November 20, 2022
After a dreich 10am start at Haymarket Station, the weather improved and made for a nice autumn bike ride to South Queensferry via mainly the John Muir Way, following cycle paths to Barnton and through the Dalmeny Estate.
A confirmed line-up of Martha, Keith, Andy, Nicki, Shane, Richard and Sandra was joined on the day by very welcome last-minuters Ann, Willie, Esther and Max.
A minor crisis ensued shortly after departure when Keith realised he’d left his rucksack behind – not as he first thought, at Haymarket Station, but in the car at Straighton. Oops! The old I’ve-forgotten-my-wallet ploy again, though with an interesting variation of actually, I’ve forgotten everything.
“You nip back and get it and we’ll wait for you at Ratho”, we all said dryly. (No, we didn’t.)
Shane joined us at Barnton Avenue and the 12 of us pootled on up past the Cramond Brig to the Burnshot Gate of the Dalmeny Estate.
Miraculously, a car came along just at the right time to open said automatic gate for us – a coincidence rarer than hens’ teeth or even Keith remembering his wallet – saving us the ordeal of having to go through the kissing gate one at a time taking forever and ever and fussing over whether or not – and who – to kiss.
After Dalmeny House and Barnbougle Castle, we opted to leave the shore path for a wee slog up the braes through the Leuchold Wood to see the giant topiary heads at the vermouth distillery, the eyes of which glow red at you as you pass. Spooky!
Then we partly backtracked so we could rejoin the shore path and soon we were at the Railbridge Bistro in Queensferry where – miracle number two – we managed to get seats inside and were able to warm up a bit over a cuppa.
Here, Shane tried to pull the old I’ve-forgotten-my-wallet ploy too, so we left him behind washing dishes and ambled along the cobbled high street for a quick review of Queensferry’s very interesting – if you like that sort of thing – local history information boards before re-joining the cycle path at the Scotmid.
The path after Dalmeny was muddy but not too muddy and except for Sandra’s chain coming off, we were soon at Kirkliston, and shortly after that – and thankfully not for long – the airport dual carriageway and the footbridge over it to Ratho Station.
Then a slight detour through the wood and quarry by Norton House Hotel, so that Keith could amuse himself pushing his bike up the slippy grass slope and skiting about on the muddy tracks through the trees, which he so loves to do.
Here, those of us who remembered that Shane actually got hitched at Norton House in 2016, momentarily paused to wonder how he was getting on with the dishes back in Queensferry and whether his bike had been stolen after we left. It’s a dog-eat-dog world alright.
After that, a quick romp down the main road over the motorway and up to the Bridge Inn for assorted hot and cold beverages and delicious French onion soup in pleasant sunshine.
And to end the day, a leisurely, scenic ride back along the canal to town by about 3pm – unless of course you were cycling back to Straighton or Rosslyn or Penicuik. Some people just can’t get enough exercise it seems.
And there we are till next time. Keith says he’s planning a circo-Edinburgh trip for us all soon, which I’m already looking forward to. Now, where did I put my wallet?
Yes, I know you can use your phone but some of us like to try and blag things the old-fashioned way.
Gio MacDonald