Hi all, looking to start a thread for suggestions of good routes for cycling that are of reasonable distance and technical ability of kids. If anyone can add in their recommendations then that would be very much appreciated. Hilly routes, flat routes, mountain bike routes, pathed routes, single track, woods, riverside, any kind of fun route at all! And of course those that keep them away from drivists would be ideal. Thanks
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Cycling routes suitable for kids
(20 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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The run out to South Queensferry, following National Cycle Network route 1, is good. Nothing too challenging, mainly off-road. Getting there feels like an achievement. Also options to cut it short (go to Cramond instead) or get the train back. Can even be extended over the Forth Road Bridge - which always feels like an adventure to me (may require parental nerves of steel - the barrier never looked so puny until your own kids are cycling near it).
Posted 2 years ago # -
Agree on route to bridge.
Potentially worst bit is road into Dalmeny, but I have never found it having much/fast traffic.
Nice long glide into SQ on former rail line - less fun coming back up.
From QF there is the shorter (and steeper) route up to the FRB. (Many will push some of it - not just children).
Continuing on the fairly flat from Dalmeny means you have to deal with this -
SURELY CEC/Sustrans/landowner can agree on something better??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Never cycled it with kids, but I think NCN 76 from Edinburgh to Bo'Ness is also a decent option.
SURELY CEC/Sustrans/landowner can agree on something better??
I'm pretty sure Sustrans and CEC have had the same thought. Mr Primrose is apparently not so fussed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Take the train to West Lothian and cycle back on NCN 75, which is smooth, flat and largely traffic free. You can gradually increase the distance by choosing stations further from Edinburgh. The route passes right past a Tesco that's a good place for a lunch stop on longer rides. I'd recommend not following NCN 75 westwards beyond the Almondell Country Park as it becomes less suitable for children from then on, instead divert onto NCN 754 along the canal. Also, east of Drumgelloch the quality of the path deteriorates and the amount of broken glass increases.
MrSRD and I used this route with 9/10 year olds training for Pedal for Scotland several years ago now...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Have rake of options from Porty. They've sort of grown as my kids (currently 11) got older and bolder. Mostly off road with a usually only a few short connecting sections on quieter roads. A lot could be picked up from NCN1 if coming from town, but that would add to your distance. Big advantage of Porty is that it's a downhill finish and there's The Green Van for a hot chocolate.
Here are a few ideas, if any are interesting I could flesh them out a bit.
* Figgate/Braid burn paths out to Bonally, up to reservoirs,
home via WoL. Shorter option is back via Burdiehouse Burn
Paths.
* Out to Roslin via Loanhead path, cross Glen, back via
Musselburgh. Bit roadish around Musselburgh maybe.
* Pencaitland Path out to Ormiston, up to Elphinstone, across
to Tranent, down to Cockenzie and back along the coast.
* Canal out towards Ratho, down to Gogar, through Cammo down
to Silverknowes then home via coast.I've used Strava to record new routes with the kids, so I could share on there if you're a Stravite.
Posted 2 years ago # -
“I'm pretty sure Sustrans and CEC have had the same thought. Mr Primrose is apparently not so fussed.“
CPO?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Water of Leith path is good. Can be done in sections, lots of options to bail out if it gets too much and places to stop along the way. If you are feeling energetic then a trip can be extended right into the Pentlands. Can get VERY muddy in places though. Also, I think the section at Dean Village is still shut.
Posted 2 years ago # -
We often jump between the WoL and zig-zags at the end of the NEPN at past Roseburn. This misses out the messier/busier sections further down. Short road section along Roseburn Place/Russell Road but not too bad. The link up to the canal from there will be a game changer if it's usable.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@chdot, Do you know if the Earl of Roseberry still owns it? As far as I'm aware the fields beside it are now all owned by property developers. During their PPA consultations they talked about upgrading this part of the route.
The gate in the photo was knocked out by a joyriding milk truck several years ago and it now replaced by a single bar gate. If I could get myself flat enough on my top tube I reckon I could just about ride under it, kids certainly could if they duck.
You can ride all the way from Cammo to South Queensferry (almost) off road - down the almond then through Dalmeny Estate. You climb up past Miller and Carter on the road. And you do need to go on the road for a bit to get to the ice cream shop.
Sadly you can't then head on down the Almond without lugging your bikes up and down Salveson Steps or going onto Whitehouse Road. If you do brave that then you can get all they way along the promenade to Granton.
You could then also ride the spaces for People section through Silverknowes (partially segregated partially "quiet route TM") onto the NEPN.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the gate is in this parcel of land: https://scotlis.ros.gov.uk/map-search/314150/677332, which was last sold in 2007 and contains only the bridge and the substation. The larger bits where development has already happened (or will soon) are separate. Perhaps the gate's owner is now actually Network Rail or Scottish Power (or whoever owns the substation)?
EDIT: Forked out the £3 for more details - the owners, if my understanding of the legalese is right, are Scotland Gas Networks.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Interesting
Presume CEC/Sustrans know all this(?)
Posted 2 years ago # -
This is the gate now -
Don’t know when it was done.
Posted 2 years ago # -
This was just over 6 years ago (Feb 2016):
The gate was initially replaced by some boulders and then eventually the new gate.Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Out to Roslin via Loanhead path, cross Glen, back via
MusselburghTherein lies the tricky bit, and an example of how 'just going for a bike ride with the kids' still involves highly detailed route planning and risk assessments.
From Roslin you can go:
- via the chapel and the park, via a rocky track, then a lot of steps, then a muddy track, a metal footbridge, grass, then footway as far as the old road which is usually muddy, then you're on the Penicuik to Eskbank railway path.
- via the chapel, the tree rooty path at the bottom of the nursery field, to Roslin Glen Road and Jacob's Ladder (steep, a hundred steps or so) and the water works, then footway as above.
- via Roslin Glen Road, which is narrow and steep, then the gunpowder works track, then a bridge and up a lot of steps to the railway path.
- via the quiet Oatslie Road to the Glencorse centre, optional footway down to Auchendinny and Dalmore Mill, to land on the railway path.
- from the railway path at Loanhead to Polton Road and Polton Bank, but the footway is negligible and this is not a route suitable for children.
A much shorter and less scenic option to get across the Esk is really to leave the railway path at Gilmerton Road, and assuming you can get across the roundabout safely, follow past Dobbies and take Melville Gate Road and go through Dalkeith park.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Potentially worst bit is road into Dalmeny, but I have never found it having much/fast traffic.
Did that section from Dalmeny at the weekend, it was only a couple of cars but they were passing much faster than anywhere else on my ride - speeding up from 30 to 60 for all of the 650m NSL section before the junction...The path with the swing gate is a core path, which surely gives the council some more powers to do something about it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
At beach house Porty used route 61 cycle flyover
Nae racks locked to bins
Posted 2 years ago # -
Have these ones been removed? https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/4205987089
Posted 2 years ago # -
No just obscured by hordes of porty people.
Spotted them when I came out
Ha
Love that route 61 flyover
A pointed porty person pushed the bin over towards my bike so they can get it up them.
Posted 2 years ago #
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