Cramond Walkers

26/04/2026

On Saturday 25th April six walkers gathered at Lochend Farm Shop cafe south of Scotlandwell, then travelled for 5 miles round Bishop Hill to the overflowing Glenvale car park, from where a large group was about to set off. We followed them for a short distance back along the minor road, then all turned onto the path beside the Glen Burn, initially through fairly young woodland then through gorse and heather. We overtook the large group and stayed on the main path crossing the burn and climbing to get a good view over the valley of the rocky outcrop and caves known as John Knox’s Pulpit, apparently never visited by John Knox but a Covenanter meeting place. Other groups had taken the older path on the other side, passing below the outcrop. Our path then undulated but did not climb much more, until we reached a path turning off to Bishop Hill taken on a summer walk in 2025. Here one walker with dog opted to turn back, not wanting to overdo a return after injury. The rest of us (with one dog) headed north, soon turning off the good path onto a narrow path to climb through the heather towards West Lomond. Our aim was to climb to a height of around 400m then take a path to contour round West Lomond, as a larger group of Cramond Walkers had done in December 2016. With many paths leading off to left and right we were unsure for a while how high we had climbed, but knew from the earlier walk that we had to reach a wall where we had stopped for lunch, so we continued with the ascent to find the wall and stop there again for lunch.
The stile over the wall was broken and we all clambered over the wall, only afterwards seeing that there was a wooden flap we could have got through. Soon there was another path off to the left, climbing steeply towards the 522m summit, and Shelagh opted to do this extra climb alone, as she had done in 2016, this time followed by a steep descent to rejoin us on the far side of the hill. The rest of us continued more leisurely round the east side of the hill, with good views to East Lomond and the reservoirs. After crossing the main path to West Lomond from Craigmead, we reunited and descended steeply towards the Bunnet Stane (or Bonnet Stone), an eroded rocky outcrop with mushroom shaped stone pillar. We took many photos from various angles and visited the Maiden's Bower cave. It was then a gentle descent on field-side paths to the road. In 2016 we had positioned a car at this point to transport the other drivers, but this time we just walked along the minor road for almost 2 km, assisted by a dog bowl of water kindly offered at a large cottage, giving a total of about 10 km walked in just under 4 hours. The weather had started chilly following overnight haar and low cloud, but steadily warmed up and most of the walk was in good sunshine.
Similar route in reverse: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fife-stirling/west-lomond-bunnet.shtml

12/04/2026

Our walk programme up to June is now on the website of Cramond Kirk (part of Edinburgh Northwest Kirk).

The walk on 28 January is now 9 km long instead of 6 km. Part of the planned route is currently closed to protect the ancient oaks and a longer loop is the best option

10/04/2026

On Friday 10th April eight walkers (with one small dog) travelled by Lothian 32 bus from Barnton to Currie, and walked along to Kirkgate, waiting there for a few minutes in case anyone else had travelled direct. The weather was dry and sunny, initially not warm. We set off just after 10.30, descending to cross the Water of Leith, then took a riverside path for a while rather than go up immediately to the Walkway. After going up steps to the well-surfaced Walkway that follows the former Balerno railway line, we stayed on it past Juniper Green, under the bypass and along to Spylaw Park, where we stopped for a coffee break on benches. We passed a Community building under construction, took steps back up to the Walkway then went through the Colinton Tunnel decorated with many murals. Rather than stay on the surfaced Walkway and cycle route, we took the first chance to descend to Colinton Dell and cross a footbridge to walk on the right side of the Water of Leith, with a few ups and downs. It then became Craiglockhart Dell, and we passed an 1830s grotto before exiting to cross Lanark Road and enjoy refreshments at the Water of Leith Centre. Over 7 km (about 4.5 miles) to here, including the walk from the Currie bus stop and the twisting path through the Dells, in just under 2 hours.
Five opted to extend the walk by climbing up steps to the Union Canal, then walking all the way to the end of the canal at Lochrin Basin near Fountainbridge. From there we tried to take the signed walking route to Rutland Square that we have used before, but found it blocked by the massive Port Hamilton development, so we had to add a detour, arriving at Queensferry Street just in time for a Lothian 43 bus home, having walked about 14 km (about 9 miles) in almost 4 hours including stops. The bus was quite full, and very slow with the lane restrictions at Clermiston and Parkgrove.

26/03/2026

On Wednesday 25th March nine walkers (and one small dog) met outside Tesco South Queensferry, most travelling by 43 bus, for a repeat of a walk done exactly 4 years earlier. The weather was mostly dry and sunny, but chilly in the wind, and with a shower of rain/hail around 1pm. Our route started on the road towards Kirkliston, crossing a bridge over the motorway, then turning off onto a farm road. We then entered Dundas Estate, where Dundas Loch was a lovely spot for a coffee stop, watching the water birds, with a background of cliffs.
After the loch, three walkers opted for the shorter version, turning left to pass Dundas Castle and golf course then leaving the estate at its north-east corner to return to Tesco, a total of 6.5 km (4 miles).
The others left at the south-east corner to continue a short distance along the road towards Kirkliston. We crossed the road onto a field path, then past the extensive SUDS for new housing. This time we were able to descend directly to the old railway path and head north. Last time we had a lunch stop at one of the bridges where the route crossed roads, but it was rather windy there, so we went a short distance further to get some shelter where a track led down. We then continued towards Dalmeny, with the last section beside the current rail line to Fife, and we took the ramp up towards Dalmeny village. We followed cycle route signs heading west then took walking paths to head back towards Tesco or another 43 bus stop. Total 12 km (7.5 miles) in 3hr 25 including stops.

14/03/2026

On Saturday 14th March 10 walkers (no dogs) travelled to the Gyle Centre. It was initially cold, but warmed up in the sun, and only a few drops of rain near the end. We started by crossing the road at the tram stop and walked along the east side of the series of ponds called Ross Loch, passing four poets' heads with biographies and poems, then looking at the Orangery Urns. We continued past the padel centre to the Patina Bakery, where the art walk description starts. There were several sculptures visible there, and as we returned to head north we passed the 7m tall Vulcan by Paolozzi, but missed out a few more art works to the north-east of the building. We passed more poets' heads on the west side of the Loch, then opted to cut through between office blocks, so missed a few more. On a return visit there would be more time to look at them all, as described here:
http://www.myedinburghpark.com/arts/art-walk
We headed a short distance south to go through an underpass below the City Bypass, to enter an area cleared for a housing development called Redheughs Village to contain 1300 homes on a 110-acre site. Pedestrian access was still allowed, but some of the paths had been churned up, and we did our best to avoid the mud as we headed west to Gogar Station Road. We went north along the road, crossing the Gogar Burn, then turned left through the service entrance of RBS Gogarburn, and immediately left onto a grassy path round a wetland filled with reeds. We stopped for coffee at two long benches, then continued round the wetland to reach a surfaced path next the RBS buildings. Here three walkers opted for a shortened walk, heading round the buildings to the bridge over the A8. The other seven walkers continued west, crossed the Gogar Burn again, then turned left onto a waymarked grass path taking loops round the southern part of the RBS site. We then went west through some older woodland to reach the south-west corner of the site, crossed a stream, and continued along the western boundary, where we had our lunch stop at two more long benches, with Gogarburn Golf Course behind us. The path continued behind more RBS buildings, including what looked like an old walled garden now containing a football pitch, to reach the north-west corner of the site. The waymarked route then turned to pass in front of the buildings, including RBS Nursery and Gogarburn House, before crossing the Gogar Burn for the final time and passing in front of the main office buildings, with another massive Paolozzi sculpture at the bus turning area. We went through the corner of a car park to cross the bridge over the A8 and descend to the cycle path beside the A8. Most then opted to get the tram for two stops to the Gyle, having walked almost 7 km (4.5 miles) in 2hr 40, with only one continuing on foot to Maybury Road.

06/03/2026

On Friday 6th March we ended up with seven walkers (and one small dog). The weather was dry and sunny but initially cold. From Cramond we walked along the promenade past Silverknowes to Gypsy Brae. We then went inland through Forthquarter Park, including wetland boardwalk, heading for the new Gas Holder 1 Park where we had a coffee stop. From there we opted to keep away from the traffic by taking the path parallel to Waterfront Avenue and going through the Granton Harbour estate emerging at the yacht club. We continued beside Wardie Bay, and approaching Newhaven we had a picnic lunch stop in Starbank Park. Two chose to walk back from there towards Cramond, then one caught a tram at the Newhaven terminus. A total of 8 km (5 miles) to there. The remaining four walkers (with dog) went inland to the railway path to head towards Trinity and beyond.

20/02/2026

On Friday 20th February only two walkers (with one dog) travelled to Burntisland. We knew that a few regulars would be missing, but others may have been put off by the forecast of rain. However the actual weather was much better, mostly dry and less cold than recent days, with only one heavy shower 5 minutes from the end. We started by finding a dog-friendly cafe, and decided to treat this as a recce. The route was good, mostly off-road, so we will reschedule it to the programme for the coming months.

09/02/2026

On Sunday 8th February fourteen walkers with two dogs gathered in South Queensferry at the busy Little Bakery at the far end of the High Street, ten having travelled by 43 bus. We walked through Queensferry to Hawes Pier, where Callum left us after group photos, to head to Fiona by car with some of our offerings, while Dougie stayed with us. The weather was better than forecast, with only a little dampness in the air, and a few drops of light rain about 1.30. We headed into Dalmeny Estate, pausing first at Hound Point to look at the views. We all decided to stay on the footpath rather than go down to the beach, and we passed Barnbougle Castle then Dalmeny House, and finally got a view of Cramond before the path turned inland. We were met by Callum (now walking Katie) and two others near the junction where the cycle route turns off, and all continued to the Estate gate for our final group photo. We crossed Cramond Brig and walked to Fiona's house on Brae Park, having completed just over 10 km in 3 hours. There we were joined by ten others for a tea party, so a total of 26 participants. Thanks to Fiona for hosting and to all those who helped in distributing the soups, drinks and food, and washing up.

23/01/2026

On Friday 23rd January we only had seven walkers (with three dogs), perhaps some potential walkers put off by the weather warning, but we had no rain until a shower when we got back to Edinburgh, and no sign of the threatened high winds. We met up in Dunfermline at the Peacock Cafe in Pittencrieff Park, on a combination of inside and outside tables (no dogs inside). We then set off on the Walk Highlands route, past Pittencrieff House (closed for a long time) and the greenhouse (closed for repair). We descended to the burn and posed for a group photo at the waterfall, then continued down the burn, turning left to climb out of the park and emerge near Carnegie Birthplace Museum (closed until spring). A short distance up the street we turned left to pass the war memorial, with the Palace ruins ahead of us. We went through an archway (pends), then turned right to enter the grounds of the Abbey, from where we could see the back of the Abbot House (the oldest in Dunfermline, currently closed for internal renovation). We went through a garden containing brightly coloured cows and statues, and decided against a visit to the Carnegie Library / Museum / Galleries (no dogs allowed inside). We continued along to the Alhambra Theatre, then up to the High Street, where the Mercat Cross was missing its top. We turned right into Bruce Street, then left to descend to a large car park, at the end of which is St Margaret's Cave (closed to general public for many years, group bookings available in summer).
Here we diverged from the Walk Highlands route by taking the newly signed Tower Burn Trail, developed in the past year. By chance we met a dog walker outside the Cave who was one of those responsible for the new Trail, and also for the West Fife Woodlands Way that we have walked on previous outings, and we had an interesting chat. We passed information panels 1 to 6, including a detour up to the bottom of Wooers' Alley Garden being renewed, before going under the viaduct previously carrying a railway line, then to panels 10 and 9 continuing upstream. The next section has no access beside the burn, so we had a short pavement walk, before descending through a small park to go through a subway, then climb up through another small park. We turned left along the quiet street, then left again to view the Phoenix Lane footbridge (panel 7). We went back up the lane, then straight over to head down to the northern gates of Pittencrieff Park. Three walkers with three dogs returned to their cars, while the four who had travelled by X55 bus did the final part of the Walk Highlands route in reverse, past the Andrew Carnegie Statue, out the Louise Carnegie Gates, left then right to descend to the large car park near the Cave. From there it was back up to Bruce Street, then a path leading up to the bus station. About 6 km (4 miles) in total for those travelling by bus, in 2hr 40 including cafe stop. From leaving cafe to return to park 1hr 45 for around 5 km.
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fife-stirling/dunfermline.shtml
https://dunfermlinegreenspace.org/tower-burn-trail/

10/01/2026

On Saturday 10th January 15 walkers (no dogs) travelled to Heriot Watt University Riccarton campus, with 9 having taken the 32 bus from Barnton, on time today in both directions. Before New Year Shelagh and Simon had done a recce of the Heritage Trail from the Heriot Watt website, but walked in reverse, and decided to do the same again with the group. Although it was cold, with some snow lying, none of the paths was icy. Most of the 25 waypoints along the route had a post with QR code for further information, and once accessed users can toggle (backwards in our case) to the next description.
We started with the gardener's cottage, now a music centre, and headed north, past a couple of 1990s sculptures and around the east end of the frozen loch, pausing for our only group photo. We continued north, passing a frozen fountain and another sculpture, then turned right at the National Robotarium. Our route then curved left to join Hermiston Walk heading towards North Lodge, We turned right just before the lodge onto the boundary path, initially parallel to the busy A71 to the NE corner of the 380-acre site, then down the eastern edge, passing an information board about the Research Park, then past Hermiston Park & Ride to reach East Lodge at the main entrance to the site. The access road here runs down the middle of an avenue of limes and sycamores, and we soon turned left to walk through a busy car park with many exotic conifers - the remains of an old Pinetum and some more recent planting. A row of monkey puzzle trees led towards the Oriam sports centre, where we had comfortable seating for our refreshment stop, although the cafe still did not have the scones seen on the menu.
Our route then headed south, then curved west to run near the southern boundary, passing a pair of old gate posts and various pieces of exercise equipment on the way to the SW corner, then turned north to pass West Lodge, the oldest of the three lodges. We passed many halls of the West Student Village that added to on-site accommodation, then turned east to head towards the former site of Riccarton House, which fell into disrepair when Riccarton was an army base during and after WW2, demolished in 1956, and replaced by the library after Heriot Watt took over Riccarton in 1969.
Looking north we could see the formal lawn, but we headed back to the west through woodland, sharing this part of the route with the Tree Trail, also with QR codes to identify the trees, some being exotic conifers. We passed an old private cemetery, but this time failed to note the Velvet Walk terrace leading from it, recently planted with some endangered conifers. Our route curved round to pass some stone-walled brochs built from site spoil, then an old mile post from near Dunbar. We then headed south to the old ice house, then east, and found that this time (unlike the recce) we were able to enter the building to cross the bridge link to the James Watt Centre, with James Watt statue outside and blue & white cow statue nearby. This completed our walk of just under 6 km in 2hr 20 (including one stop), well-timed to wait only 10 minutes for the hourly 32 bus.
http://www.hw.ac.uk/campuses/edinburgh/campus-trails/heritage-trail

21/12/2025

On Sunday 21st December 12 walkers with 2 dogs met at 12.30 at Cramond Brig (old brig), where runners from the 10km Santa Dash were still passing. We had originally intended to include Craigiehall, but it is still securely fenced off at Grotto Bridge, so instead we started by going downstream along the Almond as far as the Community Woodland, still awaiting its refreshed cover of woodchips on paths, and Peggy's Mill, where benches and raised beds have been added in recent years. On the way back we paused to look at Ganga Ghat, where ashes are scattered by Hindus and Sikhs, and the area now approved for a fish passage to get past the Dowies Mill weir.
By the time we reached Cramond Brig the last runners had passed. From the car park below Miller & Carter we went upstream to cross Grotto Bridge, then headed up to the north gate of Cammo. We looked at one of the five new map boards installed this year, then continued across to Cammo House. We saw some of the large Pinetum trees planted in the 1860s, then walked along the ornamental Canal passing a row of Dawn Redwoods planted a few years ago. We could see water flowing into the top of the Canal and turned sharp left to pass two large fallen trees on the way to the Walled Garden. All the walls had been repaired in late 2024, including rebuilding the south wall to 4 metres height, using all the remaining funds ring-fenced for Cammo from the sale of the site of Cammo Home Farm (originally golf clubhouse). We passed the site of the current excavation of a large building thought to be the conservatory, passed the re-opened old well and then saw bee-boles in the wall. We turned off to pass the soft fruit garden planted in April 2025, then the bee gardens (including catmint) planted a few years ago. We then walked through the native fruit orchard planted in 2016 that has new labels on the apple trees, and saw behind it the bee enclosure, with new gate and prickly hedge added in 2025. We then looked at the site of the old glasshouse where a Victorian garden is planned for 2026.
We went out the doorway in the north wall, then turned right to pass the other ruins - Steading, Cottages and Stables. We entered south field, cut and baled this autumn to help wildflowers, then walked beside the new stream and across the wetland boardwalk. We finished up on schedule just before 2.30 at Cammo Lodge visitor centre, where we enjoyed some drinks and nibbles, having walked about 5 km in just under two hours.

09/12/2025

On Tuesday 9th December, the planned walk at Plean was cancelled because of weather warnings. Reprising what happened on the earlier Errol & Port Allen walk, Callum found himself as the only Walker at the start point of the walk, having missed the urgent messages sent to him to advise of its cancellation, so he and border-collie Dougie decided to go ahead anyway! Initially the weather was dry but overcast as the pair set off on a clockwise walk around the park, admiring the various carved animals which stand at separate places next to the footpaths. From the main car park, the regular path circles the remains of Plean House, which is unsafe and kept away from the public by security fencing. The normally popular children’s play area was deserted and, as Callum and Dougie emerged into an open area of moorland, a short but severe cloudburst led to other dog walkers in the Park rushing to take cover under trees. The rain quickly decreased to a gentle drizzle and the walk continued down the main track through the woods towards the eastern Glen Road gates. Before reaching them, they turned to follow the stream which flows through the Park and was in full spate. Next they visited the Walled Garden and then headed to one of the many picnic tables that are scattered all around this park, but a second short cloudburst caused an instant change of plan and the intended coffee and snacks were consumed in Callum’s car! Having been in the park for around 90 minutes, they took heed of the worsening weather and headed off to Stirling. A total of 4 km (2.5 miles) walked with minimal gradient. (Report by Callum)