Spokes Ride to Vogrie Country Park

The first Sunday, so its Spokes Ride time. This time we are going to Midlothian. To avoid most of the sharp climbs the River Esk, North Esk and South Esk, we take National Cycle Network Route 1 east out of Edinburgh to the River Esk, then on to the Whitecraig cycle path to Dalkeith.

NCN Route 1 skirts Dalkeith by going through the grounds of Newbattle Abbey, heading up to Eskbank roundabout and south again to Edniburgh College, where NCN 1 heads for the railway station, and then the Penicuik cycle path. NCN leaves the path to head south at Bonnyrigg along Cockpen Rd, then up to Carrington.

Its at this point we realise we are 1 rider down. We were definitely all there at Bonnyrigg. I cycle back for a wee while, but no sign. I cycle back to Carrington. We carry on south to the Top Gear road, B6372. We cross over the Braidwood Bridge, and head east to the A7. It's straight across there to Birkenside,  before it turns right and up Lady Brae. We wait at the top for slower cyclists. Then carry on east for a while to Vogrie Country Park. Fortunately I had told everyone we were going to Vogrie, and the missing rider is on the access road waiting for us.

The blip shows the Tree Top Café at Vogrie House, our lunch spot. (as well as coffee and cake stop) There's also a very friendly Australian Cattle dog (Extra 1). A very intelligent dog that chooses whom should throw the stick it is carrying.

After lunch, its back to the B6372, then north east to a crossroads, where we head south east to Pathhead. Where we cross the River Tyne, there is a great view of Telford's Lothian Bridge (Extra 2).  At Pathhead, we follow the B6367 in to East Lothian, take a minor road to the B6371. Wind assisted, it doesn't take very long, so instead of Ormiston, we head SE for a wee while, before turning on to a minor road. this heads east to West Saltoun, then East Saltoun.

We head north on the B6355 through Easter Pencaitland to New Winton and Whiteloch Bridge. West to the B6371 and head north to Tranent. Not much of a headwind here. Just as well as the road to North Elphinstone is closed. So we take an estate road, quite slowly as I don't ant to lose anyone. We turn left on to the B6414 to Elphinstone to Crossgatehall.

Here we follow the quiet, and mostly downhill A6124 through Carberry to Cowpitts Road, on to the River Esk and the NCN Route 1. We follow this back in to Edinburgh and the end of the ride.

The whole ride can be seen at Relive here.