CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Route help please - Balerno to Leith?

(15 posts)

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  1. mhairic
    Member

    I started a new job this week in leith and it took me 2 hours to cross town on the bus on the way home. As unfit as I am, I reckon I can cycle that faster. I’ve an old road bike and a hard tail mtb (that I have a couple of pairs of tyres for) and next week i’m borrowing an e-bike as I don’t think i’ll manage up the hills without help just yet.

    My only problem is that I’ve done all my cycling down south and don’t know the routes in Edinburgh at all. Please can you help with a route that is as traffic free as is sensible (and what bike I won’t wreck on it)?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  2. Greenroofer
    Member

    Hi @mhairic. I'm not competent to advise the specific route, as there will be others more expert than me on points east of Tollcross, but have you looked at cycle.travel, which is now my go-to website for bicycle route finding.

    https://cycle.travel/map?from=Balerno&to=Leith&fromLL=55.8839143,-3.3387606&toLL=55.9725499,-3.1709492

    Posted 5 years ago #

  3. gembo
    Member

    WoL path to canal. Canal towpath Russell Road to High NEPN down to five ways then turn right and go all the way to Leith.

    All off road bu I have failed to give link round to Russell road but here you go

    Cross aqueduct, run bike down bike chute to wol visitor centre take river path through saughton park then round via murrayfield to Russell road.

    Bit of a footer but all off road. Lecky bike on the bike chute maybe a bit of effort

    Posted 5 years ago #

  4. piosad
    Member

    The chute problem can probably be avoided through Redhall Park and then round the Sainsbo's? Though I guess some hairy right turns on the way back. Otherwise come off the canal at Harrison Park and get to Russell Road via Ardmillan?

    Posted 5 years ago #

  5. neddie
    Member

    Well worth getting a good ol’ fashioned paper* Spokes (local cycle campaign) map from your local bike shop.

    Really well marked up with off road routes, dodgy junctions & local knowledge.

    The one in our office breakout gets tonnes of use

    *Not actually paper, non-tear plastic

    Posted 5 years ago #

  6. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Gembo's route is essentially this:

    http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=765695

    but I have avoided the bike chute (and the aqueduct) by joining Lanark Road just by the canal, plummet briefly, cross the junction, then go left for the WoL visitor centre.

    Canal to Harrison Park, then down Ardmillan and round Murieston Crescent is a more direct route to Russell Road, certainly. It's not too busy.

    You could save a bit of time on the ride to Leith by joining Lanark Road at the top, just before it crosses the city bypass, and then you can plummet at top speed all the way to the WoL visitor centre. But the off-road route is better if you're not up for traffic.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  7. gembo
    Member

    If the WoL path is muddy, could be this morning, when did the rain stop last night? Then i go to Currie then down to the East Gate into Herriot Watt then through to the park and ride exit and over the A71 to Hermiston village, through its one street then down pavement (is a cycle path too) onto the canal and then along to the bike chute or the various alternatives to the chute then onwards to Leith

    Posted 5 years ago #

  8. wingpig
    Member

    Is there an approximate specific bit of Leith you need to be in? There are a few twisty but relatively quiet options leading away from the bike paths.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    OMG

    This morning decided to go down the road

    Starting with getting a lungful of the Mrs Garto Mobile as i moved workie's cones so she could even get out then all the way down the Lanark Road West and indeed on into Harrison Gdns

    only then did it become nice again

    Back to paths tonight, with my big light charged

    Posted 5 years ago #

  10. Ed1
    Member

    leith

    This is the way I go to leith apart from A71 part I take research avenue north and through the watt, but google does not know you can cycle this way.

    It may not be the most efficient way. I dont like water of leith as much as muddy and the canal too busy and narrow

    Posted 5 years ago #

  11. jonty
    Member

    I think I would definitely cut through Heriot Watt in the middle there instead of going down the A71 imo. Probably better done by cutting up to 'Hermiston' (really the old Calder Road.)

    Posted 5 years ago #

  12. mhairic
    Member

    A belated thank you for the route advice. I had the community ebike this week and managed the commute twice. The first time I missed the bike chute on the canal and ended up in fountainbridge which was ok. The second time I nipped onto the road to pick up the water of leith path at the visitor centre and that route was great.
    Now I just need to get an ebike - thank you :)

    Posted 5 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    Good week to start the commute

    Posted 5 years ago #

  14. mhairic
    Member

    Totally. Clear skies and sunshine made for two lovely commutes. Thankfully I still have most of my gear for poorer weather from when I used to cycle so not too worried about the cold wet and dark. Just need a bike to help me get up the hills as my legs won’t manage it themselves.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    Obviously you studied

    http://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/

    Posted 5 years ago #

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