Edinburgh (East route) to Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Castle

Roslin Village Crossroads. Two pubs.

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.

Loanhead village. Shops and pubs.

Mavisbank House -famous house in need of restoration.

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.

Cross road to join disused railway track

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

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

Shop

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.

Pub

Entrance to Liberton Golf Club

Pub

Golf Club exit

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.

Innocent Railway Cycle Path

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.

Samson's Ribs

Arthurs Seat

Holyrood Palace

Scottish Parliament

St Mary's Cathedral