|
Very strong winds during the night so
I was constantly being woken up. This is my last day cycling and my
train from Edinburgh isn’t till this afternoon so there was no hurry
in getting away. I packed a sodden tent away at 08:30am and set off.
I re-joined the A704 but hadn’t gone far when I stopped by the old
ruined parish church of Cockpen. I camped here on Sun 05th Aug 2012
after a terrific downpour of rain. I’d pitched my tent by the grave
of the Marquess of Dalhousie (1812 – 1860) who was a Scottish
statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India. |
|
|
|
Marquess
of Dalhousie (1812 – 1860) |
|
|
The traffic was getting busy and when
I reached the A7 I had quite a wait before I could join the traffic.
On the outskirts of Dalkeith I was relieved to join the cycle track
through Saint David’s Gardens housing estate. |
|
|
The map shows it as a school but it’s
now housing. The path headed into thick woodland which was great
riding. I descended to the River South Esk which I crossed by the
old stone Maiden Bridge which dates from around 1500. |
|
|
I soon joined James Lean Avenue and on
to the Penicuik - Musselburgh foot and cycleway which is on the line
of the
Peebles Railway which was opened in 1855 and closed in 1967. It
ran for about 2 miles until I reached the road again. The cycle
track by the A1 had lighting powered by solar panels but all the
junction boxes had been vandalised so I don’t know if any work. In
Newcraighall I stopped by the drinking fountain monument to Dr
Andrew Balfour who died in 1906. The road it’s on is Klondyke
Street. |
|
|
|
Dr
Andrew Balfour memorial |
|
|
I reached Brunstane Railway Station
where the cycle route is supposed to cross the railway. I started to
wheel my bike over via the upward steps, which weren’t very steep. I
man said it would be easier to cycle round via the road to the
north. I did but it didn’t re-join the cycle path. I had to wheel my
bike down a steep grass bank to a car park then on my way again.
Once again I was on le line of an old railway. This one was unique
in being the old ‘Innocent’ Railway dating from 1831 to 1968.
Originally it used horses to haul coal. |
|
Along the track I came to a tunnel
entrance, which I wasn’t expecting. It liked interesting and had
electric lighting. There were two signs, one pointing away from the
tunnel and the other through it. I set off into the tunnel and
managed to take some interesting photos on the way.
==
St Leonards Tunnel is believed to be Scotland’s earliest tunnel on a
public railway. It was excavated in volcanic rock and lined with
Craigleith sandstone, with a semi-circular cross-sectional top 20
feet wide, and 15 feet high at the crown; it is 566 yards long.
Construction took place from 1827 to 1830 and originally illuminated
by gas lamps. It is now permanently lit by electricity as part of a
cycle path project. |
|
|
St Leonards Tunnel |
|
I emerged up the incline into daylight
and blocks of flats. I was aiming for Queen’s Drive around Holyrood
Park. The way there wasn’t obvious but I soon found the way. I had a
good view of the Edinburgh buildings ahead as I descended to the
Holyrood and tourists. I stopped outside the parliament building to
take a few photos then continued up Canongate. I stopped briefly by
the Netherbow Wellhead. It is the oldest surviving cisterns in
Edinburgh dating from around 1675. By the 1780s it could not provide
enough water for the growing population so to limit demand it was
only turned on for 3 hours at midnight. Those who could afford it
paid water caddies to collect water for them. |
|
|
Netherbow Wellhead |
|
I cycled over North Bridge and hoped
to sit in the Princess Street Gardens area but the whole area was
fenced off as it is being converted into an area of stalls and
events for the Christmas season. I cycled back along Princess Street
to Waverley Railway station where I caught the 14:18 train to
Preston. It was dark when I reached Preston so I cycled via Lune
Street and Avenham Park to join the cycle track to Bamber Bridge.
With my powerful cree lamp I was able to illuminate my way
comfortably. |
|
|
|
Edinburgh getting ready for Christmas |
|
|
|
Return to
Whittle Wanderer
