Cycling in Edinburgh

It has hills, some hectic and confusing road layouts, disjointed bike routes, those pesky tram tracks, and it’s crazy during the Festival; the active local cycling campaign has plenty to talk about. But still, cycling is the best way to get round wonderful Edinburgh, one of the world’s great cities.

Indeed, the trundle up from Waverley station and Princes St to the Castle, then down the Royal Mile’s cobbles to Holyrood and the Scottish Parliament building, and then up the lanes towards Arthur’s Seat for a glorious view of the city, is one of the world’s most special urban bike rides. That handful of miles could take you all day. (Walk round the Parliament’s bike racks – viewed from the right point they line up to form a bicycle shape.)

Some good (mostly) traffic-free routes get you into and out of the centre. NCN1 comes in from the east dramatically on a railtrail underneath Arthur’s Seat, and NCN75 / 754 takes you out west along a canal towpath (good for families) all the way to Falkirk Wheel and ultimately, still canal-side, to Glasgow.

NCN1, meanwhile, strikes out northwest on car-free paths and quiet lanes to the Forth Road Bridge, whose bike paths across to Fife are an outstanding cycling experience. Since the Queensferry Crossing opened upstream, the Forth Bridge is much quiter that it used to be.

Edinburgh’s central ‘valley’ seems, oddly, to lack a river where you expect it (the railway goes there, though). The nearest thing to that is the Water of Leith, whose stream-side cycle path (not always with foolproof signage) takes you from the centre to Leith itself. 

There is also a network of "railtrails" which are excellent for getting around by bike. A Spokes cycle map of Edinburgh is readily available in bike shops and bookshops.

The City of Edinburgh’s guide to walking and cycling

Cycling Edinburgh's website is kept up to date and full of useful tips and information on cycling in Edinburgh.

Cycling groups and clubs in Edinburgh

Lothian and Borders CTC (Edinburgh)

Regular rides from 20 leisurely miles to 80 fast ones for all types of cyclists

Mayfield and East Houses Youth 2000 (Dalkeith)

Gives young people the opportunity to enjoy outdoors activities

Belles on Bikes Edinburgh (Edinburgh)

Meetup

Facebook 

Spokes (Edinburgh)

Very active local campaign for better cycling in Edinburgh and around

What to take with you on your ride 

The only thing you really need for cycling is a bike. And maybe a phone, and credit card: in Britain you’re only a call away from any service you might need.

But unless money is no object, it’s wise to take a few things with you on a day ride. A saddlebag or rear rack and panniers are best for carrying stuff. A front basket is second best. A rucksack is third best. Your sweaty back will soon tell you why.

Cycling short distances in jeans and t-shirt is fine, but on a long or strenuous ride – over ten miles say, or in hills – those jeans will rub and the t-shirt will get damp and clingy. Shorts or, yes, lycra leggings and padded shorts will be much comfier, and merino or polyester cycling tops wick away the sweat, keeping you dry and comfy. (They don’t have to be lurid colours.)

If rain is in the air, pack a rainproof top. If it might turn chilly, take a fleece or warm top. But the thing you’re most likely to forget is the sunblock. 

It’s remarkable how often you enjoy being out on the bike so much that you suddenly realise it’s getting dark. So take lights (which are legally required at night). They’re price of a sandwich, take no space and are normally easy to put on thanks to tool-free plastic clips.

Take a puncture repair kit (with tyre levers) and pump. Make sure it fits your valves, which will be either ‘Presta’ or ‘Schraeder’ – realising they don’t match is a very common roadside discovery! Carrying a spare inner tube (make sure it matches your tyre size) makes puncture repair much easier: mend the old one back at home. If you do get in trouble, some kindly passing cyclist will probably stop to help.

Using a helmet is a personal choice – they’re not legally required.

Cycling makes you thirsty, so take a bottle of water. Long-distance riders talk about ‘the bonk’ – a sudden loss of energy rendering you almost stationary. It’s miraculously and instantly cured by eating something sweet. On short rides you’re unlikely to run out of energy, but just in case, take a snack like flapjack, banana, chocolate or jelly babies. 

Taking a packed lunch or picnic will save you money, though that hot drink and cake in a cosy cafe could yet prove very tempting!

Your phone GPS could be invaluable for showing where you are when lost; you can download free detailed UK maps and GPS software before your trip. 

Paper maps are still useful, though, so take one: no power source or wifi signal required, and they’re great for suggesting possibilities or changes of plan.

Thank you to CTC Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders member Benedict Bate for helping us to update this page.