It was a windy and rainy night and by morning there were still
squalls of rain passing over. I only had a short ride today so
delayed my start until there was a gap in the rain which enabled me
to get the tent down. I wheeled my bike across the soggy grass then
rode through the housing estate then back through the Industrial
Estate which is called Butterfield and is on the site of the old
Lady Victoria Colliery.
Eskbank Railway Station
On the other side of the Railway route is the Mining Museum which
also occupies the Victoria Colliery buildings. I headed West on the
B704 and descended past Dalhousie Castle and then up through
Parsonspool Bridge. I was then going to follow the cycle track along
the Penicuik to Musselburgh railway routes and over ran the start
but soon realised my mistake and returned to find it. The first part
is along a road through the housing estate and then it becomes an
excellent tarmac cycle track. I turn right then immediately left up
to the Eskbank Railway Station.
This is a fairly new station
and thankfully the overpass for the cycle track was a steady
gradients and didn't need any steps. I continued to the Dalhousie
Road across the roundabout onto Melville Road and headed towards
Edinburgh. The road continues across and over the city of Edinburgh
Bypass and then along Drum Street with a fairly long climb into
Gilmerton. I turn left onto Double Hedges Road which had sports
field across to the right. At the end I turned right on to the main
Liberton Road but didn't stay long as I turn left onto Mayfield
Road.
This is route number 6 and I turn left onto Relugas Road where the 6
route continues and turns right onto Lauder Road and on to Argyll
place. It was here that I stopped briefly outside the Bicycle Works
shop which was open and had mechanics working inside even though it
was Sunday. The cycle route continued north across Meadow Park and
up towards the centre of Edinburgh.
The Bicycle Works
I
treated myself to a Subway turkey and ham sandwich
Street artist setting up his equipment
I reached the cobbled road of High Street and turned right and
started to descend towards the Royal Mile. Before I got there I
stopped at a Subway Sandwich shop to buy a turkey and ham sandwich.
I continued my descent down into the Royal Mile to the Tollbooth
Tavern where I turn left through a tunnel alleyway which lead on to
Old Tollbooth Wynd.
Tollbooth Wynd.
At the bottom I turn left onto Calton Road and under the tunnel
which takes the road beneath the railway tracks. I reach the
underpass of Princes Street where I climbed steep me up and then
wheeled the bike up the very steep Carlton Hill road which is also a
one-way road and I was heading the wrong way but wheeling the bike
was OK.
Heading under Princess Street
I reach the top and turned right to descend easily down Princes
Street, crossing North Bridge Road and turned left. I reached the
entrance to Edinburgh Waverley railway station to finish my Scotland
ride. I went inside to wait for the 14:17 train to Preston which
left on time. I was back in Preston around 16:50 and cycled through
Winckley Square across Avenham Park to pick up the Old Tram Road
Bridge across the River Ribble. I followed the cycle track into
Bamber Bridge then on to the A6 and home where I arrived around
17:50.
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Whittle Wanderer
