Portobello Loop (11.5 miles)
This long circuit visits varied parts of Edinburgh and surrounding districts. Climb the steps at Waverley Station (or use the escalators) and emerge on to Princes Street. Turn right and continue along Waterloo Place, the start of the A1 trunk route to London. Take the staircase up Calton Hill for a bird's-eye view of the city centre and beyond. Various buildings and monuments are situated on the 338-foot hilltop. Descend on the opposite side and bear down on Leith Walk. Continue all the way to the foot of this legendary thoroughfare, turn right then take a left along Duncan Place. Angle your way across the green expanse of Leith Links, picking up the Restalrig Railway Path in the far corner. After crossing a pair of bridges, leave the old line at Seafield Street and head down to the main road.
We need to continue along the coast with the water and a mothballed railway on our left. Rather than follow the pavement, you can access the delightfully named Sewage Works Path beyond a level crossing and rusting footbridge. Either way, proceed towards the seaside resort of Portobello, the lengthy promenade soon coming into view. This traffic-free stretch gives access to the generous portion of beach. Eventually we revert to the roadway for 1200 yards and just before the edge of Musselburgh, turn right along the signed Brunstane Burn Walkway. This quiet path meanders along, bringing us to Brunstane Railway Station. Should you wish to shorten the walk, hop on a train back to the city. Otherwise cross the footbridge, head across the car park and follow the blue cycleway signs for the city centre. We dip under the A1 and pass by a couple of housing estates.
A pelican crossing takes us over Duddingston Road West and we proceed through a white wooden gate on to the Innocent Railway Path. An information board supplies details of the railway which dates right back to the 1830s (Edinburgh's first) and folded in the 1960s. Almost immediately we cross a short but original cast-iron bridge and this is but a taster for what's still to come. As we approach the lower slopes of Arthur's Seat, the entrance portal to a 568-yard tunnel becomes visible. The uphill gradient is obvious and bikes whizz towards you at a rate of knots. The other end emerges in a student residential complex and we make our way past the Royal Commonwealth Pool to Dalkeith Road. Cross over and head along East Preston Street to the junction with South Clerk Street. Cross again to visit a legendary Edinburgh alehouse - the Cask & Barrel (Southside). A great of beers are served in a traditional Victorian setting. Back on the main drag, we simply stroll all the way back to the city centre.
