Walking through Scotland. Local knowledge?

[i4got]

I am walking from Lands End to John O Groats and am currently in Carlisle. I have a thread running already on this but thought I might try for some Scotland specific information in here - hope this is Ok.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I have a route I’m pretty happy with up to Peebles. Basically up to Moffat then cut across the Southern Upland Way for two days to Peebles via Traquair.

From Peebles I want to get to Inverkeithing with two intermediate stops.

My thoughts were (based on accommodation availability) were ;

Stage 1 - Starting at Peebles to Nine Mile Burn.

I can find a path from Peebles to Penicuik 14 miles. But then can only see a 4 mile walk down the A766 to Nine Mile Burn. Am I missing am alternative?

Can cancel Nine Mile Burn till midnight 21st May. Maybe better to stay in Penicuik instead if possible?

Stage 2

Wherever I end up at Stage 1 to East Calder. The next stop will be across the bridge at Inverkeithing. Need a route between stage one end and East Calder over Pentland Hills.

I have no knowledge of this area (as you can probably tell)

Is there anyone who does a lot of walking in that area who could offer some advice. Either on routes between my existing planned stops or changes to the route that offer accommodation.

By accommodation I mean campsites or cheap b&b, pub etc. I’ll be wild camping on the Southern Upland Way so preference will be for no more wild camping.

For info, after Inverkeithing, I’ll be heading up to Blair Athol and using East Highland Trail to Inverness.

So any additional info on getting to the bridge from end of stage 2 (East Calder?)

Hope its Ok to post this here - any help appreciated.

If something isn’t clear please let me know.

[i4got]

Update I have found an alternate to the A766 from Penikuit to Nine Mile Burn which generally follows the River North Esk.

So Peebles to Nine Mile Burn is doable.

[s2kjock]

Been following you on the travel thread on and off - proper job to get this far.

I've not done a lot of walking around Edinburgh, and can try and have a better think tomorrow, but some thoughts) queries.

Walk through Pentlands from Flotterstone on A702 to Balerno is very pleasant.

Are you avoiding coming into Edinburgh?

East Calder to Inverkeithing looks to involve a lot of tricky crossing of motorways, and may be further west to head for initially than seems ideal.

Are you happy walking along roads with no pavement, or prefer to use paths as much as possible?

[sherman]

I wouldnt go as far west as East Calder.

I would go Penicuik, Ratho (cross the union canal at ratho) , Ratho station (stay to the left boundry of the airport going towards kirkliston) kirkliston and that will take you straight to South Queensferry and the Forth Road Bridge.

[i4got]

s2kjock said:

Been following you on the travel thread on and off - proper job to get this far.

I've not done a lot of walking around Edinburgh, and can try and have a better think tomorrow, but some thoughts) queries.

Walk through Pentlands from Flotterstone on A702 to Balerno is very pleasant.

Are you avoiding coming into Edinburgh?

East Calder to Inverkeithing looks to involve a lot of tricky crossing of motorways, and may be further west to head for initially than seems ideal.

Are you happy walking along roads with no pavement, or prefer to use paths as much as possible?

My preference is for paths if possible but where thats not possible, I don't mind roads - even if no pavement if its a particularly quiet road.

I’m missing out Edinburg only because its so far out of my way. I may pop in on the way back home after the walk.

Thanks for the walk suggestion - I’l check it out..

[i4got]

sherman said:

I wouldnt go as far west as East Calder.

I would go Penicuik, Ratho (cross the union canal at ratho) , Ratho station (stay to the left boundry of the airport going towards kirkliston) kirkliston and that will take you straight to South Queensferry and the Forth Road Bridge.

I picked East Calder because it has a camp site but looking in more detail the site os actually half way between East Calder and Ratho - less than 3 miles to Ratho. So I can walk via Ratho and stay at the campsite at a push.

Thanks for the pointers.

[i4got]

Ok so changing from Nine Mile Burn to Penicuik gives me a route that I’m confident I can find quiet and off road routes.

This is the reworked route.

Day 1.

Peebles to Penicuik 14 miles. Stay in Penicuik. Accommodation found.

Day 2

Penicuik to Currie 8 miles

Currie to Rathno 5 miles

Stay in Linwater Caravan Site 3 miles from Rathno.

Day 3

Caravan site to Rathno 3 miles

Ratho to Newbridge 3 miles

Newbridge to Kirkilston 2 miles

Kirkilston to Queensferry 4 miles

Queensferry to Inverkeithing 3 miles

I think this looks pretty good.

I have no idea what any of these towns/villages are like so looking forward to walking into them.

Thanks.

[s2kjock]

You should enjoy the walk from Flotterstone to Currie/Balerno - quiet tarmac road up to Glencorse reservoir and then take path to north east over moor. Popular and busy at the weekend with leisure users. Not much in the way of facilities until you get to Balerno/Currie though once you leave Flotterstone. There was a coffee van at Harlaw House visitor centre when I was last there a few years back, but the toilets seem to be closed still (Pentland Hills Park website will tell you more)

If you are overnighting at Linwater, you may be better to go more directly via Balerno rather than Currie, although I have no idea on roads/paths. To get back the next day from Linwater to Ratho the Union Canal towpath is a popular route and avoids roads.

From Newbridge, the OS maps show a disused rail line heading north I did not know was there - google satellite view indicates it is a path of some kind, and this goes all the way to South Queensferry. Or it looks like you could hop off at Kirkliston and take the pavement beside the B800.

Lots of places to eat and drink at South Queensferry, but they are down at shore (which is very nice) and it is a steepish climb up through town back to the roads from the south. Supermarket at Ferrymuir has the best facilities I suspect if you don't want to go all the way down to the shore. Visitor centre for the Forth Road Bridge (the "original" one) I think is where you can go down steps to access the bridge for pedestrians. Again, it has been a few years, but not really much in the way of facilities.

[i4got]

Thanks for that - really useful information

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

If you are looking for somewhere for a pint, the Bridge Inn at Ratho would be a good place to stop. You can sit outside overlooking the canal. The B800 to Kirkliston has a pavement, but it's very much an A to B route - the disused railway line sounds much nicer if it's an option (I was unaware this existed, and I don't know if you can actually use it?). If you did have to divert onto Lochend Road / Hallyards road, then they are both fine to walk along - no pavement, but pretty quiet unless you are walking at morning rush hour where it is used as a rat run to avoid the Newbridge roundabout.

South Queensferry is really nice if you want to stop, with plenty of pubs / cafes / ice cream shops, although it is a steep walk back up to the bridge. There's a huge tesco at Ferrymuir on the way to the Forth Road bridge, as mentioned above, and also an M&S, McDonalds and Burger King there, so plenty of options. There's a Dakota too if you want to push the boat out :-)

[i4got]

Ive done my first days walking in Scotland and it was far more road and lane walking than I was hoping for.

I know when I get onto big trails like Southern Upland Way they are marked on the OS map.

But I’m not seeing many if any minor rights of way paths so having to stick to tarmac.

I assume this is something to do with the right to roam.

Not being used to this I’m finding if a bit confusing. I can’t just walk across fields with the right to roam I assume. Apart from anything else how do I know I’ll actually have access.

Is there a resource that I’m missing other than OS that shows off road paths that I’m allowed to use.?

Otherwise, unless I’m on a proper trail, I see myself on the road much more than I’d like.

Its possible my first day is not representative of whats to come however.

Thanks for any insights.

[s2kjock]

I think "rights of way" is much less of a thing up here, and I guess with historically lower population density plus mountainous areas restricting optimal routes, the historic "A to Bs" have been tarmaced over for piston related activities to a large extent.

I don't think it is related to any "right to roam" stuff in practice, more the above. Walking between glens in the more mountainous remote areas is generally fine in terms of finding paths, but routes away from those areas less so.

You should be OK walking through agricultural land if you do the usual sensible stuff of avoiding livestock, sticking to margins to not damage crops etc but you may get some funny looks, and have a lot more fences to scramble over

Although I live in Edinburgh, I come from much further north and for a lot of the trip north a fairly direct walk would look pretty unpleasant in terms of avoiding traipsing along/beside roads quite a bit.

How you would cross Fife on foot to get to Perth from Inverkeithing reasonably directly for instance I would have no idea - if you had loads of time there is the Fife Coastal trail which sounds great, but that is a massive detour for you.

Local knowledge would help to an extent, but might involve a lot more research than ideal.

[i4got]

s2kjock said:

I think "rights of way" is much less of a thing up here, and I guess with historically lower population density plus mountainous areas restricting optimal routes, the historic "A to Bs" have been tarmaced over for piston related activities to a large extent.

I don't think it is related to any "right to roam" stuff in practice, more the above. Walking between glens in the more mountainous remote areas is generally fine in terms of finding paths, but routes away from those areas less so.

You should be OK walking through agricultural land if you do the usual sensible stuff of avoiding livestock, sticking to margins to not damage crops etc but you may get some funny looks, and have a lot more fences to scramble over

Although I live in Edinburgh, I come from much further north and for a lot of the trip north a fairly direct walk would look pretty unpleasant in terms of avoiding traipsing along/beside roads quite a bit.

How you would cross Fife on foot to get to Perth from Inverkeithing reasonably directly for instance I would have no idea - if you had loads of time there is the Fife Coastal trail which sounds great, but that is a massive detour for you.

Local knowledge would help to an extent, but might involve a lot more research than ideal.

Thank you for that - very useful.i’m looking forward to getting to Moffat so I can divert to the SUW.

[gdr]

There are "Rights of Way" in Scotland, I think relating to historical drove roads, although as said, tresspass laws etc not same here as in England. Maybe some ideas here http://www.heritagepaths.co.uk/#zoom=6&lat=56....

Be warned that some of these paths through mountainous parts of the highlands can involve rough and high terrain, and even paths marked on modern OS maps can be boggy and sometimes hard to follow.

For a real adventure, combine the West Highland Way https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/west-highland-way.... with the Cape Wrath Trail https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cape-wrath-trail.s... although it ends a long way from John O Groats and would be a serious expedition indeed, especially the second part!

Edited by gdr on Friday 20th May 11:03

[i4got]

Gin and Ultrasonic said:

If you are looking for somewhere for a pint, the Bridge Inn at Ratho would be a good place to stop. You can sit outside overlooking the canal. The B800 to Kirkliston has a pavement, but it's very much an A to B route - the disused railway line sounds much nicer if it's an option (I was unaware this existed, and I don't know if you can actually use it?). If you did have to divert onto Lochend Road / Hallyards road, then they are both fine to walk along - no pavement, but pretty quiet unless you are walking at morning rush hour where it is used as a rat run to avoid the Newbridge roundabout.

South Queensferry is really nice if you want to stop, with plenty of pubs / cafes / ice cream shops, although it is a steep walk back up to the bridge. There's a huge tesco at Ferrymuir on the way to the Forth Road bridge, as mentioned above, and also an M&S, McDonalds and Burger King there, so plenty of options. There's a Dakota too if you want to push the boat out :-)

I missed this post yesterday. If I pass the Bridge Inn when its open I’ll definitely stop there. And I am partial to a McD breakfast. Thanks.

[i4got]

gdr said:

There are "Rights of Way" in Scotland, I think relating to historical drove roads, although as said, tresspass laws etc not same here as in England. Maybe some ideas here http://www.heritagepaths.co.uk/#zoom=6&lat=56....

Be warned that some of these paths through mountainous parts of the highlands can involve rough and high terrain, and even paths marked on modern OS maps can be boggy and sometimes hard to follow.

For a real adventure, combine the West Highland Way https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/west-highland-way.... with the Cape Wrath Trail https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cape-wrath-trail.s... although it ends a long way from John O Groats and would be a serious expedition indeed, especially the second part!

Edited by gdr on Friday 20th May 11:03

I’ll save those paths for my next LEJOG

[beambeam1]

i4got said:

Day 3

Caravan site to Rathno 3 miles

Ratho to Newbridge 3 miles

Newbridge to Kirkilston 2 miles

Kirkilston to Queensferry 4 miles

Queensferry to Inverkeithing 3 miles

I think this looks pretty good.

I have no idea what any of these towns/villages are like so looking forward to walking into them.

Thanks.

From Ratho you can get a fairly nice walk along some paths that take you behind the airport and basically follows the River Almond. You have to yomp across a few fields where the paths are overgrown but it takes you close to Cammo Estate to the Cramond Brig. Once there you can walk a great path along the edge of the Dalmeny Estate right into South Queensferry. Once you have had something to eat at Down the Hatch (trust me) you can then get up to the Forth Road bridge into Fife.

I would say that 90% of this may be pathways. Edit: Shame I've probably missed you this time as I could have met you and shown you most of the way with a very grateful dog in tow.

Edited by beambeam1 on Sunday 22 May 20:47

[i4got]

beambeam1 said:

From Ratho you can get a fairly nice walk along some paths that take you behind the airport and basically follows the River Almond. You have to yomp across a few fields where the paths are overgrown but it takes you close to Cammo Estate to the Cramond Brig. Once there you can walk a great path along the edge of the Dalmeny Estate right into South Queensferry. Once you have had something to eat at Down the Hatch (trust me) you can then get up to the Forth Road bridge into Fife.

I would say that 90% of this may be pathways. Edit: Shame I've probably missed you this time as I could have met you and shown you most of the way with a very grateful dog in tow.

Edited by beambeam1 on Sunday 22 May 20:47

I actually had quite a major change of plans day before yesterday after a couple of days of walking on tarmac.

Here’s what I posted on the other thread….

>>>>>>>>>>

There’s no getting away from the fact that the first two days in Scotland have been pretty rubbish. Virtually all day walking alongside roads or even when I get off the main roads its more tarmac.

I’m getting the impression that when I’m not on a proper trail there just aren’t enough scenic or off road routes between towns and villages.

I’m concerned that getting from the Southern Upland Way at Peebles through Inverleithing to the Cairngorms is going to involve a lot of time on the road and that's just not an enjoyable walk. I’m doing this to enjoy it not as some kind of endurance test.

So I've decided to change route after tomorrow at Moffat and head up west Scotland rather than east.

I’m going to head for Glasgow and walk up the West Highland Way to Fort William then up the Great Glen Way to Inverness.

Hopefully this will mean that I only have about 3 days of dreary walking to get to Glasgow then its easy street off road mainly all the way to John O Groats.

Tonight I need to do some major replanning but I’m confident it’s the right call. I don’t want to finish this and think I walked some great B roads in Scotland when it has so much more to offer.

Now back to the whisky.


<<<<<<

So tomorrow I head to Crawford/Hamilton/Glasgow rather than Peebles and then onto the WHW. Hope I’ve made the right choice.

[ATG]

Good choice I think. What an adventure!