Hunt for UFOs

Join Aba-Sah to visit the site of the Livingston Incident and follow the UFO trail to soak in the views over West Lothian from Dechmont Law. Please turn up at 09:50 for a briefing before the start at 10:00 prompt.
What to expect ...👇

DIFFICULTY/DISTANCE This ride is for confident cyclists with good handling skills, able to sustain on average 10-12mph on flats and mixed surfaces. Distance - just over 39 mi.

ROUTE -
We'll set out from Craigleith Junction and head north to Dalmeny, before turning south via Kirkliston to join the shared path alongside the A89 to Broxburn. We'll cross the canal to join the Shale Trail to Uphall, then descend back onto the A89 to access Dechmont Woods, where we'll follow the woodland trail to the Livingston Incident. We'll then take the UFO trail out to Dechmont Law, where we'll stop for lunch, with a view out over West Lothian. Please bring a picnic lunch with you, there are no facilities here.

We'll then descend to Eliburn Reservoir via the Nell Burn Path, join the Lochshot Burn Path to the River Almond, through Livingston Village and on into Almond Park. We'll continue to Almondell Country Park, where we'll take a short break before returning to Edinburgh via Birdsmill and Newbridge. We'll wend our way past Ingliston, through Corstorphine and Murrayfield, and back to the start at Craigleith Junction.

The majority of the ride is on shared, segregated pavements and traffic free paths, with a couple short stretches on quiet B roads. Here's the route.

TYPE OF BIKE NEEDED Gravel or hybrid. No big bulky bikes like Dutch bikes, and no road/ skinny tyres.

SURFACE There will be a mixture of packed dirt, mud if recent rain and tarmac paths - which is why skinny tyres will not be suitable.

OTHER STUFF We recommend not having anything on directly afterwards, just in case we’re held up for any reason.

RSVPs will open on Sun, 27th Jul. If there is a forecast for atrocious weather, the ride will be cancelled, postponed or amended. Please check the Meetup site before setting off in the morning!

If you have a place or are on the waiting list, PLEASE do update your RSVP to let us know if you can no longer make it, and so others on the waiting list get reasonable notice.

WHAT TO BRING ON THE RIDE
• Two spare inner tubes (right size for your tyres)
• Water (plus extra)
• Snacks for the ride, a packed lunch and money / card
• Waterproofs, gloves and layers
• Sun screen/sunglasses
• Any medication you might need (e.g. an inhaler or epi-pen), if you wish to let the ride leaders know by DM or on the day See you there 👋

TOILETS & WATER REFILL STATIONS
• Almondell Country Park Visitor Centre

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.