The autumnal equinox. Unfortunately being in the trees I wasn't able
to see a sunrise. The airport started early and the first flight to
Paris flew overhead at 06:02 a.m. so presumably 6 a.m. is their
starting time. It was extremely busy and a flight would go over to
various European destinations every 5 minutes or so. I was packed up
and away by 8 a.m. and wheeled my bike down to the towpath and then
headed east until I reached Cliftonhall Road. A rough track took me
down to the road where I went under the M8 and continued north east.
Being a Sunday morning there wasn't much traffic around and
eventually I came to a tee junction at Old Liston Road where I
turned left for a short way. To my right was a footpath crossing a
large grassy area and this was my first objective. In the middle of
the grass was a Tumulus Cairn (burial mound) is called Huly Hill and
they have made an excellent feature of it by ringing it with paths
and the Tumulus mound is picked out with a low stone wall.
Standing stone and Huly Hill tumulus
The cairn was excavated in 1830 and various items were removed,
including a bronze spearhead and small fragments of animal bones. No
trace was found of burial cists or urns, or of human remains. Also
around the outside are 3 Monolith Stones protruding edgeways out of
the ground. I cycled around the outer ring and had a quick look on
the top of the mound before continuing to the main A89 road which I
crossed to pick up an excellent cycle track that took me over the M9
motorway by a steel framework footway and then down the far side
where I doubled back underneath to follow the cycle track along the
route of the old railway.
Crossing over the M9
There was dense foliage both sides and nothing to see as I rode
along. When I reach Kirkliston I left the track for a short way to
ride into the village and visit the Scotmid co-operative shop. My
plan was to see if they had any tinned food but there was nothing
suitable. I re-joined the line of the old railway and continued to
where it joined Standingstane Road where I was back on the highway.
It took me to Dalmeny where I turned right along the Main
Street to reach the B92 where there is an excellent cycleway
following the eastside. The Cycleway ended at Cramond Bridge area
and I had to ride on Queensferry Road for a while before turning
left onto Whitehouse Road. I stopped here at the Tesco shop to buy
water which here was 50 pence per 2 L bottle. The weather continued
fine and sunny though it was a little chilly earlier.
Crossing the causeway to Cramond
Cramond Apples
I headed north until I left the main road to follow the minor
Cramond Glebe Road Lane down to the Cramond Beach Promenade and car
park. I was in plenty of time for the crossing of the causeway and
the tide was still well out though was now on its way in. I was
across and on the island by 10:30 and set up my tent in the same
spot as the last time I was here. By 12 the tide was far enough in
to cover the causeway and after lunch I went for a walk to visit the
north side of the island.
It has several concrete buildings left over from WWII
defenses. I was surprised to see several people around who had
obviously decided to spend the day on the island as they wouldn't be
able to get off until late afternoon when the tide falls. It
continued fine and sunny but I am now on the approach flight path to
Edinburgh Airport but not exactly under it. Planes continue to come
in to land on a regular basis.
Return to
Whittle Wanderer
