It was a windless quiet night and a clear Sky at sunrise. There was
some sun on the tent as I packed up so had a dry tent to pack away.
I wheeled my bike down the very steep bank which is also the path
down to the Water of Leith walkway. This follows the line of the old
railway and where I joined it was one of the old railway bridges
across the water. It was a good surface to ride on and extremely
easy being gently downhill and following the river.
New housing on the site of the old Scott's Porage Oats factory
There
were a few areas of new buildings but other than that it was
pleasant woodland with several people out on bikes, walking or
running. I came to a large viaduct and stopped at the base where
there was an information board all about Colinton Railway Station.
The railway line was originally built from Edinburgh to Balerno and
known as the Balerno branch. It was opened in August 1874. It
service the many mills along the River including West Mills in
Colinton where Scott's Porridge Oats were milled. Passenger services
were withdrawn in 1943 and the final freight service continued until
4th December 1967.
Scott's Porage Oats
Colinton Railway Station
Colinton Railway Tunnel
I left the area to continue along the track and
through the amazing railway tunnel which was large, impressive and
well lit. I emerged into daylight and within a mile reached the
Union Canal and the final few miles of the route 75 into Edinburgh.
I left the canal at the last bridge and cycled along the east side
to Fountainbridge Square then on the Tesco shop to buy some jam
doughnuts for 70p. I returned back along the canal to Gilmore Place
and on to The Meadows Park where there was a filming group setting
up their equipment.
Filming in the park
I couldn’t figure out what they were about to
film. Iturned north up the cycleway and walkway to Teviot Place and
the Anatomical Museum where went inside to see if it was possible to
see the museum. The email I sent last week hadn’t been received. I
continued to Greyfriars Church and Kirkyard for a look around.
Heavy & expensive camera
Mortsafe by Greyfriars Church and Kirkyard
William McGonagall
Caddies and Witchery Tours
William Burke's skin calling card case
A bit of William Burke
Burke's execution 28 Jan 1829
The same scene today
Site of Public Executions
It
was good to see a plaque marking the nearby grave of the poet
William McGonagall died 2nd Sep 1902. Then to West Bow to the shop
The Caddies and Witchery Tours where they had a small case showing a
calling card wallet made from the skin of William Burke, hanged for
murder in 1829. I continued to the Lawnmarket Road where the site of
the gallows was where Burke was hanged.
View from the Bank of Scotland
What a million pounds looks like
On North Bank Street is the
Bank of Scotland and underneath, through a grassy garden area, is
The Museum on the Mound. I didn’t have time to go round all of it
but in the first room was a cases holding a Million Pounds in £20
notes. I rode to Waverley Railway Station to catch the 14:18 train
to Preston. The train was on time and back in Preston I cycled home
via Avenham Park and the tram road track.
Return to
Whittle Wanderer
