http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: What is this thing for and what's it called? en Tue, 19 May 2026 10:59:55 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327666 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:51:14 +0000 gembo 327666@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ejstubbs, like you said - some sort of yomp in full kit with several members of platoon going over whilst carrying a howitzer?</p> <p>In summer you see the new recruits out in week 1 running up WoL path, always some unfit yins at the back. Ting the bell and they get out he way.</p> <p>By about week 6 they are back again this time with rifles and backpacks. Quite scary - I m guessing after week 6 they use the harder steeplechase courses you have posted about?</p> <p>Way out beyond civilization on the Whang there is a ladder stile probably on the little vantage path to West Linton but maybe on the unmarked Covenanters Grave path - (both very boggy and same farmers). Anyway a crow has built nest on the flat part of the ladder stile. THis makes it the Covenanters Grave route (as nobody ever does that one so the crows can build their nest on the stile) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327663 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:43:16 +0000 ejstubbs 327663@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Having been dragged around the countryside by my parents since I was in short trousers, I know what a stile is. I don't need to look the term up on Wikipedia! And I agree that in all probability that is what this thing is.</p> <p>What I'd like to understand is why this stile, and the others like it on the MoD land there, needs to be so flippin' big. Your average stile is about 3-4ft wide. These things are a whole lot bigger than that. And why the broad, rounded top bar? It does look like it's designed for rapid use by a number of individuals concurrently. I was just hoping that someone on here might have some authoritative information on the subject since collectively we do seem to have a knowledge base that is both broad and deep! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327662 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:42:01 +0000 Roibeard 327662@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good grief. I'm now failing at basic comprehesion.</p> <p>&lt;sigh&gt;</p> <p>I hope that my mentation improves somewhat after the lock down...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327661 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:40:43 +0000 gembo 327661@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A style page for stiles no less </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327657 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:28:42 +0000 SRD 327657@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>an unusually long stile based on the description?</p> <p>from OP "a bit like a stile on steroids" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327652 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:50:13 +0000 Roibeard 327652@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Gembo half made it up, these are <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stile">stiles</a>.</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327641 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 11:04:54 +0000 ejstubbs 327641@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It did occur to me that they would make quite a good cross-country fence for a three day event course!</p> <p>There are quite a few of them scattered around the MoD land south of the bypass, but I think this is the only one I've ever had to hoik my bike over, hence why it stuck in my mind after yesterday's ride. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327639 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:39:19 +0000 gembo 327639@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Called a Steeplechase Stile</p> <p>[i made this up] </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20178#post-327638 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:35:44 +0000 ejstubbs 327638@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stravaiging round Dreghorn way the other day for the first time in a long time, I was reminded that cycle access to the fields &amp; hills from the back road to the barracks is hampered by the gate <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.8989742,-3.2366194,102m/data=!3m1!1e3">here</a> being locked. You can't get a bike through the kissing gate, so I had to resort once again to hefting my bike over the thing to the left of the gate in <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.8991381,-3.2366275,3a,15y,158.5h,89.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQJg5COpOpaQMzDb-voC_UQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">this picture</a>.</p> <p>While doing so I realised that (a) I have no idea what such constructions are actually provided for, and (b) what they're called. Anyone know?</p> <p>The one I negotiated was basically like a stretch of fairly robust wooden four-rail fence, maybe 8-10ft long, with a broad, rounded top member. Running along each side of said 'fence' was a low bench-like structure, roughly knee height, the purpose of which appeared to be to make it easier to climb over (but it's quite narrow so still a bit precarious when lifting a bike). I suppose you could describe it as being a bit like a stile on steroids. But what actually <strong>is</strong> it?</p> <p>Given that it's all MoD land and the barracks is just the other side of the bypass, my best guess so far is that they're intended to provide a means for groups of infantry to pass to and fro expeditiously without having to get the gate unlocked, or go single file through the kissing gate. I suppose I have an image of rufty-tufty squaddies vaulting the fence in synchronised formation. I probably watched the Royal Tournament too much on TV when I was a kid... </p>