I'm going to a conference at Heriot Watt in September and I thought I'd rather cycle than get the bus. I'd prefer going along the canal rather than by roads - I'd rather look at ducks than play with buses - but I can't see any easy access point from the canal. Does anyone know where the nearest on/off bit from the canal path is for Heriot Watt?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Canal path and Heriot Watt
(17 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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Use the bridge just at Hermiston House Road. You can access the Uni by crossing the A71 (care) and going in the North gate.
Or.. come off at Redheughs road and go up past the Ford garage and on to the cyclepath which runs along the North side of the A71. Cross the road at the Park and Ride and go in the East Gate.
Posted 14 years ago # -
If only the canal had signs to tell you where you are! I might do a dry run beforehand to ensure I don't end up at Ratho. Thank you.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Use the bridge just at Hermiston House Road"
http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/185497
or slightly earlier
http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/185493"come off at Redheughs road"
Cultins Road?
http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/185503 (that route is still along the canal!)
Even more options here! - the "Balanced route" is semi-rural, away from the canal and not as flat as the canal.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"If only the canal had signs to tell you where you are!"
It should do!
You got access to any sort of GPS device/smart 'phone?
"I might do a dry run beforehand"
That'll give you a good idea of the time too (canal times subject to wind speed/direction!)
Posted 14 years ago # -
I think an hour door to door should be plenty, even allowing for the ubiquituous headwind. No GPS or smartphone. I can't be doing with that newfangled gubbins! I used to enjoy my commute along the canal when I worked at Chesser, solely because of the ducks. There are very few ducks along the Innocent. Sometimes there are sofas afloat in the burn though.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Kirst, if you like we can check it out together. I only spent five years of my life at HWU!
Posted 14 years ago # -
OK! I was at QMC, before it was QMU. We used to have regular social activities with HWU because it was 80% male and QMC was 80% female.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I was the odd 20% at QMUC (before it was QMU and after it was QMC) Got a house up Clermiston purely to avoid that bloody hill!
Posted 14 years ago # -
Arellcat, when suits you for our hot date at HWU? I'm off work for the next 2 weeks so lots of free time!
Posted 14 years ago # -
Not seen that many ducks recently on canal. There were many ducklings earlier in the year. Swans and coots proliferate. Many Canadian style canoes out tonight after John Scott Russell bridge over the bypass. Surface of path bearing up well all the way to Hermiston House Road (and beyond), still some loose whinstone chips - take care when exiting the towpath at Hermiston House Road as you turn left on the road can be some speeding cars. If this is the route you go, turn onto pavement at top of Hermiston House Road for 10 yards and cross A71 using the island? You can come off that little bit earlier and cycle through Hermiston itself to the same crossing. But that involves a gate whereas Hermiston House Road exit is smooth. HWU drains bad just now.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Kirst, I'll be on leave soon too. I'll send you a PM.
Posted 14 years ago # -
A family of swans (Mum, Dad and several littluns) have taken to sitting on the towpath near Hailesland Road. They're mainly there in the mornings (obviously swan off somewhere else for the afternoon...).
I don't really want to mess with an angry swan, so have taken to cycling up the bank to avoid them.
The young ones look like teenagers now, so I assume they'll be off reasonably soon.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Arellcat and I had a lovely afternoon out. We only got rained on twice, and she showed me the best way to HWU, and then she helped me pick blackberries on the way back, with only minor flesh wounds.
We have decided that it is easier to pick them if you can have Anth and hold him by his ankles and lift him up so he can reach the too high up ones. Anth, I am willing to
bribepay you with half a pie.Posted 14 years ago # -
And a lovely afternoon it was. The rain seemed heavy at the time, with me bemoaning my decision to forgo waterproofs for thin fleece, but neither of us really ended up very wet. We decided that roundabouts were best left to the impatient car drivers and that Hermiston Walk, via the westernmost remnant of the old Calder Road and a little pedestrian island, was the most relaxing way to get to the campus.
Kirst might have the flesh wounds but my shoulders are aching. I need a bike with a less aggressive riding position! Maybe a Cleland design would do me.
And we picked lots of blackberries!
Posted 14 years ago # -
My nettle stings are still tingling.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Poor Kirst, but you have the honour of being injured in the line of duty. :-) Depending on what you have in stock, on the stings you could try putting honey, or lemon juice, or a paste of garlic and ginger, or a mix of vinegar and bicarb. Or calamine lotion if you have some.
Posted 14 years ago #
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