Water and Woods - Livingston

Water and Woods: Livingston

We start the day at the Charwood Grill, Fairmilehead, 9.50 for a 10.00 am start to explore the Pentland reservoirs and woods of Livingston South. You will need your best winter tyres with a solid grip, because the route includes quite a lot of tracks. Some are wide, stony and motorable and others are more walking paths but with solid surfaces. There are a few links which are soft and muddy where you will need to push and some walkers’ gates to slow us down, 

From Charwood we swoop across to Bonaly and then climb past Glencorse reservoir and on to Clubbiedean with glorious views across West Lothian, and if the weather is kind, to Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin on Loch Tay. Next we skirt Harlaw (ladies toilet stop here) and Threipmuir reservoirs and come out at Red Moss. From there we begin our descent along the Cockburnhill road to the Lang Whang. We head west, past the airfield and take the Leyden Road, signed for the Holy Cow Wigwams, more on which during the ride. 

Half way down this road we turn left through Selm Muir Wood and come out on the Morton road and down to the A71. This is a horrid bit of 1.5 kms on this fast road with traffic to the Oakbank roundabout. We go into the Oakbank business park and find a linking path to the Murieston trail. This is a lovely path through the woods along the Murieston river to Murieston South District Road and from there to our lunch stop at Brewers Fayre at Brucefield Farm. (I’ve not eaten there but am told it has a self service buffet.) 30 kms.

After lunch we start heading back, taking the Bankton Mains path and Robin’s Lane to Murieston Road. We then head into the Linhouse Water Nature Reserve run by the SWT to do the Linhouse circuit. On a Sunday there will be walkers with dogs; the surface is narrow and wet in places but has a good red shale base. At the corner, back near the Oakbank business park we follow the signs to Oakbank. This is a mixture of shale path and muddy walking path. It takes us under the A71 and across the Linhouse water. Then we have the piece de resistance, 3 kms along a wide shale path through the ancient Calder Wood high above the Calderbank Glen. A final muddy push puts us on the Oakbank road and down into East Calder.

From there it is straight home along the A71, up Bonnington Road, turn right down to Ratho, right and then left into Ransfield Road, Gogarbank and under the by-pass to Edinburgh Park. We go straight along via Saughton and Murrayfield to the beginning of the Roseburn path where the led ride ends. I’m sorry, I’m not leading anyone all the way up to the Charwood, but I can put you on the road to it. Total distance 62 kms.

The link to the ride on Strava is here: www.strava.com/routes/22621095 

Everyone is very welcome to attend but for riders new to the group, our riding guidelines on the following link are essential reading prior to coming out on the ride to ensure safety for yourself and the other riders.  https://www.cyclinguk.org/group/page/guidelines-safe-riding   You will be expected to join Cycling UK after 3 rides.

Do take note of my phone number in case you get separated from the group. 07410 932926 and for new riders, I will collect your details prior to the ride.

If you intend to be a regular rider with us please email [email protected] with your contact details and a contact number in case of emergency, so that we will have your details available..

Please make sure your bike is roadworthy and that you have 2 spare inner tubes and basic tools to change an inner tube.  You will need to have water, money for your lunch and a bike lock.  Remember you are riding at your own risk and whilst the group will always try to help out as best as possible with punctures and mechanical problems, you are responsible for looking after yourself and getting yourself home.

I’ll keep an eye on the weather and post any necessary up-dates, but at the moment it seems set fair but cold.

Cheers

John Palmer