National Cycle Route 76

Last updated

NCN Route 76
Society Road, near Port Edgar, Queensferry - geograph.org.uk - 1564017.jpg
Society Road, near Port Edgar, South Queensferry
Length270 km (170 mi)
LocationFirth of Forth
Designation National Cycle Network
Trailheads Berwick-upon-Tweed (south) to Kirkcaldy (north)
UseCycling
Highest point229 m (751 ft)
Lowest point0 m (0 ft)
Waymark NCN Route Sign 76.svg
Website sustrans.org.uk
Trail map
NCN-76 on OSM.png
Route 76 on OpenStreetMap

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 76 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kirkcaldy. The route is 168 miles (270 km) in length and is fully open and signed in both directions. Between Dunbar and Kirkcaldy the route is known as the Round the Forth. [1]

Contents

Route

Berwick-upon-Tweed to Dunbar

The southern trailhead is at a junction with NCN Route 1 on the outskirts of Berwick-upon-Tweed. After 2 miles (3.2 km) the route crosses the English-Scottish border and climbs Ayton Hill before descending through Ayton before meeting the coast at Eyemouth. From here the route climbs to its highpoint before descending to Cockburnspath where it passes under the A1. From Bilsdean the route uses a cycle path adjacent to the A1. At Torness Nuclear Power Station the route becomes traffic free to the outskirts of Dunbar before rejoining the roads through the town. [2]

Dunbar to Musselburgh

From Dunbar Route 76 is known as the Round the Forth Cycle Route for the rest of its length to Kirkaldy. [3] From here to Haddington the route is predominantly on quite roads via East Linton and the ruins of Hailes Castle. [4] The route is traffic free along the 4.5 miles (7.2 km) Haddington to Longniddry railway path [5] after which it uses a mixture of roads and paths along the shore of the Firth of Forth to reach Musselburgh and a junction with Route 1.

Edinburgh

There is a gap in Route 76 between Musselburgh and Cramond Bridge. Route 1 is used as the east to west link through Edinburgh.

Cramond Bridge to Stirling

Leaving Route 1 at Cramond Bridge, 76 is traffic free when returns to the banks of the Forth via the parklands of Dalmeny Estate, before passing under the Forth Bridges at South Queensferry where it returns the roads. [6] Continuing to trace the south bank of the Forth the route becomes traffic free again as it passes through the deer park at Abercorn. It climbs away from the bank of the firth on the roads through Bo'ness to follow the line of the Antonine Wall [7] before descending into Grangemouth.

The section between Cramond Bridge and Bo'ness is part of The John Muir Way. [8]

On leaving Grangemouth the route crosses the Forth and Clyde Canal adjacent to The Helix and its Kelpies. It passes through open countryside as far as the city of Stirling. [9]

Stirling to Inverkeithing

This section of the route follows the northern bank of the Firth of Forth. Tullibody Old Bridge and Cambus Iron Bridge, each a Category A listed building and scheduled monument, are on the route. After Alloa 76 passes Clackmannan, Kincardine and passes close to the site of the closed Longannet power station. A combination of river bank paths and roads takes the route east. At the north end of the Forth Bridges NCN 76 passes under the M90 [10] and joins NCN Route 1 to pass through Inverkeithing.

Inverkeithing to Kirkcaldy

Route 76 leaves Route 1 in Inverkiething to follow the north bank of the Forth to Aberdour, Burntisland and Kinghorn. It then climbs inland before turning back towards the coast for a descent into Kirkcaldy. [11] This section was originally part of National Cycle Network route 1 and was signed accordingly. [12]

There are long term plans to extend the route to St Andrews. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Route 76 - Map". Sustrans. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  2. ↑ NCN Coast & Castles South Cycle Route Map (Route 1 - Newcastle to Edinburgh). Sustrans. ISBN   1901389693.
  3. ↑ Round the Forth - Sustrans Cycle Routes Map. Sustrans. ISBN   190138974X.
  4. ↑ "East Lothian by bike - Map". Sustrans. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Longniddry to Haddington cycle route". The Cycling Scot. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Walking and cycling - The Forth Bridges". www.theforthbridges.org. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Route 76 (Round the Forth)". Sustrans. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Route sections - John Muir Way". johnmuirway.org. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Edinburgh, Stirling & the Forth cycle map. Sustrans. 27 July 2015. ISBN   978-1910845035.
  10. ↑ "Way: 467296747 - OpenStreetMap". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Coast & Castles north : cycle route map (3rd ed.). Sustrans. 1 June 2014. ISBN   978-1901389753.
  12. ↑ Henniker, Harry (2004). Scotland : the National Cycle Network (Rev. and updated ed.). Mainstream. p. 151. ISBN   1-84018-855-3.
  13. ↑ "Route 76 (Round the Forth)". Sustrans. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
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