View of River Esk from the Cowpits footbridge

The first Sunday of the year and the month. The Mince Pie Spokes Ride to East Lothian. Unexpectedly 15 people turn up. Not so bad for the lunch venue, as it is quite large and is used to catering for large numbers. However not so good for Mince Pies as I haven't got enough.

The bike ride itself is easy as it is January. Not cold though. It is very mild for the time of year (unlike last year). We follow National Cycle Route 1 out of Edinburgh, along the Innocent Railway to Brunstane, where we turn on to Milton Rd East and Edinburgh Rd to Musselburgh. From Musselburgh we follow the coast road out to Prestonpans.

To get to the lunch time venue, we head inland to Tranent, passing the Battle of Prestonpans monument, and up the Heugh, an old gravity railway, now a cycle path. We cycle through Tranent to the B6371 to Ormiston, and then a back road to Cousland., which is the highest point on the morning section of the ride. From here, it's all downhill, passing Carberry to the Craig House Hotel for lunch.

After lunch, it's a lot shorter bike ride, with a bit more climbing, but with the incentive of mince pies. We cycle along Cow Pits to the River Esk path. The blip is taken at the foot bridge over the River Esk, looking south. The bridge is the site of the original Cow Pits Ford. Cowpits Ford Rd takes us to Monktonhall, where we head west to Shawfair. This is the start of a cyclepath that will take us through Sout Edinburgh, from one part of Midlothian to another part Midlothian, Roslin.

As we reach Lasswade Rd, some cyclists decide to head home, as this part of the cycle path is in Edinburgh, and close to their respective homes.

The rest of us carry on along the path, back in to Midlothian to Loanhead and Roslin. To get to my house, we head to Gowkleymoss Roundabout. Here, a few more cyclists decide to head home, which means the number of mince pies and the number of cyclists is optional.  Then we head through Bush, and along the Seafield Moor Rd to Hillend and Fairmilehead.

The whole route can be seen at Relive here. (Unfortunately the mince pies cannot be seen as they all got eaten)