Routes in UK / UK / Edinburgh




Ride across city & shop



Roads on way out not much fun especially A7.



rough track between Capielaw (2 km NW of Carrington) and Whitehill House - approx. 1.5 km; can be avoided by turning left at the first crossroad after Carrington and following the road round to just south of Rosewell.

 

THE HILL at Polton ... enough said!



Edinburgh - Stow - Earlston - St. Boswells - Minto - Bodchester Castle - Kielder - Falstone - Hexham - Blanchland - Stanhope - Staindrop

The realisation of a long-term pipedream to cycle to my dad's house in a day (160 miles). Crossing some fantastic British countryside in the middle of June with a tail wind. The section from Bodchester Castle to Falstone was depressing - plantation forest and a bland road along Kielder water. Falstone was beautiful with good coffee and cake. Blanchland picturesque with cream tea rooms (Before 5.30pm). A huge and very steep climb out of Blanchard up onto the top of 500m moorland with unbelievable views to the north. Another very steep climb onto the country roads from Wolsingham (had to get off the bike and push). If someone can come up with an alternative section between Bodchester and Falstone this is a gem of a ride.

Started 4am - finished 10.15pm on a £400 Revolution Country Traveller.



A mainly traffic free route leaving Edinburgh via the Union Canal towpath (route 754). After leaving Winchburgh you want to come off the towpath on the third bridge, or you'll overshoot like I did and end up in Philipstoun. So with a detour I headed to Blackness castle on the Forth with shop and icecream served on Sundays too. To rejoin/stay on the NCR76 head to Abercorn. This is a lovely stretch through the Hopetoun estate with a little bit of off road as you head towards the Forth bridges. Stay on the NCR76 and cycle over the cobbles at South Queensferry - lovely place to stop for food and drinks - and then onto the Dalmeny Estate. It may feel like you're taking wrong turn after wrong turn as the signage isn't great and the route is little more than a single lane mud (but not boggy) track. There's a gravel junction at the end of the woods with one track going up the hill, away from the Forth and out into open fields. Take this one or you'll get stuck on the wrong side of the river at Cramond.



Edinburgh, Lasswade, Bonnyrigg, National Cycle Route 1, Gorebridge, Borthwick Castle, Middleton, Carrington, Roslin, Edinburgh.

Early part of the route was a bit dreary. Road into Borthwick is very nice as is route back to Edinburgh from there.



First 7 or 8 miles on busy-ish roads but very quiet when you turn off the Penicuik road and head to West Linton with great views of the moors and Pentlands. Great coffee house with fresh cakes and soup (and loos) beyond the bottom of the high street in West Linton - next to the swings. A703 through La Mancha and Cowdenburn was unusually quiet although the A701 up to Waterhead is much busier. The road between the two has super views down the valley towards the Borders. The road from Waterhead and past Gladhouse reservoir is superb and you don't hit a busy road until you're back at Roslin.



Great route. You could come out of Penicuik a bit later to avoid being on the A702 as long. Innerleithen has whistle-stop cafe, hotel which does lunches on the Traquair route, Traquair house. Peebles has a few places slightly off the route. Eddleston has the Horseshoe Inn and you can branch off to West Linton for lots of eating options. If I do it again I'd be interested in knowing if you can take the first left on the A701 after Eddleston. It looks like you can and come out 1km south of Macbiehill.



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Running routes in Edinburgh UK UK • Motorbike routes in Edinburgh UK UK