Route through Edinburgh

bompington

I'm thinking of riding through Edinburgh this Saturday - coming across the Forth Bridge and heading East for a destination near North Berwick.

Can any local riders offer any advice as to the best route through Edinburgh? From a quick squint at the map, holding the Forth shore looks like it might work but I don't have much experience of those roads at all, never mind on a bike.
Looking for shortest and fastest route if such exists!

bikes`n`guns

Stick to the coast. Along Granton, Newhaven , Lieth and into Portobello. Roads are fine, big wide and traffic isn`t horrendous.
You`ll end up on the Coast road along through Musselburgh Prestonpans and this will take you right down through North Berwick to Dunbar.
There are a few nice roads inland as well but the whole coast route is pretty nice.

navrig2

There is a cycle path route into the city centre. It throws you back into traffic near Haymarket but from there you can head up to the Meadows, through Holyrood Park and down to Portobello and then Musselburgh and the coast road.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/A90,+ ... 5e!1m0!3e1

This route tries to stick to cycle paths but some will be tracks.

At Longniddry you have the option of heading inland which may be useful depending on your end destination.

ben@31

I remember a national cycle route was signposted from the bridge through Queensferry - Dalmeny - Main St - through Dalmeny Park past some big stately home - go towards the A90 where there's a bridge over the River Almond - go North east through Carmond and Buntsfield Golf Couse - Davidson's Mains - then I think there's a disused rail line turned into tarmac cycle paths ( Blackhawk Path and Roseburn Path) that'll take you to Haymarket.

I remember the canal into the centre of Edinburgh was good too. But you'll need a bell for going under the bridges to avoid a collision

Once on the other side of the city centre, cross the tram lines at 90 degrees to avoid getting your wheel caught, I vaguely remember there's another disused rail line turned into a tarmac cycle path that starts at Holyrood Park Rd, goes south of Holyrood Park and Duddingstone Golf Club and goes all the way to Portobello near Brunstane Train Station.

poptart242

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

Stick to the coast. Along Granton, Newhaven , Lieth and into Portobello. Roads are fine, big wide and traffic isn`t horrendous.
You`ll end up on the Coast road along through Musselburgh Prestonpans and this will take you right down through North Berwick to Dunbar.
There are a few nice roads inland as well but the whole coast route is pretty nice.

Seconded, I live by the cycle path mentioned by the other posters but that then leaves you to deal with Edinburgh city centre and the tram tracks/crap infrastructure for cycling when you get there.

If you do insist on going via the city centre I'd recommend heading up via the Meadows or beyond to Morningside and then across the back of Arthur's Seat down to Portobello and out to the coast on the East side.

neeb

Agree with the above. Avoid the city centre and avoid the cycle paths, they're full of dogs and pedestrians. I like them for inline skating but with the bike I stay on the road.. ;-) Also to go through the centre you are going uphill and then down again and dealing with cobbles, tram tracks and busy junctions..

From Crammond Brig you can either go through Granton or straight along Ferry Road via Davidsons Mains. Ferry Road is a busy main road but it's direct and fine for cycling, the only slightly dodgy bit is the Crewe Toll roundabout. I just go straight along and take a right on Great Junction St., over the foot of Leith Walk to Duke St, left on Hermitage Place, right onto Salamander Road & Seafiled Road, left at the big junction and straight through Portobello and Musselburgh. These are all quite busy roads but mostly quite wide so you can overtake slow traffic in the middle of the road (just watch out for cars stopping to let people out from side roads..). There's no easy way to avoid these types of roads until you are through Musselburgh unless you want to faff about with cobbles and shared pedestrian paths.

From Musselburgh the obvious route is along the coast (left at the roundabout), but you can also go straight up the hill and through Longniddry. I prefer that road for some reason, more little rises and fast straight stretches. Of course if you are not in a hurry there are all sorts of lovely loops you could do the the south where the roads get progressively quieter and steeper..

bompington

Thanks for the advice all. Had a great ride on Saturday, took the coastal route which worked out fine.

One hairy moment on the A90 cycle path - I had opted to ride on the road next to the cycle path and a moment's inattention found me down the slip road and cycling along what is effectively a motorway... :shock:

bikes`n`guns

I imagine it was busy down our way Sat.
I never got out till Sunday and even then there were a few bikes out. (Loads)

bompington

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

I imagine it was busy down our way Sat.
I never got out till Sunday and even then there were a few bikes out. (Loads)

I saw more bikes than I've seen in the last 12 months round our way. And that was only before I'd crossed the FRB... I did like the vibe as the sun started to get warm* and all the bikes started appearing round the outskirts of Edinburgh - Dalmeny, Cramond, Barnton, Leith, Musselburgh, Portobello - whether nodders, Mamils, urban warriors, clubbies or whoever.

*i.e. about 9º, for all you southern softies - the warmest I've been out on a bike for months