I'm trying to work out the best route to the Heriot-Watt campus from the Water's of Leith/Warriston Path end of town. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Route suggestions sought
(12 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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Best?
Least car hassle = NEPN +WoL + canal + Riccarton Mains Road.
Fewest idiots-mistaking-the-towpath-for-a-racetrack hassle = NEPN + WoL + Murrayfield cut-through + New Balgreen entrance to + Broomhouse Path+ Cutlins Road + canal from aqueduct and beyond as before.Posted 10 years ago # -
Always interesting to see what cyclestreet shows:
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/38759615/Good to see that the new Balgreen entrance is picked up.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Thanks guys :)
Posted 10 years ago # -
Hi Zenfrozt, having cycled this myself recently having business at HW, i went NEPN + WoL + canal, out to just behind the calder estate, then up over the canal bridge to the new houses where Westburn used to be, now called Middleknowe,go straight up the road which turns into Westburn Middlefield, there is a wee bit of steepness but doable by bike.
At the top of Middlefield turn right to Baberton Mains Hill, then just turn off at the first right you come to,keep right and as parallel to the railway as you can, you will go under it first of all, then you get to cross at the level crossing, down the wee farm road,once across this brings you out at HW main entrance. Its a good cycle and you get a lot of wildlife viewing on the way. RJPosted 10 years ago # -
I used to go from Harrison Park to HW every day on the canal. Not sure of the WoL-canal linkup, but this is the route I took from the end of the canal. Almost 100% car free.
Posted 10 years ago # -
given it's a mostly car free route, what's the lighting like?
Posted 10 years ago # -
That's a good question. Not great, but if you have a half decent light you should be ok. Lights on the main road you have to cross, and I think HW is quite well lit. Canal is a bit of a mix, I can't remember having problems though.
Posted 10 years ago # -
A good light is advisable for the canal towpath as there are half-gates at some points and the occasional ninja pedestrian.
Avoid the big roundabout on the A71 next to the Hermiston Park and Ride. I have had a couple of frights there as some vehicles go through at speed.
RonnieJ's route is a wee bit of long way round but scenic.
Posted 10 years ago # -
RonnieJ's suggestion at the western end is on my commute and is unlit, you'll need a good light and at the moment beware of ice...
I'd definitely do NEPN and canal, it's so quiet and hassle free. But you will need a good light for that too, as it's completely black.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Canal can range from pleasant to worse than the most awful road depending on the amount of ninja peds, runners and bikes, the number of people mistaking it for the aforementioned racetrack, the number of people with disco strobe lighting or laser-eye-surgery equipment in place of sensible lights, the amount of ice present, the decisions of yourself and other cyclists with regards to bell-dinging before bridges and obstacles...and a few other things I'm sure I'm forgetting.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@twq I used to go that route through Heriot watt but from your own map you can see that iti is quicker and just as car free to take the right turn at thie spot marked international study centre. Then either on road or through the car park. Takes you to the pedestrian crossing over A71 then through the ginnel which is very thin line on the map to hermiston village. Get to the end of the road cross onto pavement then down to canal.
That is my favoured route tho the other day I forget and had t try to cross a 71 at the north gate exit.
I found a few cars driving at me on hermiston house road but your route is still a good 'un.
I think canal towpath not so mental once you are over the aqueduct and the further west you go the quieter and quieter it gets
Posted 10 years ago #
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