Traffic-free cycling in Edinburgh

16 December 2022|Read time 2 mins

For those of us who like to keep fit and enhance our green credentials by cycling while on holiday, Edinburgh is a great place to visit!

The Bike Station, a city-based charity that recycles bikes, has launched an interactive map which it plans to update regularly using “ambassadors” with access to mobile technology.

Cycling in Edinburgh

Named the 'Innertube Map' the project gives up-to-date information on the city’s great network of informal, car-free routes. 

The smartphone technology used lets the ambassadors effectively update information in real-time, to report incidents or changes to routes using photos and reports.

So if you want to picnic on the Meadows in the south, then visit Britannia at Ocean Terminal on the Shore via the sights of the city centre, you can be confident that the latest information is available on the best way to reach your destination by bike.

Scenic cycling routes in Edinburgh

If you are thinking of hiring a bike (or indeed if you’ve brought your own), try it out; these routes typically use old railway lines and paths through lovely scenic parks that will keep you away from the traditional roads, reducing your proximity to traffic and pollution. 

Research suggests that you need only be twenty metres away from traffic to benefit from much-reduced pollution levels. 

It is so much better if you can cycle from Trinity to Silverknowes Golf Club for example, along the old railway cutting without the risk of fumes or traffic.

Innertube cycling map of Edinburgh

The map itself is styled on the London Underground map, topological rather than geographically accurate as well as colour-coded for easy 'on-the-move' reading. 

The map displays many of the non-street routes across the city, for example from Haymarket and Cramond in the west to Leith in the east. 

Plans in conjunction with the Edinburgh and Lothian Green Space Trust aim to provide information on conservation or maintenance.

In short, this should be a great development for those of us who like to get around using pedal power during our visit to Auld Reekie!

Other cycling routes in Edinburgh

To the south of Edinburgh city centre, you will find the Pentland Hills Regional Park, which offers spectacular views of the city and the Firth of Forth. 

In the park, visitors can enjoy various mountain bike routes and even take on the challenge of the dry ski slopes at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre!

Another route offering wonderful views is across the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry.

There has been a crossing here for centuries and was created by Queen Margaret as a free ferry crossing for pilgrims heading to St Andrews. 

Nowadays three bridges span the Firth, one of which accommodates pedestrians and cyclists travelling across to Fife.

Get active in Edinburgh

There are plenty of other ways to keep active during your self-catering break in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Leisure, run by Edinburgh City Council, offers a wealth of activities across its sites, including six golf courses!

Visitors can also head to Holyrood Park for a hike up Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano which is another place for great views of our city.

For a more relaxed experience, visit the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, located on 70 acres of stunning landscaped gardens.

There is a wide variety of plants to enjoy, including a walled garden, arboretum and Chinese hillside.

Book your next trip to Edinburgh

If this article has inspired you to get active on a self-catering trip to Edinburgh, browse our portfolio and book now!