I should declare an interest here. I designed the website for Whitmuir the Organic Place in Lamancha. I recently asked the owners, Heather and Pete if they got many cyclists visiting the cafe as it seems a good distance from Edinburgh to stop for a break. They said "it would be great to reach them - any suggestions welcome". So would a discount for cyclists help? Or a tool kit behind the counter? Any ideas?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
What would encourage you to visit Whitmuir?
(53 posts)- Started 13 years ago by Cyclingmollie
- Latest reply from Dave
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Posted 13 years ago #
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Ah interesting. We were there just last week! (but in the car)....
Covered cycle parking (this is Scotland after all and it has been known to rain occasionally);
A mirror opposite the exit as I seem to remember it being on a slight curve and slightly blind;
Cafe discount would obviously go down well.Posted 13 years ago # -
You'll have seen http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3225
I emailed "Thought you might like to add a link to http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net to encourage more people to cycle to you"
But never got a response.
"
Whitmuir Farm is in Lamancha, on the A701. We are 4 miles south of the Leadburn Inn and 2 miles north of West Linton, approximately 15 minutes from Peebles and 20 minutes from Hillend, Edinburgh, by car."
adding "and bicycle" would be a start +http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/to/55.740757,-3.297594/Whitmuir
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Covered cycle parking"
Yes
Better than this too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I should declare an interest here. I designed the website"
Nice.
http://www.whitmuirorganics.co.uk
Details, details - © Copyright 2010
Posted 13 years ago # -
Anth and chdot, I will pass on the covered cycle parking and mirror ideas. I can get the ride timings from CycleStreets and add them to the site myself. chdot, do you mean adding a photo to the photomap in CycleStreets?
Posted 13 years ago # -
"do you mean adding a photo to the photomap in CycleStreets?"
Didn't - but good idea.
Meant this - http://tinyurl.com/Whitmuir (in case previous link didn't work)
Posted 13 years ago # -
Sampled the Whitmuir organic beef burgers in a bun on Portobello prom on Sunday. Picked up a leaflet and we are hoping to plan a visit sometime soon.
So I would say the best way to encourage visits is to let cyclists try the produce! :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
A track pump and a small selection of useful items (even if only p*ncture repair kits) is a nice way to say "cyclists welcome". Also, cycling parking that is visble from the cafe is always nice for those of a paranoid disposition.
The other way is to say "cyclists welcome" at as many opportunities as possible - on websites, on any leaflets/publicity.
And finally, to make sure cyclists are welcome (I've heard good things about Whitmuir, so I'm sure they are). There's a few cafes I happily revisit because they are friendly when you show up on the bike, and take things like dripping wet cyclists in their stride. Word of mouth is a powerful thing.
Posted 13 years ago # -
As well as direct-ish route from Cyclestreets, there could be examples other circular routes that may start from the edge of Edinburgh (e.g. Bonnyrigg) or Peebles. I like the route that passes Carrington, just to the east of Gladhouse, over Shiplaw then Whitemuir then over to just north of West Linton and north up the Auchencorth Moor to Penicuik ...
Posted 13 years ago # -
crowriver: "So I would say the best way to encourage visits is to let cyclists try the produce! :)"
I tried a burger at Ecofusion in Inverleith Park - yum. Their minute steaks from the meat counter are amazing. Whitmuir will be at Redhall Razzamatazz - Redhall Nursery on Sunday 7 August 12-5 and at York Place Festival Farmers Market - Edinburgh Thursday-Sunday for 5 weeks from Thursday 4 August through to Sunday 4 September. So there are more chances to try coming up.
PS: "to make sure cyclists are welcome"
I've not turned up on a bike so I can't actually say if cyclists would be genuinely welcome or not. But I hope all this advice, once passed on to them will help make the case for encouraging cyclists to visit. After all sustainability is a major part of what they are trying to achieve.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"After all sustainability is a major part of what they are trying to achieve."
Quite.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Just send them a link to this thread!
The best way to accommodate cyclists, if that's what you want to do, is to ask the cyclists themselves rather than supposing what cyclists might want. If nothing else this thread is a step that a lot of places wouldn't take! (Edinburgh Council included)
Posted 13 years ago # -
"As well as direct-ish route from Cyclestreets, there could be examples other circular routes"
Check 'Quietest'! -
Posted 13 years ago # -
Other farm shop/cafes are available (although Whitmuir is a particular favorite) and some have bike directions.
http://www.craigies.co.uk
http://damhead.co.ukFair & Balanced, We report, You Decide etc etc :-)
Posted 13 years ago # -
On our Company intranet website I placed a link to Cycle streets where you automatically go to the planner with the destination filled in.
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/to/EH46+7BB
This is an example you could place on the website, with the owners permission, under a heading like this:
Want to cycle here, Click this Link.
Craigies is cycle freindly, as I've seen the display in their shop.
Posted 13 years ago # -
anth at work: "Just send them a link to this thread!"
That's a good idea.
holisticglint: "Other farm shop/cafes are available"
and as Gembo mentioned in the other thread there's Pillars of Hercules which is on the NCN I think and has a Millenium mile post right outside.
Millenium Mile Post by Cycling Mollie, on FlickrPosted 13 years ago # -
"Check 'Quietest'!"
I think more than a plate of stovies (recommended) would be required to recover from that route.
The 4 or 5 km over the Pentlands is marked in the route description as:
"Cycling in this section is not permitted."
Posted 13 years ago # -
"The other way is to say "cyclists welcome" at as many opportunities as possible - on websites, on any leaflets/publicity.
And finally, to make sure cyclists are welcome (I've heard good things about Whitmuir, so I'm sure they are)."
I would second this. I am far more likely to visit somewhere where I know I am actually welcome rather than the usual "only drivers are important" type places.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Check 'Quietest'!"
The route that I get from Eskbank isn't as quiet as the one I would choose though my route would be longer and possibly hillier. It is also nice to have a circuit rather than there and back (even I am not that cake fixated).
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Other farm shop/cafes are available"
Make a day of it! (Visit 2 at least)
Posted 13 years ago # -
I have sent the URL of this thread and a summary of what's been suggested to Heather and Pete. Thanks for all the ideas. Wish they paid me as their marketing consultant.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@cb I think more than a plate of stovies (recommended) would be required to recover from that route.
Quite! Having checked out the route options I'd do it as a solo or with a keen cyclist friend, but not with the wife and kids. Uphill all the way, fast A roads to negotiate, or near-impassable terrain on the 'quietest' route. Feggedabadit!
Pillars of Hercules looks much more manageable. Not far from Ladybank or Markinch stations for homeward bound trains too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hmmmm.
On Friday I found myself ditching a ride at Whitmuir (the A701 into a headwind for 15-20 miles after having done 50 odd miles before that over some large-ish hills is NOT fun) and... Is there any bike parking?
Perhaps it was cos I was grumpy, but I couldn't see any into the car park, and there were none at the entrance to the shop or cafe. I wound up just propping the bike against the door of the cafe entrance.
As mentioned above, though, the biggest drawback is, I think, the A701. It's just busy. Really busy. And I believe the 60mph limit does not apply on that road (at least, that's what it feels like).
But yeah. Bike parking. Would go some way to making cyclists feel welcome (shame, cos the staff were lovely and the coffee wasn't bad, and the chocolate cake was fab - it was recovery...).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Indeed WC. I think this is all there is:
Cyclists at Whitmuir by Cycling Mollie, on FlickrFrom next week it will be possible to buy a share of the farm. Whitmuir Community Farm Community Benefit Society has been established to purchase the farmland, undertake the farming and develop this educational work. The new Society is issuing shares to raise the funds to do this work.
It's an attempt to raise the money necessary to keep the whole enterprise going. Shares start from £50.
And the main website is no longer the one I designed.
Posted 11 years ago # -
The best I could find last year was: off to the left of the main entrance there was some sort of fencing next to the bins. I tied my bike up to that, as had a couple of ERC types. So yeah, no real bike parking.
I was also a bit trepidatious about going into the cafe as they had nice leather seats and my a*se was a bit wet after cycling over the hill from the A703 but, credit to the staff, I was made very welcome. Good carrot cake IIRC.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
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It could obviously do with some benches outside to facilitate spectating of speed-puncture-repair events (even more fun than hill climbs)
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've been there a couple of times, both times at weekends and in the car. Nice food but the posh upholstery, the need to book a table and the proper dinner-at-lunchtime menu creates a feeling of formality which would make me feel a bit awkward turning up in possibly grubby cycling kit and asking for a bowl of soup and a toastie. Perhaps its different Mon-Fri when presumably its quieter.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Funny Charterhall but on a similar note, we cycled to Beescraigs near Linlithgow and found it either too posh (a sit down resturant) in the niddle of a woodland!! or round the back, and what I can only describe as a chippy with an aluminium table and chairs. Walls are white plain tiles and it feels cold and uninviting. Kind of polar opposites.
Posted 11 years ago #
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