To compensate for the loss of the cyclepath through Eskbank due to the Borders Railway, a new cyclepath has been built in part. It's not yet complete since a new housing estate has to be built on the former site of Edinburgh College. However there is a new interesting bike route (NCN 1) through from where St David's School was off Newbattle Road over to Woodburn at Newmills Rd. This avoids the town centre.
I went for a first walk down there this afternoon. It's very pleasant as a walk, going through mature woodlands presumably formerly of Newbattle Abbey. And there a lovely old bridge over the South Esk. As a bike path it will not be a great alternative for those in even a slight hurry - Abbey Road would be much quicker and arguably safer.
The new bit of path wiggles quite a bit and there is a fairly steep bit. At this time of year, it is potentially tricky due to leaf mould and mud on top of the asphalt. It's also popular with dog walkers.
So whilst it's a very pleasant walk and a very slow careful bike ride, it's not ideal as a major NCN route and less so for normal A-B journeys. There is a bike gate at the West end - possibly difficult for some - and at the other end there are some kind of metal system that I find hard to describe!
Anyway here are a couple of pics. This part of Dalkeith really is very pretty.
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