Cycling routes around Edinburgh - 2013

...ops, some updates need to be done ah? oh well, I believe the amount of happiness in one's life is inversely correlated with the amount of time spent on a computer, yeppa, it was 2 good years indeed!


I did take some notes along the way, and since I had a few people asking me for routes and ideas I finally found the time to put some order in my messy notes (Achilles Tendon injured = no running = lot of unhappiness and load of time on the computer )


So, let's go back in time to 2013, when my beautiful Kona Dew Drop was still a fresh second hand purchase and I had no clue how to use the shifters.


Below are a few easy day routes of about 100km, mainly flat. They are circular loops from Edinburgh, or requires a one way train ride to get to the starting point.




My favourite websites for planning a route are:


Weather forecasts (I find this much more reliable then BBC weather and Metoffice)
http://www.yr.no/


National Cycling Network – just pick one route and follow it. The maps they sell are really good too, whenever I go for longer trips I always get one
http://www.sustrans.org.uk


Route profile – Once you chose the route, you can use this website to check the distance and the profile, it's always better to know in advance where the big hills are!
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php



Devilla Forest loop - 60m

Sunday 26 June 2013

After months of miserable weather, we have been blessed by a summerish weekend which called for a good bike ride. It was the first time with my new second hand Kona bike and what a great one! I spent the previous year on a 18kg mountain bike and this is just another level. Fast, strong and reliable, the first 100km of this cycling season felt just like a stroll to the park with her. So, good weather, good bike and good mates. With Sorcha, John and Tom we had an early start at 8.30 trying to get out of the tram work in the city (will they even end?)

The first leg to the Queensferry Bridge via NCN 1 was slowed down as the path was closed after Cramond, so that we followed the NCN 76 instead to get to South Queensferry. If you have a road bike just don't go there, it's a forest road, rocky and muddy, which is great for mountain bikers but not so much for road bikers... Lesson learnt, John had a puncture, and after fixing it he realised some spoke must have got damaged too. His bike still managed to bring him to Dunfermline where he decided to get a train back. Too bad as the best part of the path was still to come, another time will be!

After the Queensferry Bridge the cycling signs were just too confusing and rare, so that we left the NCN 1 and got on the main road until Dunfermline. To recover from the stress of the traffic A roads we had a wee stop in the Pittencrieff Park where we said goodbye to John and took the chance to fuel up. Then we went out from the north entrance of the park, turned right to William St, and then after a km on the right hand side we joined the NCN 764. This is by far the best cycling path ever: flat, tarred (no holes and no works, coming from Edinburgh this is unreal!) straight, traffic free, in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by green fields and some forest. We were aiming to get to Alloa, but decided to get a shortcut through the Devilla Forest Cycle Route instead as we were getting short of time. Again, this was not very suitable for road bikes, we did have to walk them for a km but then it got better and after 5km we got to the A 985 towards Kincardine. We then joined the NCN 76, again, a very nice path with some good sights on the Forth, and after a few miles we stopped for a picnic in Culross, such a nice and peaceful village that reflected in the people we met there, all happy and smiling!

After the break we carried on on the NCN 76 along the coast. Again that was a very pleasant cycle with a few short uphills to entertain the journey. We got back to the Queensferry Bridge and said goodbye to Tom who decided to take the train back from there.  Left alone, Sorcha and me had a bucolic last break under a blossoming cherry tree and deciding which route to take: the NCN 1 despite the works or going back the same way? The debate was quite short, we looked at each other and decided no way we are going back to the forest trail. 

At the end it turned out we took the right decision as the path was closed for only a km, we carried the bikes on a couple of working spots and that was it. During the last few miles back to the centre we started to feel the tiredness in the legs and back but the thought of having left 2 guys behind somehow boosted our spirit up!

The day cannot finish without a pint, so that after a shower and some food we met again at the Captains Pub, lovely and warm place. A few people were playing live and even the bartender was joining the tunes with his violin while serving beers, absolutely great day!

North Berwick Loop via Haddington - 68m

North Berwick via Haddington has always been one of my favourite routes. Easily accessible, scenic, varied and no train involved. I lost count of the times I rode it, sometimes alone, but most of the times with some new travelling buddy. Everybody has always loved it.

That was a nice spring day in 2013, the blue sky and fresh breeze called for an easy warming up cycling day and to North Berwick we went. No GPS and no smartfone, our only map was an handmade one and it turned out to be quite accurate

For the first time in ages I found myself cycling with 2 other Italians, which means good laughs but also a late start. Mr Zazzu stood up to the South Italian stereotype and showed up 40 min later than agreed. My Swiss side was pushing me to head off without him but the curiosity of hearing his excuse took over - it turns out he was running around town looking for his bike, better spare the details...

So, at 11am (never happened in my all cycling life) we finally managed to hit the road. From the Meadows we followed the NCN 76, passing through the Innocent Tunnel (if you live in Edinburgh and never saw it, it does exist and it's like a magic hidden place, I found it out after 4 years living here!), Musselborough and then heading towards Haddington. The 5 miles to Haddington are untarred but they are a pleasure to ride and also a road bike should manage them without big issues. A wee break in the park by the river in Haddington and off again towards Dunbar following the NCN 76. All the route up to here is more or less flat and really a nice ride, relaxing landscapes and the day was sunny and chilly, perfect cycling conditions!

From Dunbar we went back the same way for a few miles and turned right into the A198 towards North Berwick. This bit is uphill but it's worth the sweat (and a flat tyre) just for the view at the top. Out of the blue we found ourselves facing the Tantallon Castle and Brass Rock, so close and big in their splendor. We were so used to see them at a distance then they just looked soooo huge, with a deep blue background and a seagull soundtrack, that was the perfect moment, even with a slow puncture that I coulnd't be bothered to change.

From there the 5 miles to North Berwick felt never ending: tired, untrained, slowed down by the puncture and with a slight saddle sore we laid down for some straaatching and chilled out for a good hour in front of the Bird Centre, thinking if to take the train back or finish it all...what a question, of course we kept going on 2 wheels! It took a while to figure out how to get out of North Berwick but eventually managed to get on track for the 24 mile back by the seaside. The sun was kissing us and I was quite pleased to notice a change in my skin colour and to store some vitamin D too!

Brilliant day, company, route and weather, this was a promising day for a great cycling summer!


St Andrews to Edinburgh via Falkland - 60m


I did this route a few times and in all the possible combinations. Not sure why this time we got the train to St Andrews (Leuchers to be precise, 5m to St Andrews) but it turned out not to be a good idea... whatever you plan, always check the wind direction forecasts first!


Among the fortunate participants were Mr. Zazzu, Walter and dear Sor, who dropped out after 10m saying she preferred being somewhere else haha, I really appreciate honesty in people!


The original plan was to follow the NCN 1 back to Edinburgh, passing by Falkland, Kinross and Dunfermline. Somehow in Falkland we missed the sign and went up the Lomond Hill, which is a dreadful climb from that side. By the time we realised we took the wrong road we were on the top, and no way we would go back. We decided to keep going to Glenrothes and then get back to Edinburgh by the coast via NCN 76. I personally prefer the Kinross way, but sometimes destiny make it easier and choose for you.




Ballock to Edinburgh - 72m


I found this quite boring as for landscapes and terrain. The route follows the canal, from Ballock to Edinburgh, for 73 miles following NCN 7 until Glasgow and then the NCN 754 back to Edinburgh, passing by the Falkirk Wheel.


Make sure you do it Eastward to take advantage of the prevailing wind. The bit from Glasgow to Edinburgh is all unpaved. Is not too bad but I guess you don't want to waste your new road bike on it. The highlight of the route is the Falkirk Wheel, which is quite impressive indeed even to not engineering eyes. There is a nice café there to store up energies and warm. The rest of it is pretty much flat and straight along the canal. After Retho it gets paved.