Walks around here (Dave & Maria)

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The last few days we have been taking some nice walks around Edinburgh and nearby towns. The Union Canal runs very near by our flat, and there is a lovely canal towpath along it. The Union Canal runs all the way to Falkirk (about 30 miles), and is one of the waterways served by the Falkirk Wheel (http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/about/index.html). We rented some bikes for the children and took a trip down the canal path to the Waters of Leith, which is a stream that runs into the Firth of Forth.

We also took a much longer than planned walk north of Edinburgh. We had intended to take about a 4 mile walk from Cramond to South Queensberry, through the Dalmeny estate (http://www.dalmeny.co.uk/). However, it took us (Maria) 2.5 hours to find the starting point and so we ended up taking a six hour, 8 mile hike. It was beautiful nevertheless, and we saw some lovely views of the the River Almond and the Firth. We finished at the Hawes Inn in South Queensberry, where we had a wonderful meal (& Guiness). This area, and the Inn, are featured in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped". All in all an exhausting but a great day.

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Photos

Boys and boats on the canal
You can take boat trips along the canal, including one that serves dinner. (This isn't that one.)

Our hike from Crammond
along the River Almond

Walking the Shore path
along the Firth of Forth

Barnbougle Castle
A castle on the Firth (a private residence)

the Hawes Inn
We were tired and hungry, so we ate. A lot.