September's ride to Roslin

Our regular 20miler ride this month managed to land on a day of beautiful sunshine, hardly any wind and comfortable temperatures. The day before rained and the forecast for the following day is wind and rain, so the weather gods smiled on us.

Twenty-six people took advantage of the opportunity and came on the ride, led by Jim. We started with a gentle trundle down Lovers' Loan and through the Astley Ainslie Hospital (with a diversion by a small group to avoid narrow gaps for the recumbent trike rider Samantha). The hospital group had a brief pause to help a passerby carry a wheelchair down some steps. I missed this bit as I was in the diversion group so I may have more details later when I am corrected! We regrouped on Cluny Gardens and started the first climb of the day, up Braid Avenue and side streets to the Braidburn Valley Park.

Braid Burn Valley Park

We had a pause for light refreshments before a second climb, up Cockmylane (a green path, sometimes a bit slippy) and then a wiggle through Fairmile Park and a housing estate and then over the main road using the pedestrian crossings. We had a brief pause to admire the Buck Stane,

The Buck Stane

and then used the woodland track over to Mortonhall - another climb but the views at the top were lovely. 

Stable Bar, a sometimes-lunch destination

We made our way under the bypass at Straiton,

Old Burdiehouse Road

turned left up to Loanhead along the main road, and paused to use the toilets in Loanhead before taking the old railway line out to Roslin.

Bridge over Bilston Glen

Literally as we arrived at the pub, a coachload of tourists was unloading into the same place, so a few extra people decided to find a local sandwich for a picnic rather than overload the pub's resources.

Roslin Castle picnic stop

After lunch most people had a quick look at Rosslyn chapel, unveiled finally (renovations over) for the first time in a long time, and then we returned, partly by the same route but with a few differences. We went all the way along the railway line

Loanhead-Roslin Railway path

to the "smelly pond" at Straiton, and came on the main road all the way to the foot of Liberton Brae

Liberton Brae

 before turning left and heading up the Hermitage path.

Hermitage of Braid

At the east entrance to the Hermitage we split into two groups; one to go back to the centre of town and one to go to the canal basin to find coffee.


View Middle Meadow Walk 20-milers Roslyn in a larger map


Leader: Jim
Report: Livia