Today's ride was to one of our usual destinations - Balerno - but by a most unusual route. Instead of simply following the well-worn path along the canal to the Water of Leith, our leader, Logan, conducted us on an interesting itinerary on quiet roads and back doubles through the south and west of the city.
Sixteen of us set out from the Meadows on a grey morning in a light drizzle. After crossing Bruntsfield Links, we headed through Merchiston, Polwarth and Shandon, eventually joining Slateford Road. At Redhill Bank, Logan showed us a cunning cut-through to the Water of Leith path that avoided the climb up to the Hailes Gate footbridge.
By the time we reached the end of the path at Balerno High School, the rain had stopped and the sky was doing its best to turn blue - just in time for the real work of the day, which was the slow climb up Cockburnhill Road to Red Moss. That was followed by a superb freewheel past East Riggs and along Mansfield Road back down to Balerno. The Pentland Hills were looking their best along this part of the route.
After lunch in the Grey Horse, we made a half-hearted attempt to visit Malleny Gardens. But the afternoon was wearing away. Because of that - and the admission charge to the gardens - we contented ourselves with peering through the gate.
We then negotiated a section of the route which was completely new to most of the group (including myself). Running north east from Malleny House, this was a rough-ish track which eventually joined the Kirkgate in Currie - a very pleasant alternative to the usual route.
From Currie Church, we continued through Blinkbonny and Woodhall Road, and so into Colinton to view (and use) the excellent new public conveniences there.
The final leg took us along Colinton Road, then through Craighlockhart, Harrison Park and Merchiston - and so back to Bruntsfield and the Meadows. The total distance was 23 miles. Another excellent ride.
View 20milers to Red Moss Sept11 in a larger map
Leader: Logan Strang
Report by: Mike Lewis
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