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Category: Bike Rides 2005
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It started rather cloudy and windy, a strong westerly made the trip out rather challenging, and the trip back exhilerating. A cloudy start to the day, plus it was also quite breezy, so a short ride today. Early rain seems to have put some people of, I don't blame them. 13 of us went to Mid Calder in West Lothian.

Heavy rain has made the canal path and Water of Leith path to Balerno rather soggy, so we stayed mainly on the roads. Amazing to think that only 2 months ago, temperatures were in the mid 20s deg C, today the max temp was only 10 deg C, and it dropped to 8 deg C before we got back to Edinburgh.

The wind that hindered our outward progress assisted us on our return to Edinburgh. One person was going so fast, he nearly overshot the junction!!!!! The clouds melted away to give us beautiful views of Edinburgh form the Pentlands. It was a fantastic ride.

Ride Stats

Distance:        57.9km (35.58 miles)
Average Speed:   17.8 km/h (11.06 mph)
Total climbing:  778m (2552 feet)
Max Temperature: 10 deg C (50 deg F) dropping to 8 Deg C (46.4 F) near the Pentlands.
Time cycling:    3 hours 23 mins

Route Description

We travelled through Fountainbridge, along Dundee St, Angle Park Terrace, then followed the A70, Slateford Road / Lanark Road out of Edinburgh to Balerno. Here, we turned on to National Cycle Route 75, down Ravelrig Road, turning left on to Long Dalmahoy Road. At the end of Long Dalmahoy Road, we turned left to carryon along Long Dalmahor Road passing the Kaimes Quarries. We turn off to head up through Kirknewton along Hillhouse Terrace, Hillhouse Crescent, Main Street and Park Terrace. We turned on to the B7031 using the cycle path. We followed this over the level crossing, turning right to keep on the B7031. We crossed over the A71, and carried on down to the East Calder Main Street, the B7015. We took the car entrance to Almondell Country Park, down to the bridge. We had some time to kill as it was only 12:00, so we admired the view until some of us started to feel the chill, so we followed the cycle path through the park, coming out at Mid-Calder. We turn left to head up towards the centre of Mid-Calder, turning right at the junction.

After lunch, we headed along the main road to East Calder, where we turn right up Langton Road, turning right at the roundabout to head for Kirknewton. At Ormiston Mains, we turned right on to a minor road heading up towards the Pentlands, the wind was still quite strong. We turned left on to the A70, which we followed, slightly downhill and the wind at our backs, turning right 3km down the road (and about 50 seconds later!!!!) on to a minor road. We then passed Haughhead Farm, Water of Leith Ford, Buteland Farm and Cockburnhill. At the Riggs, we halted for a while to take in the view of the Pentlands for a few minutes.

We headed east to Marchbank Hotel, turning left to head down to Balerno, turning right in to Malleny Milgate, along a path and on to Harlaw Road. We followed Harlaw Road passing several farms and avoiding three sheep, until the junction at Kirgate. Here, we carried straight on, heading for Easter Kinleith, the organic farm. We then did a 180, and took an off-road track. This goes alongside Clubbiedean and Torduff Reservoirs, eventually turning into FernieLaw Ave, and Torduff Road, ending up at Bonaly Road near the Edinburgh By-Pass.

Not wishing to lose any altitude, remember I live near Fairmilehead, we all said our goodbyes. The rest headed down Bonaly Road, hopefully turning right, then left on to West Mill Road to join the Water of Leith cycle path and back in to Edinburgh.