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CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".

IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

1. newtoit
   Member

   So, I've been cycling to work from Liberton (just where Kirk Brae/Mt Vernon Road intersect) to Castle Terrace for about a month now, and am looking to shake things up a bit if the sun ever comes out!

   Think I will stick to my route going in as I can't be bothered getting up much earlier... This is Kirk Brae - KB - QBC - St Albans Rd - Lauder Road - Argyle Place - MMW - NMW - Chalmers St - Lady Lawson St - Castle Terrace. I've been doing similar in reverse (though obviously not up Lady Lawson St!) and would be looking for an alternative that I can take my time over and enjoy, up to perhaps 10 miles max although less is fine! I'm taking about 20 mins on the current route and would happily allow an hour and a half for a leisurely ride home.

   Off road or on quiet roads suits me better, I haven't quite plucked up the courage to tackle Lothian Road yet, but I am happy enough with cycling on busier roads in small doses.

   Also
   looking for ideas for weekend rides with the better half up to 20 miles (probably starting off shorter though) also departing from Liberton. I'm on my hybrid and she has a pretty standard hardtail mtb. Anything taking in a good picnic spot/café/pub would be a bonus!

   I would welcome any suggestions you might have; thanks in advance.

   Posted 10 years ago #

2. fimm
   Member

   How about:
   http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6405408
   as a route for you and your better half?
   Quite a lot of off-road in that. Blue Goose pub just before the Water of Leith goes under the canal.

   Posted 10 years ago #

3. fimm
   Member

   Re-thinking my comment re Blue Goose - I had my runner's head on at that point... if you stick to the cycle path down the WoL from Colinton you come over the bridge over Lanark Road and straight onto the canal. So the Blue Goose isn't that convenient. (It is possible to take a bicycle down the Dells, but there are steps.)

   You could picnic in the park at Colinton, or somewhere slightly off the cycle path in the Dells, or at Harrison Park. There's the coffee canal boat at Harrison Park, or the Cargo pub (which is expensive and doesn't have a good beer selection, but does have a big seating area at the end of the canal. We only go there for that.)

   Posted 10 years ago #

4. I were right about that saddle
   Member

   @fimm

   I've just realised it was you I saw running past the Blue Goose! I stopped for a pint with Madame IWRATS when I took her to walk the route of the Seven Hills...you were running with two water bottles on a waistpack? Oakley type shades.

   @newtoit

   I live about 300m from you, and am also trying to get Madame IWRATS out for 20 mile cycles involving beer! Innocent railway to Musselburgh...maybe working up to the Esk valley/Pentlands traverse/WoL return...give me a shout if you're going out?

   Posted 10 years ago #

5. chdot
   Admin

   IW

   'Obviously' you'll have to try the new route to Roslin -

   http://midlothian.cyclestreets.net/journey/42039814

   Posted 10 years ago #

6. fimm
   Member

   IWRATS: I run past the Blue Goose fairly regularly. I have a pair of Oakley shades that I won in a raffle-type-thing. I occasionally run with a waistpack with water bottles. So it could well have been me - though I think it has been a while since I went out taking water with me, I do not bother unless I'm going for more than an hour, or I think it is very hot.

   Posted 10 years ago #

7. I were right about that saddle
   Member

   @fimm

   It was the weekend after midsummer. You were doing a reasonable clip which is why I remember seeing you. I was swilling one of those new lager/IPA hybrids and teasing a small dog with crisps. Typical.

   Posted 10 years ago #

8. newtoit
   Member

   @fimm
   Thanks! That route through Hermitage of Braid should open up plenty of options - I had been looking for a way to get out to the west without tackling the 50mph Braid Hills road or going up to KB. I have been down along the Canal before when I lived in Newington in my student days, took the Canal down to the viaduct then followed the WoL path to the shore. Lovely ride until I had to get back from Leith!

   The Blue Goose looks fine, I would do steps if there is the promise of beer! Been to Cargo before which you're right, is a bit naff for the location. The new Burger restaurant (called Burger, imaginatively) is good though.

   Never heard of the Coffee Canal boat before, must be worth a look!

   @IWRATS That sounds like a really good idea, as long as you're good with some slowy slowness :)

   Posted 10 years ago #

9. neddie
   Member

   Is the Hermitage of Braid cyclable? I thought it was quite rough / muddy / stoked with walkers?

   Posted 10 years ago #

10. chdot
    Admin

    

    http://www.zazoucruises.co.uk

    Posted 10 years ago #

11. chdot
    Admin

    "Is the Hermitage of Braid cyclable? I thought it was quite rough / muddy / stoked with walkers?"

    Going east it's tarmac until house.

    Then generally good surface, some mud if recently wet - take care on wooden bridges.

    Out of the woods was very rough as path was washed away, don't know if been fixed 'properly'.

    Then there is a small hill and the rest of the route is on Blackford Glen Road.

    Can be lots of walkers (and dogs) - but they 'know' you are allowed to be cycling if you are "responsible".

    Posted 10 years ago #

12. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Is the Hermitage of Braid cyclable?

    East-West very much so. North-South not so much;

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12143&page=10#post-146366

    Posted 10 years ago #

13. fimm
    Member

    @IWRATS I think you have a Spot :-)
    I once passed a couple pushing bikes along the path leading to one of the flights of steps that connects the Hermitage of Braid glen floor path with the Braid Hills road. I didn't have the heart to tell them what was coming (I was running at the time.)

    @newtoit my map isn't quite right, looking at it again - you can follow the Braid Burn all the way along. I got the route idea from a blog someone linked to on here of someone else who'd cycled it - only I went for a run that way, rather than a cycle.

    Posted 10 years ago #

14. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @fimm

    Not just a spot but a fossilised spot....I wonder if I'm hitting the age when old memories are more vivid than recent ones?

    If the Simon Parker Affair had continued for another week I had actually planned to film myself cycling down his proposed Braid Hills Avenue to Hermitage route. Through some iron railings, over a field, off a small cliff and into an impenetrable thicket. That's what I call a Quality Bike Corridor.

    Posted 10 years ago #

15. fimm
    Member

    @IWRATS - hangonaminute, I don't think I've ever met you, so how did you recognise me? Or have to been to PY & I've forgotten you?

    Posted 10 years ago #

16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @fimm

    You turned up at PY in a long black coat just as I exited in a grubby red Goretex windcheater. Actually I think we've been nodding to each other on Edinburgh's running trails for years.

    Posted 10 years ago #

17. gembo
    Member

    On blue goose, you can alight at slateford down the bike chute to the visitor centre or round the back of longstone through the park and out at sainsburys.

    Have also noticed sign for new canal side cafe at craiglockhart. Further noticed that sign has now fallen down.

    Posted 10 years ago #

18. fimm
    Member

    @IWRATS ah, OK. There are always lots of Men Who Ride Bicycles at PY and I'm hopeless with names and faces at the best of times, let alone first thing in the morning... I suspect the odd female may be more memorable...

    @gembo Boyfriend and I went looking for that new cafe - we think it is in one of the buildings next to the rugby ground there (so not strictly canalside...) I'd also noted that the sign had fallen over.

    Posted 10 years ago #

19. Chug
    Member

    @fimm The Canalside cafe is in the big building at the end of the rugby pitch nearest the car park - accessed from the car park opposite the rowing club building (without going through the wire gates into Meggetland "proper"). Quite friendly in an evening IMHO.

    Posted 10 years ago #

20. gembo
    Member

    Notice bike chute now quite overgrown and the cafe sign getting covered by the shrubbery

    Posted 10 years ago #

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