http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Kingsknowe golf course to the zoo? en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:16:57 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848&page=2#post-382677 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:28:29 +0000 gembo 382677@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Think day time desire line, has been muddy route for decades but thin it is about to be paved. Will link nether Currie to Juni Green </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848&page=2#post-382671 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:16:41 +0000 cb 382671@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"<br /> No idea if Muir Wood Road to Bloomiehall park is viable/desirable (e.g. when dark).<br /> "</em></p> <p>Is this going to be resolved a mere eight years later?:</p> <p><a href="https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2026/01/05/new-public-footpath-to-be-constructed-in-currie/">https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2026/01/05/new-public-footpath-to-be-constructed-in-currie/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848&page=2#post-256540 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:38:12 +0000 gembo 256540@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bit round the jail. The allotment side? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256511 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 11:26:21 +0000 chdot 256511@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"but wasn't keen on the bit around the jail"</p> <p>Think that bit does have lights, but really narrow in places - not ideal for trailer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256507 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 11:11:56 +0000 Dave 256507@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think she might attempt the stretch up from Lanark Rd but wasn't keen on the bit around the jail? I guess it depends how safe feeling the other options are. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256496 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:15:31 +0000 fimm 256496@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tell Mrs Dave that the WoL is lovely in the dark. I really like running up there in winter. You can't tell anything about anyone else because all you can see of them is their light. Seriously, get her a good bright head lamp and she'll look like all the other mountainbikers.<br /> (I think I am right in thinking that it is perceived personal safety issues rather than mud that is her concern?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256491 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:47:35 +0000 Dave 256491@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Okay, got some live feedback now. </p> <p>Arellcat's route suggestion from the zoo to WoL got positive feedback, although apparently Stenhouse Avenue you have to wait a long time for cross traffic so we're updating that to use Stenhouse Drive today and see. And WoL is not an option when it's dark apparently but fine just now.</p> <p>As to the drop-off, we reversed everything so I am doing this which means I just attempted the direct path up from WoL opposite the golf course. Even with a 42t rear cog it was a maximum effort for me to keep the bike rolling and fiendishly hard to keep traction on the rear tyre. </p> <p>In any case I wasn't comfortable on WoL mud with the weight of two kids on the trailer and normal tyres - kept feeling like I might lose grip and then get run over by the trailer or vector off into the trees. I'm thinking that a tyre swap to something with more tread and volume might also improve the steep climb.</p> <p>It took 30 minutes to get from the house to the drop-off point, compared with 6 minutes 30s when I cycle on the main road (from my last commute on Strava), quite a surcharge! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256053 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 21:45:10 +0000 Arellcat 256053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>is it not quite lumpy to climb up from WoL the way you suggest?</em></p> <p>@Dave, it's a bit lumpy; mostly literally because it's not tarmac and has three or four diagonal drains across it. I went up it today in the torpedo and needed a low gear. It's a bit steeper and longer than I remember, though the gradient is constant.</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/WVLhRP"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/36051681401_0c7b2fc370.jpg"></a><a href="https://flic.kr/p/WVLhRP">Gillespie Road access</a></p> <p>The main detraction is the pretty poor sight line when you emerge at the top. Vehicles heading up the hill towards the A70 only get a couple of seconds' observation of you, and then they're past. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256027 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:07:50 +0000 gembo 256027@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the by foot by bike map of South West Edinburgh the WoL path goes tantalisingly close to Dovecote Park. Dave has form as Guerilla Gardener form but I am guessing the land is a steep banking. If not the road called Dovecote Park comes out nicely at Kingsnowe Golf Course.</p> <p>Would the nursery have a back gate? As if I have the right nursery it must back on too? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256019 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:19:22 +0000 jonty 256019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Unless it's been redone recently, Donkey Lane is super bumpy. Hybrid territory. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256015 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:51:09 +0000 neddie 256015@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bloomiehall park is a classic case of a developer land-squatting and not allowing a proper path to be made, until they "get their way" with a development.</p> <p>Disgusts me that this country is held to ransom by developers like this... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256009 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:26:20 +0000 Dave 256009@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Love all these suggestions, thanks!</p> <p>Unfortunately the hole in the wall to get from the field into Bloomiehall Park is too narrow for a pram/wheelchair/trailer so that's not an option even discarding cycling across the field. </p> <p>It's possible to go down Donkey Lane just about, but now we're talking about a lot of extra time added onto the morning rush (climbing back up from Wester Hailes somehow too).</p> <p>@Arellcat is it not quite lumpy to climb up from WoL the way you suggest? I've never actually tried to use that track but in my head it must be a good haul.</p> <p>Streetview makes <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9253521,-3.259163,3a,30y,347.4h,81.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWCfz_mEMlfn-YF7tV1lQLg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">the entrance</a> (?) to the path behind the jail look far too narrow to be true (but would cut a meander off your first suggestion?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-256000 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:16:58 +0000 AKen 256000@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Muirwood Rd to Bloomiehall is unlit and unsurfaced - it's basically an informal path along the edge of a field. OK if it's been dry, muddy otherwise and the access to Bloomiehall Park is probably no good for a trailer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255989 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:33:56 +0000 cb 255989@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll throw this into the mix for a possible Currie to Kingsknowe route avoiding the A70.</p> <p>No idea if Muir Wood Road to Bloomiehall park is viable/desirable (e.g. when dark).</p> <p>Same goes for all the non-road bits.</p> <p>Would probably be a reasonably nice walking route.</p> <p>2.5km</p> <p><a href="http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=632208">http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=632208</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255975 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:56:17 +0000 Arellcat 255975@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've thought about this a lot, and the best I came up with is a wee bit round-the-houses, but quiet:</p> <p><a href="http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=632200" rel="nofollow">http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=632200</a></p> <p>Go from Kingsknowe Road North through Redhall and drop down to the signalised junction at the new Sainsbury's by the viaduct. That makes the right turn easiest. Then a bit more bus lane takes you to the WoL visitor centre, and the path to Gorgie. Cross using the crossing point and carry on along the path to Ford's Road and Stenhouse Avenue.</p> <p>Stenhouse Avenue is quiet, and you use that to get to across the tram route to Carrick Knowe Avenue. Pinkhill comes out on the A8, and then SWMBO can use the bus lane (which is also pretty quiet) to get to the ped crossing at the zoo. The Pinkhill option is a more legal version of coming out at the Forestry Commission building and riding along the footway to the same ped crossing at the zoo.</p> <p>Works out at a bit over 4 miles and no steps or sharp gradients. Maybe the odd kerb to bump down at Ford's Road if they haven't fixed it yet. I would avoid the Calder Road underpasses, personally, partly because of the blind corners and partly because they're just so much faff to use.</p> <p>To get from the WoL path at (say) Juniper Green to the Lanark Road/Kingsknowe, the probably easiest route is this:</p> <p><a href="http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=632201" rel="nofollow">http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=632201</a></p> <p>in which you take the ramp at Gillespie Road, and cut through to Spylaw. The right turn from Spylaw Bank Road onto the main road isn't too bad. The little path from Hailes Gardens called The Turlies looks good on paper but there are chicane gates at the southern end so pretty much a non-starter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255971 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:47:50 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 255971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's a ramp up from WoL to Gillespie Road which comes out beside the bus stop - is that too steep? Possibility of making onward progress via Spylaw Ave &amp; Spylaw Bank Rd, none of which are exactly flat however. Wrangling a trailer across Gillespie Rd may be non-trivial also... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255963 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:38:10 +0000 chdot 255963@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Luckily we have five days to figure it out"</p> <p>Sounds like the job for an electric something. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255957 Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:28:29 +0000 Dave 255957@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah so we're coming down WoL from upstream. The canal isn't viable as an approach route because it's too narrow for the trailer. The A70 isn't OK because of all the fumes.</p> <p>There is a narrow access immediately adjacent to the golf club to climb up onto the A70 from WoL - this is the one that is too steep / gravelly. Other than that I guess the only option is to ride further down the hill, onto A70 then back up? </p> <p>However if that involves the bridge over A70 at the canal, the super steep ramp there is also too steep I suspect..</p> <p>It's a pickle. Luckily we have five days to figure it out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255908 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 16:58:24 +0000 qwerty 255908@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>The Calder Rd underpasses are fine even in the dark. I've never seen anyone dodgy there.</em></blockquote></p> <p>There is usually a <strong>lot</strong> of glass though, on the occasions i've used them vs just using the top road roundabouts, i've always regretted it - empty vodka bottles seem to be a particular favourite to leave smashed there, if i recall correctly </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255872 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:21:27 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 255872@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Which ramp up from WoL are you using Dave? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255858 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:08:42 +0000 jonty 255858@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh I see - and getting across Lanark Road to Kingsknowe road is non-trivial. Fair enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255820 Mon, 24 Jul 2017 19:17:33 +0000 gembo 255820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@jonty, the babies are in a trailer being lugged from the WoL path up a steep incline to the nursery on the Lanark road. It is a detail we all overlooked, getting off the WoL path up to the nursery </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255817 Mon, 24 Jul 2017 18:50:40 +0000 Frenchy 255817@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Multi-modal commute, and leave a bike at the nursery?</p> <p>Walk the pram to nursery, leave the pram there, cycle to work and back, leave the bike, walk the pram home.</p> <p>Some obvious flaws (leaving a bike permanently at the nursery even if there is decent bike parking, increased faff), and probably several non-obvious ones too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255816 Mon, 24 Jul 2017 16:58:31 +0000 jonty 255816@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm probably missing a key detail but what about getting onto the WoL from the canal, having got onto the canal at the station as you suggested to start with? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-255811 Mon, 24 Jul 2017 16:34:25 +0000 Dave 255811@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Huh. So we did a dry run but unfortunately, the path up from WoL to Lanark Rd at the nursery is already too steep (even dismounting) to get up with twin trailer... and they are only going to get heavier.</p> <p>Alternative that doesn't involve riding on A70 with babies is not obvious (other than: driving them) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-253405 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:44:45 +0000 Dave 253405@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks all - will do some recon! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-253313 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 20:55:46 +0000 gembo 253313@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is from Lanark road nursery I am guessing. Could go down to WoL visitor centre then take path round the jail cut through saughton park then left through balgreen and up past jenners depository and straight on to the Glasgow Rd.</p> <p>Would take one of the other routes back. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-253281 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 15:45:16 +0000 SpeedyG 253281@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The "shortest" path I can think of would be down Kingsknowe Rd Sth &amp; Nth, take a left in to Longstone Place, there's a path there that will bring you out at Murrayburn Road, up Longstone Road, underpass on Calder then head down the residential road parallel with the main A71 but also known as Calder Road. Then Saughton Mains St, over railway on to Carrick Knowe Ave which will bring you to the path beside the Forestry Commission opposite the zoo.<br /> A fairly quiet route for (motorised) traffic. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-253273 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:09:01 +0000 SRD 253273@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I should have said 'underpasses' not overpasses obviously! </p> <p>My main complaint with the underpasses is that the corners are a bit sharp when on on a tandem. The toucan's a definite improvement, although not perfect. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17848#post-253264 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:00:37 +0000 neddie 253264@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Calder Rd underpasses are fine even in the dark. I've never seen anyone dodgy there. </p>