Spokes Sunday Ride - Torphichen Preceptory

First Sunday of the month so it's Spokes Ride Day. It's also the first weekend of Scottish holidays, so numbers are always low. I cycle down to the start not expecting to see anyone, however, one person has turned up. She is returning to cycling, and has a new bike. I don't have to do the ride alone. :-)

We head to West Lothian along National Cycle Route 1 to Cramond Brig., It's under the main road, then up to Carlowrie Road, which we follow to Kirkliston. Once through Kirkliston, we take the back road to Niddry, then to Faucheldean.. It's sunny, but quite cool as we head up to Ochiltree, then down to Dark Entry and Linlithgow. Linlithgow is a little busy, but soon we're on the quiet b road to Muiravonside, our lunch stop.

After lunch, we head west then south to Torphichen. Torphichen Preceptory is linked to the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitalier, I must do a Spokes Ride here as viewing the church only costs £2, and has a load of history, see here. The Torphichen Inn has the alternative name of the Templars Rest. It looks closed through. (Extra 1)

We carry on east for a wee while, some lovely views (Extra 2). When we reach to the B8020, we turn south through Broxburn to head for Almondell and Calder Wood country park, home of the Kirkhill Pillar Project. There are a series of sculptures around West Lothian based on the solar system, see more details here. A nice addition today is the mobile coffee stall, selling excellent coffee, so we have a wee break.

Then we back to Edinburgh, to East Calder and Kirknewton to the A70. We head to Balerno through Glenbrook, which avoids the bumpy bits of the A70. We rejoin the A70nfor a wee bit until Juniper Green, where the ride ends

The whole route can be seen at Relive here.