Cycling in East Lothian: map & data
Total climbing: 1108 m
Total time: 08:18:32
54 mile cycle, 8h30 from 10.00 to 18.30 – average 6.4 mph (incl. breaks)
Two days after we got back from Firbush, it may have been tempting to put our feet up, but we simply couldn’t stay home.
We had two good reasons for wanting to hit the road: the weather forecast was spectacular AND, more importantly, Tiger had arrived.
After months of pondering and planning, Simon finally ordered his new bike in March. It was delivered a few weeks later. A few days afterwards, we went for a short ride. That went smoothly, and on Saturday off we went for a day ride in East Lothian.
We left the house short before 10am.
Off to East Lothian
We cycled past Newcraighall, Musselburgh and Whitecraig. We’ve done that route many times before, but I always enjoy it all the same.
At Crookston we stopped to look back at Arthur’s Seat, the highest hill in Edinburgh.
10.37 – Arthur’s Seat in the distance
Near Falside Castle we left the road and took this path, which by our standards is almost a highway.
10.51 – Simon on Tiger, his brand new bike
We rode past Penston Farm, not a happy place.
Whenever we ride through it, there’s a huge supply of hay piled up, next to the path.
Sadly, it’s for the bullocks who live there, trapped in that ugly building, instead of wandering freely in the fields.
11.30 – Not my favourite farm
There was plenty of heavy machinery to keep me entertained on this trip.
This one was lifting some enormous bags of animal feed.
These machines look to me like humongous toys that I might be allowed to play with one day.
11.56 – In my letter to Father Christmas
There was a lot of activity in all the farms we crossed. This one was just outside Haddington.
12.07 – The joy of watching other people work
Arriving in Haddington
To get this far we went past New Winton, Penston, Gladsmuir and Samuelston.
12.08 – A cool bridge over the River Tyne
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is about 20 miles east of Edinburgh, and has a population of just under 10,000 people.
Its OS grid reference is NT511739.
12.31 – Haddington High Street
There are quite a few interesting sites in Haddington: the Waterloo Bridge, John Gray Centre, St Mary’s Collegiate Church and Nungate Bridge, among others.
12.42 – St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Haddington
I have an idyllic image of Haddington in my head. The reason for that is because we’ve only been here when it was spectacularly sunny.
I’m sure it occasionally gets overcast and murky, but I’m quite happy to never see that. I prefer the way it lives in my mind.
12.51 – Nungate Bridge over the River Tyne
Like in previous visits, we had lunch by the River Tyne. There are always a few swans and plenty of waterfowl about.
This time, one of the swans was sitting in its nest, presumably over the eggs that’ll be hatching any day now.
It seemed to be keeping an eye on us from its island in the river.
12.51 – A pensive swan in its nest
Haddington is the main administrative centre for East Lothian, even though Musselburgh is a larger town with many more swans.
12.59 – A very still River Tyne
There have been some notable people born in Haddington. One of them was the Protestant reformer John Knox. I actually learnt that today.
If you see his portraits and statues, the guy often looks miserable. I guess he didn’t approve of his sunny hometown.
13.20 – Haddington from the Nungate Bridge
Off to East Linton
We left Haddington and cycled towards East Linton. On this occasion we didn’t stop at Hailes Castle to see the ruins.
13.41 – On the road past Hailes Castle
There seems to be an unreasonable number of photos on this blog featuring bullocks.
I’d like to think it’s because I like their inquisitive eyes. But perhaps it’s got something to do with my subconscious dreaming of beef bourguignon.
I’ll never know.
13.42 – A warm welcome on both sides of the fence
Soon we arrived at East Linton, a village on the River Tyne with a population of under 2,000 people.
13.53 – Pedalling around East Linton
Last year we got to East Linton on the 107 bus, and walked the 8 miles to North Berwick.
It was another one of those gloriously sunny days.
14.14 – A brief stop at an East Linton park
Around here we stopped once more to reconsider our route. We had already changed it two hours earlier.
Our original idea for this trip was to ride from Edinburgh to North Berwick via Haddington, and then take the train back.
But the plan didn’t last long, mainly because we arrived at Haddington far sooner than we’d expected. There was no way we were going to just head to North Berwick and finish our ride there. The day was far too gorgeous to hide at home.
So, instead, we went to East Linton. The new plan was to do a loop and cycle back to Edinburgh, but not the same way we came.
14.50 – The road to Drem
After consulting the map, Simon suggested that we stop by the Merryhatton Garden Centre to buy a mint plant.
A brief detour
I waited outside with the bikes, and eventually Simon emerged with not one, but two mint plants.
Apparently he’s got hopes they’ll last this time, in spite of my track record as a voracious mint eater. No wonder he calls me “the goat”.
15.18 – Mint galore!
Lunch had been sparse, to say the least, especially for Simon.
I’d brought a peanut sandwich and a cereal bar with me. But Simon had opted for just buying a couple of things at Greggs when we arrived in Haddington.
That’s why in East Linton he went into the Co-op and bought sushi, some fairly cold alcohol-free beers, and chilled coconut water.
It was my first ever beer while cycling. Not that I was going to start swerving on the road any time soon.
15.30 – A new experience
By now the sun was fiercely blazing down on us, and there was not a cloud in the sky.
16.06 – Hopetoun Monument in the distance
Between Penston and New Winton, we stopped for a short break.
16.59 – Bumblebee having a rest
Retracing our steps
We had been at this same spot earlier in the morning. Luckily for me, this time the cute tractor was out.
I was able to take this picture before it disappeared again up the field engulfed in a cloud of dust.
16.59 – Another one of my favourite toys
We pressed on. Tiger and Bumblebee were both riding like a dream.
I wonder whether we’ll get days like this in Shetland, when we go there in August.
17.32 – A ghostly tree & a slender moon
We’d seen plenty of daffodils everywhere all day. These ones by the side of the road seemed to be withering in the sun.
18.03 – Daffodils in the blazing sun
Mr Wordsworth wouldn’t have objected to our ride.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
I took all the photos with the Panasonic.