Routes to Try

This page is being developed over time as we create and test out new rides, and suggestions from readers are very welcome.  See below for some ideas to start off with, based on our own practical cycling with young kids so far.

If you try any of the routes below, please send us your reviews!

We'd welcome your suggestions too!


* Obviously use your own judgement about what routes are suitable for your family, taking into account experience and stamina, particularly if you're just getting going with cycling.
* If in doubt at any point - e.g., if the road feels a bit busy, or someone's tired, stop and walk for a bit then get on and pedal again when it feels right.
* Make sure all bikes are in working order (tyres pumped up, brakes functional, handlebars secure, chains running smoothly etc), and all participants are up for it.
* Take some essential kit with you: waterproofs, quick-repair kit, water, snacks etc.


1- South Edinburgh loop (Hermitage- Meadows, about 7 miles): start at the west entrance to the Hermitage of Braid.  Cycle through it (taking care near walkers and dogs) to emerge onto Blackford Glen Road.  At the traffic lights with Liberton Brae, turn left and immediately left again towards the University buildings (this road can be busy so take care here; get off and walk for a bit perhaps).  Continue  north along Mayfield Road, then turn off to the left at Relugas Rd onto the quieter side-roads to cut up through the Grange.  Cross Grange Road and head through Sciennes to the Meadows.  Cut up across Leamington Walk (the path running up parallel to Warrender Park Terrace) to Bruntsfield, then cycle carefully down Whitehouse Loan towards the Astley Ainslie hospital (take care when turning right then left down to Canaan Lane).  Continue on to Woodburn Terrace, then choose quiet routes (some cyclists might like to go across then up then back across, rather than plough straight up Braid Avenue) back to Hermitage Drive and your starting point.

2- Cramond foreshore: several miles of car-free cycling along the Esplanade and back (approx 5 miles from the carpark in Cramond village towards Granton and then back), with lovely views over the Forth, and ice cream vans for that essential refuelling!


3 - Roseburn - Cramond and return (around 14 miles there and back).  Pick up the off-road North Edinburgh Cycle loop from Roseburn or other access points (e.g., Ravelston Dykes, Craigleith), and cycle to the red Crewe Toll bridge.  [Check out the playpark and bike skills loop off to the west just past the Craigleith shopping centre access path.]  At the Crewe Toll bridge, turn off and follow the bike path along the West Granton Access road down to Waterfront Boulevard.  Cross over and follow the bike path dog-legging round Caroline Park (views to the old blue gasometer), down to West Shore Road; turn right and then left after a hundred metres or so onto the bike path running along the foreshore.  Cycle along to the causeway access point in Cramond, or beyond to the Cramond Falls Cafe (Fri/Sat/Sun).



4- North Edinburgh network   - Roseburn to Leith (how far do you want to go??).  Check out the bike skills track just by the big play park off the Telford Path.   


5 - Dunfermline to Leith - the Sestrans 'Two Capitals' ride route (http://twocapitals.org/): over the Forth Road Bridge and along the coast, with a fair chunk off-road or on quiet roads.  At around 22 miles, this is a more challenging ride, and requires some organisation to get to Dunfermline (there is a rail station).  Starting at Pittencrieff park in the centre of Dunfermline, cycle south towards Rosyth Europarc (Elgin St - Primose Lane - Kings Road), then head to the bridge.  Cross carefully at the A90 to join the bike path (Sustrans NCN 1) and head over the Forth Road Bridge on its east side.  Then head down into South Queensbury (turn a sharp left at the end of the Bridge, and cross under the bridge to go down the bike path on the right).  Continue east along Hopetoun Road to cycle around the coast through the Dalmeny estate.  Emerge at Cramond Brig and head to Cramond village (stop at the Cramond Falls cafe on the way) and enjoy rolling along the esplanade (unless there's a strong easterly breeze!), then along to Granton and on to Leith.


6. Pencaitland Railway Path - Dalkeith to West Saltoun (and back).  Mostly off-road, with short on-road sections to access the path (or there is a carpark at the west end).

Starting from the entrance to Dalkeith Country Park, head south carefully along along the road for a few hundred metres and cross over to join the shared pedestrian-cycle path.  Cross at the lights heading east towards the school (still following the bike path), and go round it using Sustrans NCN route 1 (off-road).  Go under the A68, then turn off to the right to take a farm track to a T junction with the B6414; head carefully down (it's pretty quiet) and turn right at the traffic lights to the A6214.  A short road section gets you to the entrance to the off-road Pencaitland Railway Path.  This goes through the countryside for about 6.5 miles on a pretty decent whin-dust surface to West Saltoun.  You can go as far as you want or turn-around sooner, or extend by taking any of the local roads.  There are a couple of crossing points with local roads (generally quiet, but vehicles on the A6093 can be fast); take care here and instruct kids to stop and wait for you if appropriate.  Coming back, a nice extension is to re-trace steps to NCN route 1, then continue along that (heading north east) to Whitecraig (via the Sustrans NCN route 1 section), then back aling a short road section to the back entrance to Dalkeith Country Path stopping for lunch or a coffee / ice cream in the tea room there. 

Around 20 miles all in, but generally flat, and good shelter on windy days from the wind by the trees along the old railway line.  Lovely views out over East Lothian to the Bass Rock and North Berwick Law, as well as combine harvesters and the enormous Pencaitland grain silos closer by.  The path also has quite a few boards along the way explaining the mining history of the area, and in the autumn lots of brambles for foraging and snacking on!  The Spokes East Lothian map shows everything clearly, though you can also find it on the Ordnance Survey map.

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