May ride to South Queensferry

For today's ride, we had originally intended to take a long-ish route to South Queensferry and the Dundas Estate, similar to the one that Ken led us on last October. But in deference to the weather and the turnout, today's leader, Claire, wisely decided on a slightly shorter option. It was nevertheless a very enjoyable run.

Twenty four of us set out from the Meadows, taking the familiar route to Russell Road and onto the Roseburn Path. We then headed north through Davidson's Mains and Barnton. After Cramond Brig we turned onto the Kirkliston Road, and then onto the railway path into Dalmeny. The final leg of the morning was the delightful (and delightfully flat) Ferry Glen path, which ends at the Co-op in South Queensferry.

As well as being an interesting destination in its own right, South Queensferry offers an excellent choice of eating places. About a third of the group opted to eat their own food on the steps overlooking the harbour. Most of the others headed for the Picnic Café, which, as always, served us efficiently and without fuss.

It had been raining steadily for most of the morning, but happily the skies started to clear for our return leg. This took us along Queensferry's cobbled main street, under the Forth Bridge and into the Dalmeny Estate. After a couple of pleasant off-road miles, we emerged at Cramond Brig, and then re-traced our outward route as far as the Sustrans marker at Craigleath, where we went our separate ways.



View 20-milers to South Queensferry in a larger map

Leader: Claire
Report: Mike
Map trace: Jim