Every so often, after the clocks change and until there is light in the sky again, the Wednesday evening training run is changed for a night run – sometimes themed. The runs are in different locations around Edinburgh, with a convivial meal afterwards in a convenient hostelry. Usually starting at 7pm but check details.
Older night runs archive (pre 2014)
Night run diary 2023-4
Night Run | Date | Meet | Food | Leader |
Halloween run 6.30pm | Tues 31st Oct | Come to visit one of the spookiest places in Scotland. https://www.scotland.org/inspiration/top-11-spooky-places-to-visit-in-scotland Starting at “The Original Roslin Inn” at 6.30pm, I will guide a run through “The Witchy Wood” along “The Kill Burn” past “The Shin Banes Field”, down”Stinking Rigg”, past General Monck’s Battery By Roslin Castle and Round Roslin Chapel, returning to the Inn for food and beer. |
The Original Roslin Inn. See sign up sheet circulated by email. | Willie Gibson |
‘The Three B’s’- Braidburn Valley Park, Braids and Blackford | 22nd Nov | 6pm meet Braidburn Valley Park Gates. 6pm mind! | Food and drinks at The Waiting Room, Morningside | Pippa Dakin |
Xmas Pub Run | 20th Dec | Meet at Cloisters Bar for 18:30 For those needing a later start the 1st pub on route is No1 The Grange (aka Brass Monkey) at 19:00. Come share in the delights of running between cozy pubs with a friendly bunch of ‘mad for it’ athletes.Warning: Alcohol is consumed!!Bring: – Christmas kit! – Beer money! – Head torch! Very social pace – everyone welcome.If in doubt your soul can be cleansed with a Friday morning Solstice run. |
I expect that we will return to Cloisters for 10:45 so a bit late for food… But I have arranged pies and sausage rolls (veggie option too) for a half way point, which people will have to pay | Craig Addison |
Gullane 6.30pm | 17th Jan | Meet outside Old Clubhouse, Gullane 6.30pm.The run starts off out of Gullane along the John Muir Way towards Aberlady. We’ll then cross the Bridge to Enchantment and run on trails to Aberlady Bay, then Gullane point before heading up Gullane hill and back to the start for food (approx 10km).
Dogs aren’t allowed in the restaurant part of the pub I’m afraid |
Food: fish & chips; curry of the day; burger; veg/vegan option. See google sheet email link. | Dorothy Elliott |
‘New Congregations’ | Wed 21st Feb | 6.30pm meet at Morningside Clock. A run around former church sites that have been repurposed for another function. Route | Drinks afterwards at the Waiting Room, Morningside | Mike Lynch |
Holyrood by Headtorch race 7.15pm | Wednesday 13th March | Holyrood by Headtorch race Date: Wednesday 13th March Time: 7.15pm start Location: Arthurs Seat (start/finish here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Y3PCVrtrKXDAvVz8 Route: tbc Brief description: An informal mass-start race around Arthurs seat in the dark! Headtorches required, route will be reflective taped and aiming to take in all the best parts of the Seat. More details to follow in the coming weeks. |
Pippa Dakin | |
Previous night runs –
Night run Dirleton
The January night run saw Carnethies leave Edinburgh behind and head out to the East Lothian coastal village of Dirleton, complete with its 13th century castle. Only 2 days after the full moon the skies were clear and the moon’s rays reflected on the sea. 25 Carnethies, old snd new, plus 3 dogs headed down through the woods past Archerfield and on to Yellowcraigs. Sandy single tracks were followed through the dunes interspersed with sprints along the deserted beaches. Amber absconded briefly but was retrieved as always and continued her efforts to trip everyone up along with the assistance of Barra. Gullane was duly reached and marked our turning point. A short stretch of tarmac saw us avoid Muirfield golf course and delivered us back to Archerfield. We were now running late (too much moon gazing) so the pace was picked up for the final mile to take us back to the Castle Inn where a much deserved bar supper was waiting for us.
Dorothy Elliott
The Annual Carnethy Xmas Pub Run – 2021
Omicron threatened to put the run in serious jeopardy so leader Jim emailed Boris to get some sensible advice on how to conduct it safely. The reply came to stick with wine and cheese, wear suits and only talk about work. So Santa suits it was. Jim substituted the wine and cheese with whisky and fudge which seemed popular. I talked about my work a LOT and can only apologise to those present who may never eat sweet potatoes again.
We went for as many al fresco drink stops as possible, the best one has to be the monument on top of Calton Hill where Jim produced a flask of special mulled drink. It was really very good and the taste was oddly familiar. I couldn’t put my finger on it until Jim revealed that the recipe included a lot of Buckfast.
It was all good fun and Edinburgh was looking very atmospheric in the mizzle. Even the Grumpiest Barmaid in Edinburgh couldn’t dampen our spirits. Thanks Jim!
Nicola Dunn
Night Run – Testaments Old and New
We had a healthy turnout for the second of the Night Runs ‘Testaments Old and New’. The route starting and finished at Morningside Clock and took in several of the City’s familiar, and not so, monuments to worthies, dark history and the obscure. Route here: https://www.strava.com/activities/6272417093
We had perfect weather and the emergence of Christmas lights gave the old place a festive feel. If you’re interested in running/walking the route again, you missed any of my commentary last night, or you want to read about the few that we didn’t get to, then there you can do so here (pdf 1mb).
Next up on the Night Run series, the not-to-be-missed Christmas Pub Run led by our own Jim Hardie on 22nd December. Christmas outfits obligatory.
Mike Lynch
Halloween Run 2021
Having worked out a route it was worth a reccie to get some timings. So Richard, Sandra and I headed out on Sunday round my proposed route. Three of us and daylight meant that we were round the route in 1hour 45 minutes. Which was fine for a 6:30 start and food on the table at 8:30.
The herding cats of the food and spreadheets was as normal but the 25-30 numbers were a bit ahead of the usual. My experience of previous endevours had me out last night working out how to cut 15 minutes off of our route.
So email for the food to the Original Rosslyn Inn sent and the Werewolf mask looked out, Witchy Moira and I headed to the meeting point.
Strange visions of weirdly dressed runners appeared from all directions and we set off only 5 minutes late.
A quick dart down main street to the Langhill dip and we entered The Bluebell Wood, passing my “Shinbanes Fields” where bones of fallen soldiers are still found, along the Kill Burn which ran red with blood, we crossed the (by now subteranean) burn and past the Dryden Ice house and on to the Memorial to the Battle of Roslin, fought in 1303. This was the battle that caused the bones in the field and the burn to run red, then we passed The Hewing. At the end of the field I stopped about 10 metres along the path until the 30 of us crossed the stile then headed off. We reached the new board walk over the worst of the mud where Mike lynch took a tumble. I noticed that we had lost 20 people. A search party was sent out and soon found the group. The lost group needed to sharpen their Followership Skills.
Passing “General Monk’s Battery” we descended towards Rosslyn Castle and passed under its spectacular bridge and crossing The Esk ran into Roslin Country Park.
After 0.25 miles of Tarmac we dived into the undergrowth and fought our way uphill to the Roswell- Penicuik railway path and after a brief stop at Rosslyn Castle Station to regroup in the dry, we headed on and descended to Roslin Gunpowder Mill.
Luckily there was some spare gunpowder left over and Richard Chandler and Fraser Gibson put on a short Fireworks display with the backdrop of the spectacular cliffs beside the mill.
The group then ran back to Roslin via Gunpowder Brae and Jacob’s Ladder to Roslin Cemetry. Some keen runners ran ahead and missed the circumnavigation of the Roslin Chapel and its spectacular red lightting, others lagged behind and visited the Castle by misake, but we all got back to the Inn for a well deserved meal.
Willie Gibson
Swanston night run
There was a good turnout for last night’s run from Swanston. Mercifully not the kind of numbers that the Great Googledoc cock-up initially predicted however. I took my run leader responsibilities seriously by packing a rucksack full of safety gear but unfortunately drove off leaving it in my hallway. So huge thanks to John Busby for not only volunteering to be sweeper but also bringing safety gear. And at least I didn’t forget my headtorch unlike some people!
We headed up Allermuir in beautiful snowy conditions, a sliver of new moon and Mars resplendent in the sky. Then a path around the south of Capelaw before the keen beans looped up over Harbour Hill and the less keen beans decided they wanted first dibs on the sandwiches and headed back.
Hearty soup and sandwiches were provided by the Swanston Brasserie. Any money left over once I have collected a tenner off everyone will go to Nicola Duncan’s fundraising for Kat’s bike.
Nicola Dunn
Carnethy Halloween Run
They were a little surprised and I reckon a little impressed by the strange looking group. We pre-ordered the food and then got a local to take the group photo before heading off.
Heidi and Amber were straining at the leads and eager to run as we headed down Manse Road to “The Witchy Wood”. The dogs were unleashed and started darting all over with their LED collars burning bright.
Regrouping at “The Kill Burn” we headed past Dryden Ice House (missing out the dangerous footbridge) and crossed to the other side!
This was the site of the amazing disappearing dog, in the distance there was a high pitched whistle, a shout, a whistle, a shout.
The woods around Rosslyn Castle have been known to ring with the blood-curdling howls of a long-dead “war hound” slain at the Battle of Roslin in 1303. Legend has it that after the battle, the apparition was seen by soldiers and the man who killed the dog’s owner died of terror within days.
We all waited. After a while there was a call of “I found her” and Gordon and Amber were reunited.
We run up the Lang Hill and through the Bilston Wood and followed the Bilston Burn until it disappeared underground. Climbing out of the valley we wiggled our way over the reclaimed bing and back onto the reappeared Bilston Burn bank and on the the Bilston Viaduct.
As we waited, a couple of strange witch like figures watched us and suddenly there was a bang as the first of the Fireworks were lit. The Dogs were caught and led to safety as the rest of us enjoyed the display (Thanks Cali and Bob).
We headed off round the Hewan Bog and Hewan Bank. The site of The Battle of Rosslyn in 1303
Fairmers til this very day
While they are at the plewin
Still dig up shin banes in the clay
At the place the call “The Hewin”
We ran down to the Esk and round “The Maiden Castle” and followed the footpath along to the Chapel, the back to The Original Rosslyn Inn for a nice pint and a good meal.
5.84 miles and about 600 feet of climb.
A grand night out.