6th Evening Ride - Craigmillar Castle, Hermitage of Braid, Greenbank/Firhill, Canal and Bruntsfield.  

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Seven riders set off down the Innocent (the link to the Meadows is working again now) and took a sharp ride at Forkenford to Craigmillar castle park, climbing a little to admire the outside of Craigmillar Castle itself, a remarkably intricate structure. 

After a little exploratory navigation we exited the park, crossing over into Inch Park and then up Double hedges Road into the Hermitage of braid. A nice climb through the woods alongside the banks of the Braid Burn is twilight (it's made dark by the canopy of leaves) and then an exit at Greenbank.

Into the Braidburn park where we rode up the East embankment, to give us a fabulous view of the Pentland hills and also good sunshine. Coming down we rode along Greenbank Road then Ashy Path into Greenbank Vilage, once the City Hospital and now some des res flats with long paths running through. Exit near Firhill Scool, then past the Barrackes and thern down to the Canal.  

Time overtook us a bit and we rode the canal back to Leamington, where the ride closed, some then climbed up to the Bruntsfield Hotel for an istotonic refresher.  

A scenic ride, a bit windy and countrified perhaps, but worth it for the views.