[Closed] Edinburgh - Livingston commuting route

Along the union canal surely?

Should've mentioned, I have next to no local knowledge (I'm moving there shortly), but that looks very tempting indeed. Can you bash it out fairly quickly in the morning or does it get a bit crowded there?

It gets crowded from the edge of Edinburgh inwards. You'll go a lot faster than walking pace, but nowhere near road pace. Expect walkers, runners, dogs, schoolkids etc. It's tarmacced at least as far as Ratho. You should have a look at the Sustrans map of the area as there are quite a few cycle tracks nearby

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map?lat=57.10045196488224&lng=-4.251709421875036&zoom=7&route-type=all-routes&region=Scotland

Livingston, up onto West Calder road to Kirknewton, up through Balerno and into town. You have many options.

What part of Edinburgh are you aiming at?

What part of Edinburgh are you aiming at?

Vice versa - living in Portobello (probably) and aiming for the hospital in Livingston.

You should have a look at the Sustrans map of the area as there are quite a few cycle tracks nearby

Is the canal NCN 754?

Thats a fair old commute. POint of note- I'd avoid the canal till you get to the crossover at Sighthill, then join it there. Not sure if they've surfaced the whole route with tarmac, otherwise if not the bike will get manky really quickly on a wet day.

I used to have to attend out-patient appointments at St Johns, travelled in by bike along said canal.
Nothing arduous, got quite busy, I tended to be heading against the flow at 9am -- pretty quiet by 11am.

But I'm sure there are faster options.

[ I think I may have pissed off my consultant once, actually - post plastic facial surgery. Turned up on a cold morning April time, dressed of the weather and conditions - "ah, did you bike here then?" he said, I think I may have been a bit colourful in response.. ]

I used to stay on the west side of Edinburgh and used the a71 to west Calder. I'd occasionally use the a70 back. Pretty boring really.