If all goes to plan I should be cycling up through Edinburgh on Friday 5th September. I'm a bit concerned about getting into heavy traffic through the city and wonder if anyone could help me with a good route. my own route so far is:
Day 9 Eskdalemuir to Inverkeithing
N on B709 to Ettrick – Traquair and into Peebles
A703 N out of Peebles to Leadburn then A701 to Penicuik then A701 N to Easter Howgate.
Turn L onto A703 onto jcn of A702/A703 and on to cross A720 ring road on A702.
L on B701 Oxgangs Road then L on B701 Redford Road then L onto Colinton Road then Bridge Street and over Water of Leith.
There seems to be a cycle path then off to the R?
B701 continues to Drum Brae North then L onto A90 and cycle path alongside this (?) gives onto B924 and passes the Forth Rail Bridge.
B924 then joins the A90 road bridge (somehow) and onto cycle path.
Over bridge and into Inverkeithing.
Any help would be really appreciated folks.
Thanks, Joe.
Concerned about Edinburgh
Re: Concerned about Edinburgh
I rode from Pitlochry to Edinburgh and then from Edinburgh to Beatock.
I was escorted for some of both days by a forum member DougieB who is/was living in Edinburgh. He showed me how to get from the FRB into the city, and then out of the city heading south.
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/185051
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/185052
I know these aren't the routes you want specifically, but they will show you some info, especially the route from the FRB in towards the city. It follows a cycle track and quiet roads plus old rail beds. Excellent route and highly recommended.
Thank you Dougie!
I was escorted for some of both days by a forum member DougieB who is/was living in Edinburgh. He showed me how to get from the FRB into the city, and then out of the city heading south.
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/185051
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/185052
I know these aren't the routes you want specifically, but they will show you some info, especially the route from the FRB in towards the city. It follows a cycle track and quiet roads plus old rail beds. Excellent route and highly recommended.
Thank you Dougie!
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Concerned about Edinburgh
Hi Nanook
I went through Edinburgh on 27th July, it was fine. The traffic in the centre was slow and not aggressive!! I came in from Penicuick on the A703 which forks left a few miles later, I crossed over the A720 (big roundabout) then headed straight through the city....slowly... heading for Telford Road where the NCR1 passes underneath. It may be possible to pick up the NCR 1 a bit further back. In any event I had to cross the Telford Road on foot to get down to the NCR 1.
The NCR is going to take you all the way to Queensferry, which is your end of the Bridge. It is a combination of paths, quiet roads and disused railways joined together. The long final run down to Queensferry is a path which ran alongside the A90 for some of the time. As you approach this long path it may still be warning of diversions. I stopped a fellow cyclist coming the otherway to check it was Ok to reach the Forth Bridge still, and he said, yes, they just divert you through an estate. Expecting to encounter truculent adolescents and social deprivation during this detour (adding about 15 minutes tops) I was surprised and delighted to find there are of course two types of estate, this one turning out to be a large mansion with extensive grounds. However, I did have to cycle round a sheep who refused to move.
Eventually you will join a path down a disused railway. sloping down to a small retail carpark (it has a ScotMid shop there as a landmark). Swing round to your right to get the exit. Turn left out of this car park, follow the NCR signs down into the town.... then turn left back up out of the town. At the top of a short sharp rise you will encounter the bridge, take the pedestrian path under it, and you will be directed back under it again shortly after as they are using the East side for cyclists.
Walking the bridge seems a much more popular activity than the Severn Bridge, there are lots of people and cyclist about. The bridge seems a bit different than the Severn Bridge in so far as it looks a lot older and seems to move more.
After Edinburgh I turned right up the B981 to Inverkeithing (good cycle shop on the left) then the B981, B917, B906 to Kinross.
I went through Edinburgh on 27th July, it was fine. The traffic in the centre was slow and not aggressive!! I came in from Penicuick on the A703 which forks left a few miles later, I crossed over the A720 (big roundabout) then headed straight through the city....slowly... heading for Telford Road where the NCR1 passes underneath. It may be possible to pick up the NCR 1 a bit further back. In any event I had to cross the Telford Road on foot to get down to the NCR 1.
The NCR is going to take you all the way to Queensferry, which is your end of the Bridge. It is a combination of paths, quiet roads and disused railways joined together. The long final run down to Queensferry is a path which ran alongside the A90 for some of the time. As you approach this long path it may still be warning of diversions. I stopped a fellow cyclist coming the otherway to check it was Ok to reach the Forth Bridge still, and he said, yes, they just divert you through an estate. Expecting to encounter truculent adolescents and social deprivation during this detour (adding about 15 minutes tops) I was surprised and delighted to find there are of course two types of estate, this one turning out to be a large mansion with extensive grounds. However, I did have to cycle round a sheep who refused to move.
Eventually you will join a path down a disused railway. sloping down to a small retail carpark (it has a ScotMid shop there as a landmark). Swing round to your right to get the exit. Turn left out of this car park, follow the NCR signs down into the town.... then turn left back up out of the town. At the top of a short sharp rise you will encounter the bridge, take the pedestrian path under it, and you will be directed back under it again shortly after as they are using the East side for cyclists.
Walking the bridge seems a much more popular activity than the Severn Bridge, there are lots of people and cyclist about. The bridge seems a bit different than the Severn Bridge in so far as it looks a lot older and seems to move more.
After Edinburgh I turned right up the B981 to Inverkeithing (good cycle shop on the left) then the B981, B917, B906 to Kinross.
Re: Concerned about Edinburgh
If you are really worried I would recommend purchasing the Edinburgh Cycle Groups (SPOKES) map. It shows all available cycle paths and routes in and around Edinburgh, Its a bit expensive at £5.95 + p.p.but can be found at the Sustrans Online shop. I found it really useful when planning my 2013 LEJOG, and even took it with me when navigating successfully through the city to the Forth Bridge.
Re: Concerned about Edinburgh
Great info folks and my route through Edinburgh is now sorted.
Many thanks,
Joe.
Many thanks,
Joe.