I hope to be cycling from Edinburgh to New Lanark on Sunday. It will be straightforward to get there on main roads but I would prefer a quiet route if possible. Looks like Sustrans routes 75/74 might work although I haven't checked the additional mileage involved - would like to keep it under 50ml. Just thought I would check here in case there are any good suggestions from folk who may have cycled this area in the past.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
More Route Advice Required (Edinburgh - New Lanark)
(9 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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I did this in reverse a couple of years ago, coming straight along the main roads - the A70 from Carnwath is not too busy but is hilly.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Thanks fimm. I will be on a road bike with 25ml tyres so road is the most likely route although speed of other vehicles is the main concern. I just need to make sure that the route includes at least one or two hot-drink stops. The forecast is looking good for Sunday.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Could head out then via Penicuik way and the meldons, then down to Broughton and Biggar is ~50 miles and possible cafe stops at Whitmuir,, Broughton and Biggar. If you do Whitmuir then over Spylaw Shiplaw then you're only on A703 briefly before turning off onto Meldons so mainly pretty quiet roads.A detour up to Carnwath for a final cafe stop makes it about 55 ;)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Route 75 is ok. Where are you starting from? It is possible to go blackridge, harthill, fauldhouse then A704 towards Lanark. Bit of a slog. The a70 is quiet as fimm says with good sightlines. The vehicles do come past you at a fair pelt but they are few in number. At Carnwath the apple pie bakery will provide a cheery welcome and very reasonable food. The fietsclub of Balerno had three bacon rolls, three Americanos with an extra shot and I had double espresso and a rhubarb slice and the bill was 12 quid
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'll be starting from Trinity. Am now considering R75 as I can take the path from home then pick a route south of Livingston (Muirieston, Woolfords, Auchengray). Was going to head for Carstairs but you've definitely sold me on that bakery so Carnwath might be better if open on Sunday (just got a reply on fb and they are open 9-3 :)). That should keep the mileage under 50.
Posted 7 years ago # -
If going from murieston on the back road to harburn note there is a diversion. Not a big deal as the road leads back to the original road. So I would stick to the route. Beyond auchengray take the left road at the junction. Leads along a nice rolling road to the a70 before Carnwath. If a70 at Carnwath is closed at all for the resurfacing this will be minimal and you will prevail. But I think all open at the weekend.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Thanks for those tips gembo. Great to have street view to familiarise myself with some of the tricky bits as well.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Really enjoyed the run despite some frustration getting out of Edinburgh - I managed to miss the turn-off to remain on R75 and ended up on R754. Got back on track but more by luck than anything else as I literally didn't know where I was going for a while. The route south of Livingston was mostly traffic-free and, combined with a tail wind, was rather pleasant.
I was late setting off though and didn't want to have to push it after a stop at Carnwrath so kept straight on after Auchengray to come out further along the A70 but another navigation error meant I came out on the A706. Didn't know if I should stay on that to Lanark so took the A721/A70 to Carstairs then the A743, additional mileage but still probably preferable to the busier more direct route.
Regretted not getting to the Apple Pie Bakery as it figured as a big part of my plans for the day, especially when I got to Lanark and there wasn't much open. Managed to get something half decent at Route 38 although not the coffee - my experience when that comes in a glass is that there'll be little that I'll recognise as coffee. Hope to get to the bakery another day as I sometimes go that way for work.
Did 46 mile in the end, a lovely run on a nice autumnal day (colder the further south I got though!).
Posted 7 years ago #
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