A mid-winter meander

For our last ride of 2024, we enjoyed a bright dry day– albeit a very cold one, with the thermometer struggling to get above zero. Despite that, 13 riders turned up for our half-day ride to Cramond and Silverknowes.

The highlight of the ride came early: our first use of the spanking new Canal-Roseburn cycle route. The name is a bit of a misnomer because this much-needed route doesn't actually start at the canal, but rather from the Telfer Subway, about 300 metres to the north west. So we still had to cross Dundee Street and negotiate the rounded steps (affectionately known as "the bumps") leading down to the subway.

But after that, the route was a delight to use. A new toucan crossing took us safely over the West Approach Road and into a revamped Dalry Community Park, with its impressive sports arena and play area. There is a new bridge over Dalry Road and another over the Mid Calder railway line. The whole route is wide, well surfaced and well lit, with easy gradients and gentle curves – not to mention some interesting views across the city. In short, it is a splendid addition to Edinburgh's cycling infrastructure.

After leaving the new route in Russell Road, we were soon in the more familiar territory of the Roseburn and Blackhall paths. At Davidson's Mains, we headed north for a short distance along Cramond Road South before entering the grounds of the 16th-century Lauriston Castle. We took a short breather here while chocolates were handed out.


We had another quick stop – a comfort break – at the mouth of the River Almond, then continued along the Silverknowes Esplanade. Then came the only work of the day: a steady climb up Silverknowes Road back to the Blackhall Path. We then retraced our outward route back towards  the start point.

By the time we reached Bruntsfield Links shortly before 1 pm, all but five  of the group had peeled off, so the ride was officially declared over. At 14 miles, it was just about the right length for a mid-winter run. We'll have another short ride in January and then return to our normal full-day programme after that.
 
Leader, report, photos: Mike

New cycle route links Roseburn to the Union Canal

 A brand new cycling route, linking the Roseburn area with the Union Canal towpath, opened today.

Here are some photos taken soon after the official opening.

Half-day ride this coming Saturday

We will be having our last ride of the year this coming Saturday (14th). As is now customary, both this ride and January's will be shorter than usual: just half a day each, finishing at around 13:00.

The route

This month's route promises to be particularly interesting as it will be an opportunity for us to try out the brand new Roseburn-to-Canal cycle path, due to open today (9 December.) This will allow us to reach the Roseburn Path without having to negotiate the steep zig-zag in the Telfer Subway, a busy stretch of Dalry Road and the the awkward right turn into Murieston Crescent.

The rest of our route will be on the more familiar NCN 1 as far as Davidson's Mains, and then down to Cramond and the Silverknowes Esplanade. If time permits, we'll  have a quick stop at Lauriston Castle and/or Cramond Kirk. From Silverknowes, we'll retrace our outward route back towards the Meadows.

The total distance will be about 14 miles. I don't foresee any difficulties except for the fairly steep - but short - climb up from the Esplanade.

We'll set out from our usual spot at the north end of Middle Meadow Walk at 10:30. We'll aim to finish the ride at or near the Meadows. There is a good choice of  cafes, pubs and sandwich shops near the finish point for those in need of post-ride refreshments, but that won't be part of the official programme.

And finally ...

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has led our rides in 2024 as well as those who have helped the group in other ways. We've had another successful year with a full programme of rides - not forgetting the celebrations to mark our twentieth anniversary.

Looking ahead, our first ride in 2025 will be on 11 January, and that will be another half-day run. We'll get back to our normal full-day format in February. In the meantime, happy pedalling.

Westward to Riccarton

We've enjoyed several days of unseasonably warm and sunny weather recently. Unfortunately, today wasn't one of them. It started out heavily overcast with temperatures in the low single figures, and it stayed that way the whole day.

Given the conditions, a turnout of twenty for today's ride was most respectable. It was especially good to welcome several newcomers and also to see a couple of old friends, including one person who last cycled with us back in 2008. (I hope she won't wait another 16 years before coming out with us again.)

Under Alan's leadership, we headed out on a familiar route across Bruntsfield Links and down to the Leamington Lift Bridge. On reaching Russell Road, it dawned on me that this would probably be the last time that the group  would be obliged to cycle along the busy Dalry Road and make the awkward right turn into Murieston Crescent. All being well, the new Roseburn-to-Canal cycle path should be open by the end of this month, which means that we will be able to avoid those difficulties. I hope we will be able to include this new link in our December ride.

For today, we followed our more usual route though Roseburn Park, passing Murrayfield stadium and on to the Pinkhill Path. On crossing Meadow Place Road, we continued through Gyle Park, then over the very busy Glasgow Road – taking three phases of the lights to do. After a short climb through North Gyle, we crossed Maybury Road to reach West Craigs. This is essentially a huge housing development, still very much under construction – not the most scenic location on  today's route but at least relatively free of traffic.

We then re-crossed the Glasgow Road, this time via the pedestrian subway next to Edinburgh Gateway station. Then came another not-very-scenic stretch through the car park of the Gyle shopping centre. But this was soon behind us as we headed through Edinburgh Park and along Gogar Station Road to our lunch break  at the Heriot-Watt campus in  Riccarton.

Steep-ish climbs

The afternoon leg started with a couple of steep-ish climbs through the back streets of Currie, but we soon reached the much pleasanter Water of Leith path. We took this as far as the narrow metal bridge and the short track up to Woodhall Road, and then via Bonaly to Dreghorn Loan. Then came a section that was new to many in the group: a narrow path through Dreghorn Woods, running between dense woodland on one side and a razor-wire fence on the other (presumably intended to stop errant cyclists from straying into Dreghorn Barracks).

After emerging from the woods, we were soon back in familiar territory: the Braid Burn path, Braidburn Valley Park, Hermitage Drive and Whitehouse Loan. On reaching the foot of Middle Meadow Walk, the leader declared the ride officially over. Thanks to Alan for organising another enjoyable ride with an interesting route. It would have been even better if the sun had put in an appearance, but you can't have everything.

Leader: Alan

Report and photos: Mike

November ride this coming Saturday

Our next ride will take place this coming Saturday (9th). We'll meet at our usual spot at the  north end of Middle Meadow Walk in time for a 10:30 departure. The ride will finish at or near the Meadows around the middle of the afternoon.

For this ride, Alan will be leading us on a tour of cycle routes in the west of the city, with a lunch stop at the Heriot-Watt campus at Riccarton. I don't foresee any particular difficulties along the way, apart from a few moderately steep hills and a couple of busy main roads to cross. The total distance will be about 22 miles.

Lunch arrangements

Please note that the catering at the campus is very limited. There is no cafe of any kind - only a small shop that sells confectionery, biscuits and similar snacks, with vending machines for hot and cold drinks. With that in mind, I strongly  advise you to bring a packed lunch.

Lighting up

With the end of British Summer Time, this would be a good time to check that your bike lights are in good order and have plenty of battery power. Saturday's ride should end well before dark (sunset will be at 16:15), but you might need lights to see you home afterwards, especially if you stop for a post-ride coffee.

Winter arrangements

Saturday's ride will be our last full-day outing of the year. As in previous years, our December run will be a half-day ride finishing around midday. This is partly because of the mid-winter weather and short daylight hours, and partly because of the difficulty in finding suitable lunch venues in the run-up to Christmas. Our January ride will also be for the morning only; we'll return to our usual full-day format in February.

I hope to see you on Saturday or on another of our rides. And remember, if you do decide to join us, you don't have to let anyone know in advance. Just turn up.

A Mortonhall Meander

After twenty years of 20-Milers rides, it can be hard to find fresh routes that we haven't covered many time before. Last month, we followed a well-worn path to South Queensferry, but the leader still managed to introduce enough variation to keep up the interest. For this month's ride, my aim was to repeat that example. Our goal was Mortonhall, and although much of the route was familiar to most of us, I was able to find several bits that we had never visited before as a group.

Unfortunately, the weather was not great: a chilly breeze and a thin drizzle which later turned to heavy showers. Despite that, around a dozen riders turned up - not a bad turnout given the conditions.

After the usual briefing, we set out, first to Holyrood Park and the Innocent path, then through Niddrie and the bike paths in the Bioquarter (including the delightfully-named Wellbeing Walk).  

Next came a twisty route through the back streets of Moredun. I have to admit to being a little nervous about navigating these unfamiliar roads, but I managed to get the group through without any wrong turns.

Ellen's Glen

Cake stop

After crossing Gilmerton Road, we took a somewhat more familiar path towards Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park. This forms part of our standard route to Roslin. But this time, instead of turning left into the park,  we turned right for a steep climb up Ellen's Glen Loan. Pausing for breath at the top, our efforts were rewarded with a wonderful round of cakes kindly produced by Iain. I can't answer for the rest of the group, but this gave me the energy boost I needed to get through to lunchtime.

Cake stop over, we saddled up for another twisty section, this time through the Gracemount area, from which we emerged at Howden Hall Road. This was very busy with traffic but we eventually got safely across. Up to now, we had been cycling on quiet roads and well-surfaced paths. But the next section, which took us along the edge of the Mortonhall Crematorium grounds, was more of a footpath than a cycle path. It was just about cyclable at first, but it soon deteriorated into a rough, muddy track. We had no choice but to dismount and walk, but happily only for a short distance.

Picnic at Mortonhall

And so came our lunch stop, which was the garden centre at Mortonhall. The rain had eased at this point, so about half the group opted for an al fresco picnic while others made for the restaurant. Unfortunately, after about ten minutes, the rain returned with a vengeance, causing the picnic group to pick up their sandwiches and thermos flasks and make a dash for the meagre shelter of the bike shed.

Afternoon leg

The afternoon leg started off with the least pleasant part of the day: half a mile or so in heavy rain along a very busy Frogston Road. It was a relief to turn off onto the quiet road through the Winton Estate which we followed as far as Biggar Road. Next came another unfamiliar section, along a residential road through New Swanston. At a road aptly named Caiystane View, we paused to view the Caiy Stane. This great lump of Neolithic rock is thought to be 5,000 years old and sits somewhat incongruously amidst south Edinburgh suburban housing.

Next came another new bit: the very pleasant Fairmilehead Park. This was followed by a nice downhill run to the foot of Greenbank Crescent, where we joined a more familiar route through Braidburn Valley Park and the Braid Estate, and so back to the Meadows. 

Pausing to view
the Caiy Stane

At less than 18 miles, it was not a particularly long ride, but I hope everyone enjoyed seeing some unfamiliar places. One member of the group told me that, despite being a long-standing EH10 resident who lived a few metres from the route, we had taken him to places he never knew existed. It's always gratifying when that happens.

Leader, report and photos: Mike

Next ride this coming Saturday

 We've got our October ride coming up on Saturday (12th). I'll be leading us on a tour round the south of the city, taking in the Bioquarter, Mordun, Ellen's Glen, Mortonhall, New Swanston and Fairmilehead Park. The route will include one or two places that we have not visited before as a group.

This won't be a long ride: just under 18 miles. But don't get complacent. There will be several fairly steep hills, and at least one very rough path where we will probably need do dismount for a short distance. Apart from that, we will be on mainly well-surfaced paths and quiet roads, with only one short stretch on a main road that might be busy with traffic.

Lunch

For our lunch stop, we will visit the garden centre at Mortonhall. There is a spacious cafe there, offering a good selection of snacks and light meals. There is also space to sit outside for those of us who prefer to bring a packed lunch.

Meeting time and place

This is the same as always: 10:30 at the north end of Middle Meadow Walk. The ride will probably end fairly early in the afternoon, but that will of course depend on progress, punctures and other factors.

And as you don't need me to remind you, all our rides are free, with no advance booking.

Other points

Talking of punctures, may I remind you to bring a spare inner tube suitable for your wheel size, along with any tools that might be needed to remove the wheel. That way, should you be unlucky enough to suffer a puncture, we should be able to help you back on the road without too much delay.

On another point, we always appreciate feedback on our rides as well as suggestions for future rides. A good place for that is the comment feature here on the blog. Just click the "Post a comment" link (or similar wording) at the foot of the page. (You can comment anonymously if you wish.)

Finally, you might like to know that our group received a brief mention in a Financial Times article on 17 September. It was written by Robert Orr, a journalist who came on our ride to Roslin in March. The article is available on line, but you need a paid-for subscription (or sign up for a free trial) in order to read it. (Thanks to Iona and Steve for telling me about this.)

That's all for now. I hope to see you on Saturday or on another of our rides. In the meantime, happy cycling.