Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel
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Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel

A cycling route starting in Loanhead, Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Overview

About this route

53

An easy, short, off the beaten track route which starts at the top of Leith Walk in the centre of Edinburgh with a short climb up Arthur’s Seat for a magnificent view of Holyrood Palace, the Scottish parliament, and Edinburgh Castle and then over the Firth of Forth to Fife and a horizon of extinct volcanoes. The Way then progresses mainly along surfaced former railway tracks quiet roads and forest paths to the famous Rosslyn Chapel, near Roslin south of Edinburgh. Treats along the way include Craigmillar Castle which once provided shelter for Mary, Queen of Scots, the magical Ellen’s Glen and the site of “Scotland’s Forgotten Battle” of Roslin in 1303.

Then you have the choice back into Edinburgh of an easy bus journey or taking the westerly 26 km ROSLIN VILLAGE TO EDINBURGH http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/route/routes-and-photos/st-wilfrids-way/ through the Pentland Hills and along canal paths.

Pubs and shops along the way.

 

Part of The Way of St Andrews-For detailed description and  other routes see http://www.thewayofstandrews.com

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Duration
16 km
Distance
229 m
Ascent
330 m
Descent
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Avg. speed
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Avg. speed
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created this 12 years ago

Route quality

Waytypes & surfaces along the route

Waytypes

  • Undefined

    16 km

    (100 %)

Surfaces

  • Undefined

    16 km

    (100 %)

Route highlights

Points of interest along the route

  1. Point of interest after 0.4 km

    Roslin Village Crossroads. Two pubs.

  2. Highlight 2 along the Bikemap route " Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel"

    Point of interest after 1.4 km

    ROSLIN MONUMENT. Most people have of William Wallace and of the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 where he was defeated and captured, and the Battle of Roslin, fought a few years later in 1303, is rightly named Scotland’s Forgotten Battle. Here the Scots bloodily defeated an English army four times bigger. Of the 40,000 combatants it is said that 35,000 were killed.

  3. Point of interest after 2.8 km

    Loanhead village. Shops and pubs.

  4. Highlight 4 along the Bikemap route " Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel"

    Point of interest after 3.2 km

    Mavisbank House -famous house in need of restoration.

  5. Highlight 5 along the Bikemap route " Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel"

    Point of interest after 3.5 km

    Here the bike track follows the former Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway Line which was opened in in 1874 primarily to serve mineral workings, in particular coalmining, in the area. Some passenger trains were operated. Traffic on the line diminished with the decline in mining in the 20th Century and the line was eventually closed in 1989. It is now gradually being restored for walker and cyclists. Tarmac changes to heavy gravel surface as path continues north east.

  6. Point of interest after 4.9 km

    Cross road to join disused railway track

  7. Point of interest after 6.1 km

    Bike route joins main road. Footpath along road all way to old railway track. Bus 31 from central Edinburgh.Normal time approx. every 10 minutes

  8. Point of interest after 6.4 km

    Join bike path in Burdiehouse valley estate, follow stream. Hard surface.

  9. Point of interest after 6.4 km

    Shop

  10. Highlight 10 along the Bikemap route " Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel"

    Point of interest after 6.8 km

    Ellen's Glen is a community park with a forest path running through the valley of the Burdiehouse Burn with waterfall and remnants of a former mill.

  11. Point of interest after 7.7 km

    Pub

  12. Point of interest after 8 km

    Entrance to Liberton Golf Club

  13. Point of interest after 8.4 km

    Pub

  14. Point of interest after 8.5 km

    Golf Club exit

  15. Highlight 15 along the Bikemap route " Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel"

    Point of interest after 9.7 km

    Craigmillar castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland with a keep surrounded by a 15th-century courtyard wall. It is best known for the association with Mary, Queen of Scots who came here 20 November 1566 to convalesce after the birth of her son, the future James VI. It is said that here the plot, perhaps without her knowledge, was hatched to kill her husband, Lord Darnley. He was assassinated less than four months later.

  16. Point of interest after 10.7 km

    Innocent Railway Cycle Path

  17. Highlight 17 along the Bikemap route " Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel"

    Point of interest after 11.7 km

    The Innocent Railway. The Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway was first opened in 1831 to convey coal by horse power from pits round Dalkeith into the capital. There are various explanations for its nickname, “ Innocent Railway”. Some claim that it was so named because no one was killed in its construction or while it operated , but the most likely explanation is that it was so called because it continued to use horses when others were moving to steam, which was regarded then as dangerous.

  18. Point of interest after 12.3 km

    Samson's Ribs

  19. Point of interest after 12.4 km

    Arthurs Seat

  20. Point of interest after 14.2 km

    Holyrood Palace

  21. Point of interest after 14.4 km

    Scottish Parliament

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