Route options around Lizzie Bryce « CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum

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Route options around Lizzie Bryce

(21 posts)

Started 3 years ago by Dave
Latest reply from gembo

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Dave
Member

Post covid I’m going to be commuting from Edin to the west of Livingston (Alba business park) for a while. If I didn’t know better the obvious thing is through East Calder, straight over Lizzie Bryce then go along the A71 towards West Calder for a while, but I bet the traffic is nasty.

Strava heatmap shows some people are riding between mid Calder and Muriestone (Linhouse glen?) anyone familiar with the conditions?

Or, there’s the pedestrian flyover just north of Lizzie Bryce that might connect with some kind of route?

Or drop down at Almondell onto the river bank and ride right through Livingston centre then work down to Alba business park from the other side?

Thoughts welcome! I probably just need to head over on a lockdown exercise trip and explore...

Posted 3 years ago #
fimm
Member

I can't quite work out where you are heading for...
This https://www.strava.com/activities/3058559415 is my usual "long commute" - is that any help?

The paths along the river itself are trail rather than tarmac, I wouldn't use those.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

NCN75 is fine. Almondell route takes you out at sewage works in Midcalder then you can continue from there through the original Livingston Village then on via the river Path (glass under bridges) To the Shopping Centres None of this great in the dark.

I cant see Fimm’s route but I often see Fimm. Heading out or back. Bill has numerous Livy routes.

Linnhouse Water has spectacular waterfalls I learnt today. Out the back of Murieston but that wont go to the Alba.

My road option would be East Calder, MidCalder B7015 through Livingston. Not keen on A71

Posted 3 years ago #
Dave
Member

Thanks. I went for my lockdown daily exercise to check out a couple of options.

There is a Waverley Path that takes you from the bridge just north of Lizzie Bryce almost all the way west in one continuous path. Flat, no real glass or barrier issues but the way it's designed is poor if you are used to the Edinburgh paths like NEPN. Much slower if you don't want to risk getting nailed on blind corners etc.

Way back I went past Livingston South and onto the "Linhouse circuit" which takes you to Midcalder without any roads. I was on fat slick tyres, terrain might not suit everyone. A couple of spots need a quick carry depending which way you're riding, but a nice alternative.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

@dave, wAVERLEY PATH, WHO KNEW? Been lost on the linhouse circuit before. But did not see the waterfall.

Posted 3 years ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

"There is a Waverley Path that takes you from the bridge just north of Lizzie Bryce almost all the way west in one continuous path. Flat, no real glass or barrier issues but the way it's designed is poor if you are used to the Edinburgh paths like NEPN. Much slower if you don't want to risk getting nailed on blind corners etc."

Going slow on the shared infra of Livi not that much of a problem given it's size. You can pretty much get from one corner of Livi to the opposite in 15 minutes on the shred paths.

Apreciate if you're going at commuting speed for distance the change of pace, like entering a 20 zone in a car, can be a bit frustrating.

Posted 3 years ago #
Dave
Member

It's more the contrast in design philosophy that is jarring.

Most of what you get in Edinburgh is either poor but pragmatic, like the gaps between ancient tenements are what they are, or it's good like rail bed.

The little bit of Liv that I sampled is like... they made it from scratch with non-car travel as one of the explicit goals. Why is it not better? But it could be that I just chose unwisely and some are better than others.

One thing I did notice is there's obviously been some more recent parts of Livingston than others, and the newer bit I went through was vastly worse. Instead of the path having priority, the dead end residential streets had priority with half a dozen tight chicanes on the through route for active travel. Predictably I saw no vehicles moving on the roads but the paths were busy. Backwards thinking :)

Posted 3 years ago #
fimm
Member

"the newer bit [of Livingston] I went through was vastly worse"...
Oh yes. I've noticed this too.
I still don't know where you are going but you seem to have found some satisfactory routes?

Posted 3 years ago #
Dave
Member

Yeah, enough to be going on with! I see the possibility too for going through Selmwood to Leyden Rd (I used to sometimes loop back from Leith via the climb up there, and bomb back down the A70).

Think you may be able to see my rides on Strava? I can see yours anyway.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

@Dave I know that wood - would you access via Oakbank Roundabout and the road up to the clay pigeon place?

Posted 3 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

I'm enjoying this thread. I don't understand a word of it, and I don't want to. Don't even know who Lizzie Bryce is. It's just nice.

Posted 3 years ago #
Dave
Member

LOL.

Yeah, it looks like after riding through Linhouse the track lines up opposite the road up to the wood. Strava heatmap is hot, something to play with.

Posted 3 years ago #
Colin
Member

Some information about Lizzy Bryce.

https://www.konect.scot/post/who-was-lizzie-bryce

Cheers
Colin

Posted 3 years ago #
fimm
Member

Aha, found what you did.
I don't know that bit of Livingston at all, and you've got the bits I do know already.

Long Dalmahoy Road sometimes makes me a bit nervous as people drive fast and the sightlines aren't great - also it is much less likely to be gritted than the A70. But it is a bit more direct and flatter (bear in mind that I only do my long commute once or at the most twice a week). People drive fast on the A70 as well but the sightlines are better.

Posted 3 years ago #
steveo
Member

I don't understand a word of it, and I don't want to

I think it's a cold war code.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

Lizzie I always thought did well to have a roundabout name after her.

Sight lines at that roundabout also bad for drivers, they seem often not to see cyclists. Beware

Posted 3 years ago #
bill
Member

@Dave

I work very close to Alba centre (along B7015 the road that goes to West Calder) and commute from Slateford area.

I stopped using Livi paths on my commute are they were slow with all the dog walkers, turns and ups and downs.

1. My regular route if I arrive at Howden bridge by 7.35am

2. My regular route if I arrive at Howden Bridge after 7.35am

3. Short route via Balerno

4. Route if I leave early enough to go via Harperrig

5. Route by the side of Selm Muir

6. Route with said Linn Jaw Falls (wouldn't do it in the morning as too slow)

7. Good morning Tarbrax route

Options 3-7 I only started using as my morning options in the past 3 weeks.

Options via Balerno first go up, up, up then down, down, down.

Options 1-2 have less climbing and the climbs are spread out through the route.

Hope you can view the routes.

Posted 3 years ago #
bill
Member

@Dave I thought about trying that Waverley Path as I saw one of the fly-byes was using it Link. But I figured that being Livingston and I would easily get lost. Roads at least have meaningful signs.

I use A71 only when icy/snowy. Don't recommend but much higher chance of being gritted than even A70.

Posted 3 years ago #
Dave
Member

@bill - thanks! That's really useful.

Your route 3... I would just go straight up Lanark Rd through Juniper Green instead of turning off at Longstone then via Riccarton Mains Rd. I hate that road. In contrast Lanark Rd is so wide it's not too bad in traffic.

Posted 3 years ago #
bill
Member

@Dave No worries. Will be nice to have another commuter nearby!

Now I go straight up Lanark Rd as well. Back when I did that particular Strava route I was still scared* of Lanark Rd climb. It turned out to be not too bad!

* I was scared after I cycled it on my hybrid once. I only used the towpath at the time so didn't cycle any hills really. I was out of breath when I got to Currie.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

Lanark road from Slateford to gillespies very daunting when first commuting. Dave flies past jersey unzipped/

Posted 3 years ago #

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Route options around Lizzie Bryce

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