Almondell and Calderwood Country Park

Spokes Ride was an almost rerun of last year's Spokes Ride. A short one as the weather in the afternoon is likely to deteriorate. Fountainbridge is closed to through traffic, so its through the financial quarter to Dundee St, Merchiston Park to the canal path. We follow the canal path out of Edinburgh to Westburn, where we head up to Westburn Ave, then on to Baberton Mains. This brings us out to Heriot Watt University campus, which we cycle through to the Long Dalmahoy Road. This road is notorious for its headwind, but today its not too bad. the weather's not too bad either, it is quite pleasant.

At the junction with Main St, we head in to Kirknewton and up to Station Rd. We are here quite early for lunch, so instead of heading straight to the lunch stop, down the B7031, we carry on along Station Road to Langton Rd, the west part of East Calder, and another Main St to Mid Calder. We head in to Almondell and Calderwood Country Park on Pumpherston Rd. We follow the cycle route through the park. The main blip shows the view from one of the bridges over the River Almond. Extra 1 is from the Almondell Bridge. 

At the Visitor Centre, the wee coffee stall is still there, so we grab a nice coffee to have with our lunch, which is taken in the centre's conservatory.

After lunch we head north, then east, to join the canal path at Muirend. From here we follow the path all the way back in to Edinburgh. Extra 2 shows the River Almond from the Lin's Mill Aqueduct. From here, its a pleasant, remarkably dry, cycle ride through Ratho and Wester Hailes to the centre of Edinburgh at Tollcross.

The whole ride can be seen at Relive here.

I head home, and just as the bike is put in the shed the rain starts. As I am home very early, my partner and I head down to Morningside to visit the charity shops that are open and get afternoon coffee. A bit damp, not pleasant to cycle in, but ok for heading in and out of shops.