The Circumnavigation of Edinburgh
The circumnavigation of Edinburgh is open to both runners and cyclists, and always takes place early in the year. The cyclists take a slightly different route detouring the parts that only runners can navigate and is usually led by Keith Burns. Running in an anti-clockwise direction (but not always) the running route devised by Richard Lathe starts and finishes at The Steading and in the course of some 33 miles keeps as near as possible to the parliamentary 1921 boundaries of Edinburgh on paths, old railway lines, walkways and as much as possible off road. The pace is very easy and there are stops for refreshment – the first in Portobello Cafés and the second in the Cramond Inn; and people often join (or leave) en route. The run starts at Hillend (the Steading Pub) and this year will go anti-clockwise again over old railway lines and dump tips down to Joppa and onward to Portobello. Terrain for this section includes muddy paths, grassy fields, ploughed fields (sorry), trail, gravelly railway track (it’s disused so no trains :o), tarmac and sand. We stop at Portobello for bacon rolls/coffee etc. We then plod round to the Cramond Inn for a pint and crisps stop. This section is mostly tarmac although some grass is available for small amounts of respite. The Cramond Inn has a great 2.8% Mild which could almost have been designed as a mid-run pint! From Cramond we head up the glen and the park to reach the east side of the airport and inspect the brand new Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station and use the new underpass under the A8. Terrain is trail, muddy bits (the scary traverse of the big roundabout is no longer!) and a soothing jaunt through the new lands of Edinburgh Park. Finally the run up into the fringes of the Pentland Hills for the final leg as it’s starting to get dark, finishing up over Allermuir and Caerketton and back down to the Steading for a rejuvenating pint next to a real fire. After a wee bit of tarmac near the start we have farm track, trail and proper hilly stuff in this section, though the very tired and bikes can take a lower option. Bring a head torch as you may need it (depending on the time of year we run it) and mud is almost certainly guaranteed. There will as always be a bike option led by Keith Burns if you fancy that as an alternative and possible options to have a share bike/running duties for those not able/wanting to run or cycle the whole way. It is possible to run sections of this if you can’t face the entire thing. |