Blackness Castle

Join Aba-Sah on a loop to visit Blackness Castle. Please turn up at 09:50 for a briefing before the start at 10:00 prompt. Route summary below👇

DIFFICULTY/DISTANCE Intermediate, for cyclists with good handling skills and looking to build confidence for long rides. Distance just over 32 mi.

ROUTE - We'll start at Craigleith Junction (on the Edinburgh North cycle network), head out toward Dalmeny, cycle under the Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing, and on past the White Lodge at the Dundas Estate. We'll continue on a very quiet B road to Duntarvie Castle, where we'll join the new shared path into the new estates at Winchburgh. We'll descend to the canal and cycle to Philpstoun, where we'll join another B road, then link to Mannerstons Cafe & Farm Shop - access along the A904 for a very short stretch. Depending on the weather we'll have a light lunch here or take a shorter break for coffee or to browse the garden centre or shop.

We'll then continue along the Strip to NCN76, which will take us into Blackness. Please bring a picnic lunch with you (or buy at Mannerston's) - if warm(ish) we'll take a longer break at Blackness Castle. There is the option to pay to enter the castle, or wander round the grounds (open at no cost to the public), and sit and have lunch while enjoying the views across the Forth.

We'll return through the woods, Hopetoun Estate and along the Forth into South Queensferry. We'll take the railway path to its end and head toward Whitelees to take a diversion above the A90, before descending to join the shared path along it. We'll then retrace our steps to Craigleith Junction.

The ride is on a mixture of shared, segregated pavements, traffic free paths and quiet B roads. This is the route.

TYPE OF BIKE NEEDED Gravel or hybrid. No road/ skinny tyres.

SURFACE The route has a mixture of paved roads and pavement, packed dirt and gravel, mud if recent rain - which is why skinny tyres will not be suitable.

TOILETS At the Forth Road Bridge visitor centre and Blackness Castle. A defib is also available in Blackness.

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, 21st Sep. 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 👋

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.