The weather looked good as I packed my tent away just after 7am.
I wheeled my bike across the wet grass to the wooden bench to
sort my stuff before setting off. I kept an eye out for the
young lady who’d offered me breakfast last night in the hope of
getting a cup of tea but there was no one around. I returned to
Heriot Way and cycled to the railway and the underpass. I was
then on the busy A7 road and the riding became very
uncomfortable with lots of fast commuter traffic. I continued as
fast as I could and was very relieved to reach the B6367 to my
right and was able to leave the busy road. It was very pleasant
riding along the flat road in open countryside and there was
quite a bit of adjacent open woodland after Tynehead where I
could have pitched my tent after getting water yesterday. But I
couldn’t have know that. At Tynehead was a nice looking chimney
which was used for drying grain.
The lanes were quiet through Crighton until I reached Pathhead
and the main A68. Fortunately I turned left off the main road to
descend down to an area called Ford which is interesting as
there is just a bridge over the Tyne Water. There was also the
impressive Ford House. There then followed a long steady climb.
Ford House
I reached the busy A6106 and followed in to Dalkeith. I stopped
at the Morrison’s store to buy some jam doughnuts which were
incredibly cheap at 50p for a pack of 5. I continued towards
Edinburgh on the Old Dalkeith Road and reached the gatehouse of
the Dalkeith Park area. I decided to cycle along the drive to
have a look and was surprised how far it was to get a view of
the Dalkeith Palace (built 1702) former home of the Duke of
Buccleuch. I cycled to the front for a look then continued along
the estate road to emerge back into Dalkeith Town. I returned to
Morrison’s but didn’t re-join my original route but continued
along Eskbank Road and Melville Road back to the Dalkeith estate
gates.
I was now back on my planned route and followed the busy A7
towards Edinburgh. Eventually I reached the Royal Commonwealth
Pool and turned right to reach Queens Drive in Holyrood Park. I
descended to Holyrood Gait to visit the very strange Dynamic
Earth structure. It seems a lot of construction for what seems
to be just a large circular amphitheatre. It gave an interesting
view of the Holyrood Building of the Scottish Parliament which
from this rear view looks even more hideous than the front.
I cycled up Reeds Close up to Canongate and headed up towards St
Giles’ Cathedral. The streets were full of acts and events for
the Edinburgh Fringe. The warm sunny weather was perfect and
helped everyone to enjoy themselves. I called in the Royal Bank
of Scotland building museum to have a look what one million
pounds looks like. Then it was to Edinburgh Waverley Railway
Station with my pre-bought ticket to Preston, the 14:18 for
£23.10.
