http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Route advice - Heriot Watt en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:01:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-284002 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 13:03:09 +0000 Arellcat 284002@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Does anyone know what Baberton Road and the Riccarton Mains roundabout are like at peak commuter times?</em></p> <p>I cycled Colinton Mains and Colinton Village to HWU for five years when I was a PSO*, and last year used the route as part of my training rides.</p> <p>The quickest way is up Gillespie Road and out along the Lanark Road. Take a right at Muirwood Road if the traffic is busy, but otherwise motor out as far as Riccarton Mains Road.</p> <p>Or for quietness, take the first right after crossing the bypass, and use the cut-through to Baberton Mains Loan, Mains Drive, Mains Hill and Mains Way, and drop down onto Baberton Road and go up the hill and around the field with the horses, cross the railway and thence over to HWU.</p> <p>If I was coming from Craiglockhart, I would use the WoL path only as far as Woodhall Millbrae, and then pick up the Baberton route.</p> <p>The Riccarton Mains Road roundabout on the A71 is busy in the mornings, but only eastbound. Traffic pours out of RMR and heads for the bypass, so westbound and taking a left onto RMR will be fine.</p> <p>* Penniless Student Oaf </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-284000 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:47:13 +0000 spytfyre 284000@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/61046459/#balanced" rel="nofollow">https://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/61046459/#balanced</a></p> <p>Looks OK but has more roads than I would favour Maybe use the water of Leith walkway to Blinkbonny Rd up to Lanark road then nip down Muir Wood Road to the "Donkey Lane" beside the golf course. Maybe not great in the wet as I haven't tried that lane in a long time </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283998 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:43:46 +0000 Frenchy 283998@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks. Will be pushed for time, so I think Baberton Road is most likely. If I get to Clovenstone and find I'm running early, then might take the canal; I had better see a kingfisher if I do. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283997 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:32:02 +0000 gembo 283997@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Colinton - WoL Path to Currie Kirk, off path up to Currie, down Curriehill to West entrance into HW is the nicest route if not too pushed for time </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283995 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:11:55 +0000 jdanielp 283995@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Ed1 it's a long time since I cycled that route, but that was on my MTB commuter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283994 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:01:10 +0000 Ed1 283994@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The horse path of Muir Wood Road is in quite poor shape cycled that 2 weeks ago, lots of rocks, I would cycle on my 35 marathon but less than 30 and it may be bit ruff </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283993 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:58:23 +0000 jdanielp 283993@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@jonty you beat me to it! I couldn't remember its name... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283992 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:58:21 +0000 Ed1 283992@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Canal from Colinton to westerhails near shopping center then Baberton road is quieter, this would avoid the cloven-stone roundabout.</p> <p>I have taken Baberton road quite often, apart from youth 2 up on motorcycle with no helmets never seen any thing too bad. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283991 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:57:13 +0000 jdanielp 283991@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't know all that much about on road routes, but my general recommendation would be the canal route on the off-chance of a kingfisher spot. I've cycled Clovenstone Roundabout at least once, but probably not at peak commuter time so it wasn't awful. I've cycled along Baberton Mains between Westburn and Heriot-Watt a few times, which is fine. How about up from the Water of Leith at Juniper Green, along Muir Wood Road and right down the track west of the golf course which joins the end of Baberton Mains? The level crossing over the railway there can be a little awkward for bikes though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283988 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:50:02 +0000 jonty 283988@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It probably won't suit you, but just for the record there's the <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/kkFijF61QsM2">totally traffic-averse verging-on-MTB WoL/Donkey Lane option</a> too (ignore the big Kinleith detour, it's all open now.)</p> <p>Baberton Road is a dead-end access road to a few houses and fields so I can't imagine it being too horrific at any time of day. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283987 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:41:07 +0000 I were right about that saddle 283987@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We're all just waiting for @jdanielp. He will know. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18879#post-283982 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 11:30:00 +0000 Frenchy 283982@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I need to go to Heriot Watt later this week. Coming from Colinton direction, my two main options seem to be:</p> <p><ol type="1"><li> left at the Clovenstone roundabout, then through Baberton and into HW from the south east</li><li>straight on at Clovenstone roundabout, then through Westburn and onto the canal, to enter HW from the north.</li></ol></p> <p>Does anyone know what Baberton Road and the Riccarton Mains roundabout are like at peak commuter times? </p>