A Walk Across Edinburgh for John's 70th Birthday Walk

This was quite a logistical exercise to get everybody to the start at John's house near The Merchants Golf Course in Edinburgh but it worked perfectly. The plan was to walk approx. 8.5 miles across Edinburgh to Sandria's house in Portobello. The only missing Last of the Summer Wine Walker was Tom who is still recuperating from his operation. He was sorely missed. The weather was perfect and John was a smashing guide with occasional help from Martin. 

The walk was mainly downhill after an initial climb to the summit of Easter Craiglockhart Hill which gave us superb views over Edinburgh. 

The view of Edinburgh from the top of the hill. 

We soon reached the Union canal and walked along it for over a mile to where it ended and this is the Leamington Lift Bridge. 

The next stage after a Coffee stop in Bruntfield where purely by chance we ran into Gaye and Aileen out shopping instead of walking with us, was Bruntsfield Links. 

After passing the Royal Commonwealth Pool we headed past this building which is where Martin used to work for Scottish Widows and it is now owned by Lloyds Bank.  

This is a small loch in Figgate Park with Arthurs Seat in the background seen from the opposite side from the more popular photos of Arthurs Seat.

One of the boats that takes tourists on the Union Canal. 

A Victorian Post Box we passed by but unfortunately I cannot remember exactly where we saw it. 

This is the entrance to The Innocent Railway Tunnel on the Innocent Railway Line. It goes under Holyrood Park and it was the first railway tunnel in the UK built in 1845. The railway line was 9 miles long and it was used originally to move coal from the mines of Lothian to Edinburgh. It was named The Innocent Railway due to its safety record. It carried 300 thousand to 400 thousand passengers a year without fatalities. It closed in 1968.

The 517 metre long tunnel 

This is the house where Prince Charles Edward Stuart held his Council of War before the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.

In Figgate Park there is this attractive Mural under a bridge on the small burn that flows through the park. The light was not good for the photo but it is very good. 

Martin shows us how strong he is by lifting this sculptured wheelset commissioned by Virgin Trains. It has been a superb walk and at the end we were treated to a lovely buffet provided by Sandria.