|
Tom
Laird A
RIDE AROUND EDINBURGH
Distance:
40 km (25 miles), circular route.
Map: OS Landranger, sheets 65 and 66.
Start and finish: Union Canal Basin,
Fountainbridge, Edinburgh
Terrain: The run along the canal is almost
entirely flat, but bumpy in places so road bikes are not
suitable. The latter section after East Calder contains
a couple of road climbs, but these are not particularly
steep.
Refreshments: The Bridge Inn at Ratho
has excellent food, and has won awards for its childrens'
facilities, which include a play area and childrens' menu
(telephone 0131-333-1320). Also, various shops in Kirknewton
and Balerno.
|
Map of the Start of the Route
|
Edinburgh
to Ratho
Begin at the
start of the Union Canal at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh.
If you have arrived by car, there is parking available
next to the canal towpath at Gilmore Park.
Follow the canal towpath West away from Fountainbridge.
Whenever you cross a bridge or pass underneath a bridge
on the Canal, the surface is cobbled. Be careful on these
sections - the cobbles may be slippy, and you must ride
closer to the edge of the water than usual. After 2 miles,
you will arrive at a set of 20 steps directly ahead, which
will take you up and over the main road. Continue on the
other side until you get to where the canal is blocked
up, approximately 3 miles from Fountainbridge. You need
to take a route through the housing estates until you
re-join the canal further on as follows:-
Leave the cycle path and turn right heading down the hill
on Dumbryden Drive. You will soon reach a main road, Dumbryden
Road: turn right here, and follow the road round the corner
until you reach Murrayburn Road. Go right here, then immediately
left (West) along Parkhead Drive which runs more or less
parallel to Murrayburn Road. Parkhead Drive turns into
Sighthill Drive if you continue along it for about 1/2
mile.
Watch for a short road on your left. This is Murrayburn
Approach. Go down here and turn right along Murrayburn
Drive. Pass under a bridge, and past the education centre.
At the end of the road, turn left on to Calder Grove.
Soon, you will see a football pitch on your left. Traverse
the grass at this point, and you will find the towpath
again, up the banking. Turn right heading North on the
path.
At this point, the path is narrower than before, and you
will pass through some large white wooden chicanes. Continue
along the towpath, passing over the Scott Russell viaduct
over the City Bypass after 1/2 mile. Eventually (after
a further 2 miles), you should pass the Ratho Park golf
course on your left, and further along the Bridge Inn
in Ratho (must be careful not to dehydrate).
Ratho
to Uphall Station
The Bridge Inn at Ratho
|
Continuing further
along the towpath will take you past the disused quarry
on your right which is used by rock climbers for practice.
You will notice trees on either side at this point, and
that you are in a valley. Further still is your first escape
route where you can get off the towpath and turn right down
to Newbridge, and then back along the cycle path adjacent
to the A8. (At this point, you will see the M8 to your right).
Carrying on for another 3/4 mile, however, will take you
across the picturesque Lin's Mill Aqueduct over the River
Almond. If you look to your right here, you will see in
the distance the graceful Almond Valley Viaduct. This is
also the extent of the canal barge trips so it is normally
a busy area.
If you continue 1/2 mile, you will arrive at a layby on
your right, and a sign informing you that the towpath is
blocked by the M8 ahead. Leave the towpath here and follow
the white arrow/green background signs. These lead you over
the bridge you just passed under and then past a farm on
your right. There is a sharp corner here, with the main
road continuing to the right, and another dead-end road
going left. Ignore the white/green sign, as it points the
wrong way, and go right.
The road is straight for a while, and you will pass a couple
of junctions on either side. Continue straight ahead on
this road. You will pass the driveway for Drumshoreland
House on your left, and see a crossroads ahead.
The
Roman Camps
At the crossroads,
turn right and continue for 100 yards, then veer left
to get to the Roman Camps. (If you go under the bridge,
you have gone too far!)
Continue along the straight road adjacent to the railway
for 1/2 mile or so. When you get to the Roman Camp (as
indicated by a sign on your left and the road splitting
into two), do not go left, but continue dead head along
the front of the houses and continue over the hump-backed
bridge. You will find yourself on a cycle path. Continue
along and go through the wooden chicane and further along
the path. Watch out for the strategically placed telegraph
pole!
Go out through the chicane at the far end of the path
and up the ten or so rideable stairs at the end. If you
want to get a train back to Edinburgh, then turn right
and follow the gravel path for 100 yards until you get
to the train station.
Uphall
to East Calder
Bridges on the Canal approaching Ratho
|
If you wish to
continue to cycle the route, turn left and follow the gravel
cycle path until you get to a tarmac road next to the quarry.
Turn left here, and coast down the hill for about 300 yards.
Take the first turning on the right. It is on a sharp corner
so take care. Carry on along this dirt track and take the
second path on the left. The first left goes into a house
so it is fairly obvious. This will take you all the way
(mostly downhill, 1 mile distance) to East Calder. The river
you cross is the Almond, which you crossed earlier.
East
Calder to Kirknewton and Balerno
When you get
to East Calder, the cycle path goes uphill at the end,
and you arrive at a main road. Looking across the road
to your right, you will see a Public Footpath sign. Cross
the road and follow this path. The path is wide, with
fields on both sides, and bumpy! After a gradual climb,
you will arrive at a road. Turn left and carry on up the
road for a short distance until you reach the A71. Cross
the A71, following the sign for Kirknewton, and carry
on up the hill and over the railway (another quick way
back), and up through the village. Do not turn off the
main road.
The road goes down as you leave Kirknewton, then climbs
up again as you enter a section with trees on either side.
After a bit of a climb, you will find yourself running
alongside of Kirknewton Airfield on your left. Take a
break and watch the gliders if they are flying. Follow
the road down to the T-junction at the end, where it meets
the A70. Turn left here and take the second on the right
and carry on to Balerno (this is the quiet road into Balerno
called Glenbrook Road, as opposed to the busier A70).
Go as far as you can until you get to the T-junction in
Balerno (about 1.5 miles after you left the A70).
Balerno
to Edinburgh
Swans on the Union Canal
|
Turn left and
carry on 1/2 mile until you reach the roundabout. Turn left
down Bridge Road and carry on until you get to the large
brown building with glass windows. 20 yards past here is
a public footpath on the right hand side of the road. This
path takes you along the Water of Leith. Follow this path
for approximately 4 miles. At around 3 miles you will pass
through a dark tunnel: be ready to get off and push if you're
not feeling adventurous!
At the end of the 4 miles, you will cross over a footbridge
over Lanark Road. The Union Canal that you came out of Edinburgh
on is over the second bridge. Once you cross over the Canal,
spiral round to the left to rejoin the towpath, so that
you are facing East with Lanark Road on your right. You
are now approximately 2.5 miles from Fountainbridge on the
path. Follow the towpath back to your starting point. |
