http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Walk in to Pentlands - without walking along and on a road? en Thu, 21 May 2026 22:02:18 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225559 Mon, 25 Jul 2016 08:58:56 +0000 cb 225559@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The A702 has a pavement for a very long way - to Carlops I think. So that gives lots of access points: Hillend, Erraid Wood (not well mapped on OSM), Boghall, Flotterstone, Silverburn etc.</p> <p>Not a very nice walking experience though, and crossing the bypass isn't much fun.</p> <p>There is also an access point at the south side of the Dreghorn A720 junction. There is a stile over the fence beneath the pylon. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225557 Mon, 25 Jul 2016 08:37:01 +0000 chdot 225557@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hillend - Swanston farmtrack -</p> <p><a href="https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/53370743" rel="nofollow">https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/53370743</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225556 Mon, 25 Jul 2016 08:33:00 +0000 chdot 225556@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Most of Swanston Road has no pavement but there are off road options off the bottom end roughly where the pavement runs out. </p> <p>Cockmylane is nice route (too steep for cycling for some people) but includes some suburbia before the road to Swanston. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225553 Mon, 25 Jul 2016 01:34:45 +0000 rbrtwtmn 225553@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Take a look at the Sustrans Edinburgh Loops and Links page of routes. Route 4 provides some extra detail on the Braidburn Valley Park based route (as indicated above) - linking this all the way to the Innocent Railway Path - which of course comes all the way back into town one way or another.</p> <p>If I'm on foot though I'd normally come off this route at the south end of Braidburn Valley Park and use the path to Swanston as it's shorter and more direct<br /> <a href="http://osm.org/go/evfKOBu8?layers=N&amp;m=" rel="nofollow">http://osm.org/go/evfKOBu8?layers=N&amp;m=</a><br /> <a href="http://osm.org/go/evfKKV30?layers=N&amp;m=" rel="nofollow">http://osm.org/go/evfKKV30?layers=N&amp;m=</a><br /> <a href="http://osm.org/go/eveffTi0?layers=N&amp;m=" rel="nofollow">http://osm.org/go/eveffTi0?layers=N&amp;m=</a></p> <p>The bit at Swanston involves some pavement rather than off-road path as such - but I've had the kids up here many times even when very young so while I don't remember the detail I know it's pretty good for walking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225547 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 20:33:19 +0000 chdot 225547@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Variation on the above. </p> <p><a href="https://m.cyclestreets.net/journey/#53368063/quietest" rel="nofollow">https://m.cyclestreets.net/journey/#53368063/quietest</a></p> <p>I presume you wouldn't count a short section of Gallolee as a dealbreaker(?)</p> <p>CycleStreets has planned the route along the (unfortunate) new estate on the Polo Field, but there is a path alongside. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225546 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 20:09:12 +0000 chdot 225546@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Partly depends how central you mean. </p> <p>This route starts with Braidburn Valley Park. </p> <p><a href="https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/53367752/#balanced" rel="nofollow">https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/53367752/#balanced</a></p> <p>Doesn't need the extended hairpin on the north side of Dreghorn Barracks. </p> <p>On the south side the short section of road gets almost no traffic. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225544 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 18:57:14 +0000 gembo 225544@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fountainbridge - you want a pavement? If so then Harlaw road fails as it has a short section of couple of hundred yards after the last house before the layby corner where there is a path again that avoids the road? I did this with small children buggy, buggy board etc for several years. Through malleny estate behind the high school. You don't want a pavement? Through malleny, couple of fields then out to where the underground water tank is on Harlaw road also with sloping lAyby and you are beyond the pavement.</p> <p>Or you want to do it avoiding road but don't mind a scramble? There is a path parallel to the perimeter road in Balerno (crosswood) that follows a burn and winds all the way up past the water treatment works onto the Rigg road at thriepmuir but you do have to cross roads in Balerno</p> <p>100% no pavement - Currie (walk WoL path to Currie) take The poets Glen from the WoL path. Poets Glen is all off road to the farm maybe Easter bavelaw. Go through the farm and you are on torphin hill. Go round the farm cottages and you are on a track that goes round to Bonaly. FAirly sure this is compliant with being all off road. the poet's Glen is quite passable, some of the old bridges have rotted and have spars of wood missing. Not great for buggy or wheelchair but fine for the ambulant. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225542 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 18:09:12 +0000 Fountainbridge 225542@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Swanston Road - Will need to check that out again. Last time I was up there I think the path was very overgrown.</p> <p>Hillend - Can't say I've ever seen the path from the road. Will give it a try </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225541 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 18:01:15 +0000 Morningsider 225541@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From Oxgangs Road (served by LB buses 4 and 18), you could walk down Swanston Road. Join the footpath at the end of the pavement - past the footgolf place (really) and then on up past Swanston Village. </p> <p>Alternatively, from Hillend - walk up the path from the 4 terminus towards the ski centre and on up to the hills. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225540 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 17:47:20 +0000 Fountainbridge 225540@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Which way from Balerno in to the park though?</p> <p>Harlaw Road and Mansfield Road the pavement only goes so far. All other paths dump you on to those roads at some point. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225539 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 17:43:22 +0000 paddyirish 225539@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Water of Leith Path to Balerno? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16647#post-225538 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 17:32:25 +0000 Fountainbridge 225538@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is it possible to walk from Edinburgh in to the Pentland hills without having to walk along and on a public road? (ie has a pavement)</p> <p>I've been exploring the Pentlands for 20 years and still haven't found a route. Most routes involve at least half a mile walking on a road, dicing with the traffic. Some of the routes are 60mph.</p> <p>(Crossing a public road is acceptable, having to walk along a public road is not) </p>