparent tips on how to get from Melrose to the southern terminus of the West Highland Means, which is simply north of Glasgow. Whereas entry legal guidelines permit you to hike cross-country in Scotland, planning the route throughout extra populated areas of the nation with out native data was a bit daunting.

On a lark, I made a decision to ask my pet AI (Voila) for assist in designing such a route. Right here’s the immediate sequence I used to present you a style of the interplay. I feel I received a usable route in the long run, however it nonetheless requires verification with extra detailed maps and Google searches.

Philip==>Give me a route and a GPX from Melrose to the southern terminus of the West Highland Means that sticks to as many nationwide trails or canal paths as doable. I plan to wild camp alongside the way in which. The purpose is simple route discovering and a fairly quick transit, with open hill strolling when obligatory, however nonetheless avoiding main roads.

Voila==>Beneath is a transparent, sensible route from Melrose (finish of St Cuthbert’s Means) to the southern terminus of the West Highland Means at Milngavie that:

Sticks to established long-distance trails and canal towpaths wherever sensible (straightforward navigation)Avoids main roadsKeeps open hill strolling solely the place necessaryIs appropriate for wild tenting (authorized in Scotland beneath the Out of doors Entry Code)Features a single steady GPX you possibly can obtain and use

Route abstract (trail-first, direct, quick)

Melrose on St Cuthbert’s Means (go away Melrose heading west)Hyperlink to Southern Upland Means (SUW) westbound by the Borders towards Peebles — this follows good waymarked trails and ridges the place possibleSUW / quiet paths from round Peebles to West Linton (keep on established paths)West Linton -> ascend onto Pentland Hills (use established ridge paths throughout Pentlands)Descend from Pentlands towards the Union/Water of Leith corridors and be part of the Forth & Clyde / Kelvin Walkways the place handy to comply with flat towpaths into Milngavie

Why this line

St Cuthbert’s Means + Southern Upland Means give lengthy, waymarked sections decreasing navigation errorsPentland crossing provides the shortest direct hill hyperlink whereas staying on clear pathsCanal/towpath sections dramatically velocity progress and are straightforward to followMinimal highway strolling and no harmful/unsure river fords

Sensible stats

Approx distance: 85–95 miles (relies on small route decisions)Instructed tempo: 7–8 days at ~12–15 miles/day (you mentioned you’ll wild camp)Navigation: GPX + OS map really useful (some SUW components and Pentlands are easy however require consideration in poor climate)Resupply: Peebles, West Linton (edge), and Milngavie. Small retailers/en route in Galashiels if you happen to detour barely.

What I’m offering subsequent

A single steady GPX (beneath) designed to:Observe St Cuthbert’s Means out of Melrose to the SUW junctionFollow SUW west by to Peebles and onward to West Linton corridorUse Pentland ridge trails to cross the hillsDrop to canal/metropolis towpaths (Union Canal ? Forth & Clyde / Kelvin Walkway) into MilngavieAvoid main A/B roads; use confirmed footbridges/reservoir dam crossings at vital water crossingsKey waypoints (within the GPX) for:City resupply factors (Peebles, West Linton, Milngavie)Good wild tenting areas (plateau/skirts of SUW and Pentland lee)Bridge/canal entry factors