WATER OF LEITH VISITOR CENTRE - UNION CANAL TOWPATH - HERMISTON HOUSE RD - BOUNDARY RD EAST - HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY RICCARTON CAMPUS - HERMISTON FARM - GOGAR STATION RD - EDINBURGH PARK - BANKHEAD DR - STENHOUSE DR - STENHOUSE AVE WEST - FORD RD - WATER OF LEITH WALKWAY - WATER OF LEITH VISITOR CENTRE

All rides are FREE but booking is recommmended. Please see additional details about our rides.

DATE: Sunday 13th January 2008.

TIME: Meet at 09.45 a.m. for 10.00 a.m. start. 3½ hour cycle ride including rests & a coffee break.

STARTING POINT: Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh

ROUTE SUMMARY: This ride offers a relaxed cycle, largely away from traffic exploring places of interest on the west of the city.

DISTANCE: Approximately 10 miles.

DETAILS: Here's the excuse you needed to try out your new bike or start the year as you mean to go on.

We'll meet at the very welcoming Water of Leith Visitor Centre, & from there discover how delightful it is to cycle by the canal. (On another day, take this route a little further & enjoy lunch at Ratho - the route is flat, well surfaced, & very manageable).

Today we'll take a circular route, keeping away from motor vehicles as much as possible. We'll pass the Village of Hermiston, which dates back to the 1400's. The original name seems to have developed from "Lang Herdsman" a place where the "lang hinds" - tall shepherds - met along the banks of the Gogar Water north east of Currie. From there we'll explore the green space at Heriot Watt's Riccarton campus. We'll take a coffee stop at the refectory, & then return via Edinburgh Park, Stenhouse & the Water of Leith Walkway.

We may not be the tall shepherds, but maybe after today you'll resolve to meet again with friends, chat & cycle a little more.

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