Five Burns

Double deviation today ... this isn't trails, its definitely mixed terrain ... this isn't running (much), its definitely walking (mostly) ... but hey ho, I'm a "Happy Old Plodder", and indeed I did plod all the way today. Mrs and Junior kept me company for the first six miles which was nice.

So another morning using the excellent local bus service to reach the start. We've caught the #4 bus from Slateford Station, and we alight outside the Hunters Tryst on the Oxgangs Road. There's a small asphalst footpath accessible from behind the car park which is marked as a "Ministry of Defence (Army) PRIVATE ROAD". This path runs beside a supermarket and the amount of packaging and plastic bag rubbish here is horrible. To the right a narrow strip of woodland with signs "M. O. D. ARMY PROPERTY" but there are folk walking through and the soft earth here is so much kinder than the asphalt. Soon we must turn to the left along a narrow little path around the fences above Dreghorn Link. I've never seen a map which shows this little path, you just can't beat a bit of local knowledge. The path ends and we cross the city by-pass at the Dreghorn Junction with fine views toward the hills, another military road around the edge of the Pentland Hills Regional Park and across open fields to the delightful little Bonaly Burn (burn number one).

Started outside Hunter's Tryst ...

... onto a small strip of asphalt behind.

The narrow strip of army owned land to the right ...

... provides a softer path ...

... and a hidden narrow track above Dreghorn Link

On approach to Dreghorn Junction a fine view of the hills

The other side of the by-pass a section of military road ...

... across open fields ...

... down to the delightful Bonaly Burn.

The burn flows underneath the by-pass through a small tunnel and the footpath pleasantly follows the burn through woodland for a short while. We cross another open field and into the trees on the other side to find the charming Howden Burn (burn number two).

Burn and path through the tunnel ...

... beautiful along the burn here ....

... another green field to cross ...

... to find the charming Howden Burn.

The Bonaly Burn and Howden Burn are both tributaries of Braid Burn (burn number three), crossed now on a wooden footbridge as we enter Dreghorn Woods. I confess, I made a nav error here and turned left instead of crossing the bridge. Junior did something which gave me a big smile, he pointed out that the water was flowing the wrong way, or moreover we were walking the wrong way, upstream when we should have been going downstream. He remembered, I had promised to him that the route today was almost all down hill. He was right, we turned around and crossed the bridge, well done Junior. The paths through the Dreghorn Woods are a little hidden gem of Edinburgh, this really is a beautiful place, except for one thing, the paths can be very very, very ve muddy. I've never trodden them dry. This is definitely one of the off-road parts to the route today. The Dreghorn Woods are more military owned land, now managed by the city council. Apparently, there are remains of trenches here, which were used by the army to train for trench warfare in WW1.

Footbridge over Braid Burn in Dreghorn Woods ...

... a pretty muddy place ...

... a pretty place.

We will continue to follow near the Braid Burn for several miles but first the woods and paths end back on the blacktop at Redford Road, near the barracks, here a turn to the right, and then to the left down a street with the intriguing name "The Gallolee", big houses, expensive cars, but ... how to put it ... well just to say that Mock Tudor has never been one of my preferred architectural styles. No matter, there are soon some steps down into Redford Woods and back to the burn, alas on the asphalt for some time now. More great views over to the hills at Colinton Mains Park and some Sunday soccer match in progress. Continuing beside the burn we enter Braidburn Valley Park, with steep grass banks leading up to the streets on either side, but this lovely narrow strip of green along the burn here. Yep, you read right, that sign says "Cockmylane", strange but true. Also, Robert Louis Stevenson's "Road to Swanston and the Pentlands" for a bit of local historical interest. You can cycle or run or walk along the asphalt through the valley if you like, but we prefer to plod along the grassy paths through the trees. The burn disappears underground, we must climb up out of the valley and a little roadwork.

The last few yards down the Dreghorn Woods ...

... now the Mock Tudor of The Gallolee lead to ...

... the Redford Woods ...

... and the burn, along the asphalt, alas ...

... more great views of the hills from Colinton Mains Park ...

... and now into the valley where ...

... you can run on the asphalt ...

... or, better for me, the grassy paths through the trees.

The burn disappears underground for a short while.

By now Junior is thinking of his stomach, he just can't stop asking about a stop for lunch ... "are we there yet?". I'm telling him we will picnic at the visitor centre nearby, where there are toilets. Well, you have to think of these things, its not like you can nip behind a bush to drop a #2 here. We rejoin the burn on the footpaths at Hermitage of Braid, a very pretty little place indeed, with the usual river scenes. We are on the asphalt path at the bottom of the valley today, but there are gorgeous dirt trails higher up in the trees on either side, I've been in my little heaven running along them so many times. Above to the left, through the leaf-less winter-time trees I can make out the old dovecot, and Junior gets his stop for a picnic on the benches outside the old house, now visitor centre, next to the sundial. To the right, up a few steps, there's a curious little thing, an "ice house", from the days before fridges. More beautiful riverside scenes along the path, passing Agassiz Rock (anyone for a spot of bouldering? ... ah, thought not ...).

The burn regained at Hermitage of Braid ...

... such a pretty little place ...

... the sound of water rushing over the weir ...

... up through trees to the left the old dovecot.

The old house, now visitor centre, and a great picnic spot ...

... with a sundial ...

... and nearby the ice house. 

More beautiful river scenes

Agassiz Rock

The footpaths end and we are back on the roads for a little while, at first on Blackford Glen Road past the city council depot (a place where traffic lights go to die), across the golf course on the left we're seeing the King's Buildings campus of the University of Edinburgh, a place well known to me, I studied and worked there for over a decade. Now Junior is tired of the walk, bored, he wants to go home, he wants his computer games, but me, no way do I want to stop already, I'm not even half done. Mrs comes to the rescue, good lass, thank you. Reorganize the rucsacs and two will scoot off for the next bus homeward, one will continue, a shade faster progress for me now. I'm soon enjoying the dirt through the trees at Inch Park and going along half walking half jogging despite the heavy walking boots on my feet. There are squirrels everywhere, I see one hiding on a branch with bounty clamped between it's teeth. Crossing the Old Dalkeith Road I'm now around the edge of Craigmillar Castle Park with fine views over the allotments toward Arthur's Seat. I'm still on the asphalt but now soft side trails through the trees appear and I am seduced. Somewhere I've stumbled upon here where I shall have to return one day, and perhaps a visit to the castle with a bit of a romp around the ramparts, sounds like fun!

Nice dirt in Inch Park

Squirrel with bounty (zzooomm)

Great views to Arthur's Seat from Craigmillar Castle Park

Seduced by the soft side trails ...

... now, that's the way, ah ha ah ha,  I like it!

I'm not sure where these lovely little paths are taking me, but it seems to be in the right general direction, so that's good enough for me, and I'm as happy as a sandboy here. Too soon, I'm deposited on Craigmillar Castle Road, heading north toward Duddingston and then a right onto route one. Ah, so that would be National Cycle Route 1, along the Innocent Railway path. To the west leads up toward Holyrood Park through the wonderful long tunnel, and I will go through there one day, but not today, today I am heading to the east, to the coast. Just one problem, this is an excellent cycle path, good for a fast ride, and I've enjoyed a few very fast rides up and down the path, but this means I am still on the asphalt, oh well, at least there are occasional side trails through the dirt and the trees, then reaching Jewel Park, I can slog along grass of the the playing fields.

Innocent railway path heading east

The side trails offer relief from the asphalt ...

... and the grassy playing fields of Jewel Park.

Not more than a kilometre or so and I'm again doing the asphalt-and-grass-verges jive alongside Niddrie Burn (that would be burn number four) and reach the enticingly named Magdalene Glen. I'm filled with anticipation but alas this seems to be the place where shopping trolleys go to die, and the odd shopping basket.

Niddrie Burn

Magdalene Glen ...

... where shopping trolleys go to die ...

... and shopping baskets like to party.

The path ends at the Brunstane railway station with another great view over Arthur's Seat, except for one thing, the horror of the car park, for this is shopping-centre-land (hence the trolleys, and baskets, suppose). Right, so time for a side-rant, this consumer culture thing, shopping as a form of leisure (and watching the television as a form of entertainment come to think of it), and the phrase "shop 'til you drop" ... what is that all about?!*! Like, err, shopping, this is not exactly a good work-out, so what's the part about "you drop"? "I'm exhausted after a hard day over town shopping!" ... "Oh, sounds tough, I'll get you a nice cup of tea, by the way I've just run eleven miles over the hills, it was good, lots of rain and wind of course, the marshy ground up top was a bit wet and boggy." ... "I could do with that cup of tea, any biscuits?". End of side-rant, apologies for the deviation there. Despite the asphalt and the urban I'm actually quite excited here, because I am about to get onto the Brunstane Burn Walkway, a path which I remember from a few lovely runs and cycles a few years ago, on the dirt, along the beautiful Brunstane Burn (here comes burn number five). Oh, such disappointment, the burn is strewn with litter, what a horrible sight, and the dirt has all been covered with asphalt, time and change, sometimes but not always for the better. I've kept my camera away from the worst of the desolation. This could be, should be, I remember was, such a special place ... come on, Edinburgh, you can do so much better, puh-l-ease. Ah, I'm beginning to sound like Digby from the Carnethies, well, anyway there's a bit of Sun breaking through the clouds and after a smidging more of roadwork I'll be able to enjoy a happy short stretch very well and truly off the black stuff.

Nice view of Arthur's Seat, except for the blight of automobiles

Brunstane Burn Path, now alas all asphalt

Brunstane Burn, the least litter strewn sight

The Brunstane Burn path ejects me at Eastfield, between Joppa and Musselburgh. To the left I could go along Joppa and the promenade at Portobello, and that's a temptation, but I'll go right toward Musselburgh. In a couple of minutes I'm at the coast, all of a sudden the terrible sound of traffic is replaced by the sublime sound of the waves crashing on the shore. And along the beach to the harbour goes the old plodder, at a light jog, boots and all, crushing shells underfoot, and once or twice caught wet foot by the waves. (Very welcome public conveniences, I've been clenching for about the last half an hour, sorry, too much detail again.) Just a few metres of roadwork now to The Ship Inn, the end point today. Alas. no time to dally here with a jar of ale, my #44 bus home will arrive in a few minutes. Just time to phone Mrs and agree to pick up a delicious Chinese take-way supper from Taste Good (strong recommendation) on the way home.

The coast, and views across to Fife ...

... and North Berwick, a big sky today

Almost final section along the beach ...

... to the harbour at Musselburgh ...

... and the finish at The Ship Inn

Good day, weather not as sunny as forecast, but whatever, no rain to speak of, temperatures reasonable, winds minimal, a little late afternoon sunshine, a good day. Lovely to have the family with me for the first half, equally lovely to be able to pick up speed in the second half. Remember, I had told Junior the route was overall a descent. Well the distance was 20.4km, garmin says the ascent/descent is 310m/450m, but once again I know that cannot be right, google says the ascent/descent is 121m/277m which sounds closer to the real world. What is up with garmin on the ascent/descent?! Oh, anyway, I was on the go for about four hours, and on the buses for about, oh, one and a half hours. Beats the pants off driving any day!

Enjoy!