Edinburgh Explorer Route - Stockbridge and city centre South

*** Date changed from 19th to 26th due to ride leader availability ***

Join Min and Barbara as we explore some of the new cycling paths in and around the city.

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 14miles.
Route: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6598784893/
Suitable Bike Types: Any
Surface: Quiet roads and shared paths. Some cobbles.

The route:
This route is designed to show you safe(r) and quiet roads to some shopping and leisure destinations, and a little bit of navigating to and around the city centre. As such while the route itself will be on quieter roads and paths for the most part, some sections may be busy with people.

Starting at St Marks Park, we will head on to MacDonald Road. Passing MacDonald Road Library, we will pick up the cycle path up Leith walk towards York Place, using the newish separated cycle path. We will then turn away from the city centre for a bit on NCN route 75 (cobbles here!) down through George V park on to the North Edinburgh Path Network.

We will come off the path network at Goldenacre, and take quiet roads skirting around the Royal Botanic Gardens to Inverleith Park, where we pick up quiet route 20, which bypasses the Western General Hospital, and Craigleith Shopping park.

Moving back on to the path network at Craigleith, we will follow it to the end, pointing out the link to Haymarket Station.
Coming off the path network at Russell Road, we will pick up the new shared path Roseburn to Union canal link, and follow this to the Telfer Subway leading to Fountain park. Instead of going straight up to the canal, we will do a little detour to show another way to get to Haymarket from this side.

We then take quiet roads back up to the canal. Coming off the canal, we will do a wiggle on shared paths to show you an off road route down to Shandwick Place, and pick up the end of the City Centre West East Link path cycle path, which currently ends at Charlotte Square. South Charlotte Street takes us on to Princes Street where we will dismount and walk around the corner of Lothian Road until we reach Kings Stables Road. (This area will likely be very busy with pedestrians, we will just take our time).

Another little wiggle takes us up Lady Lawson Street where we pass Chalmers Health Centre and the blood donation centre on our way down to the Meadows.

We will pause here for a short break.

Coming out of the Meadows, we pick up quiet roads and the separated cycle lane to St Leonards Street, where we take a back street before rejoining Holyrood road and passing by Dynamic earth and the Scottish Parliament. Turning into Holyrood park.

Cutting through the park we are again on quiet roads to London Road, just before Meadowbank leisure centre on the right. Instead, we turn left and find ourselves at Meadowbank retail park.

Coming around the retail park, we pick up the other end of quiet route 20, following it back to our starting point at St Marks Park.

What to Bring
• Two spare inner tubes (right size for your tyres) and tools to remove your wheels if they are not quick-release
• Water and snacks/money.

RSVPs
Please update your RSVP if you can't come, even if you're on the waitlist.
Check this page for any updates/comments before setting off and aim to arrive 10 minutes before the ride start time for the briefing.

Donations
Belles is a completely volunteer run group, but we do have running costs of approximately £400 a year. Please consider donating either directly to our bank account:

Account name: BELLES ON BIKES EDINBURGH
Sort Code: 83-18-25
Account Number: 18849509

Or through this link - ko-fi.com/bellesonbikes

By chipping in, you’ll be able to help us power future rides across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Thank you!