Old Railway Line at West Bryson Road
A new one for me this, I never knew this was here until the wife mentioned it. She grew up round this way and know’s it well. This is part of one of the old railway lines of which there are loads that criss cross Edinburgh. The railways must have been really extensive in Edinburgh years ago, shame it’s all gone but not so bad if we get quiet wee walks like this I suppose. In a little wander along here I never met another person.
This is where I started out at West Bryson Road heading towards Harrison and Ashley parallel to Slateford Road.
Way in at West Bryson Road
The path is pretty muddy but would be a cracking walk in the summer.
Muddy Path
At first glance these looked like bird feeders, on a closer inspection I think they were for squirrels?
Squirrel Feeders
And one of the locals who dine here…
Squirrel
The path runs behind the houses on Slateford Road more or less.
Slateford Houses
This bridge is on Harrison Road, despite driving over this hundreds of times over the years it was difficult to get the bearings of where you were below it.
Harrison Road Bridge
The trail leaves the mud behind as it reaches Harrison Place, from here on the path is proper road and it looks like it’s owned by Network Rail.
Paved road from Harrison
This is the bridge at Ashley, on the little hump in the road at the shops.
Ashley Road Bridge
Just past the bridge at Ashley you’ll find this, the scene of the huge fire in the terraces last year. Looks like a huge amount of damage if the size of the scaffold and wrap around the building is anything to go by.
Fire damage at Ashley
The path here follows the back of the Ashley Terraces.
Back of the terraces
A tarzan, a rare sight these days. Kids hardly know what it is to amuse yourself outside these days. I just sounded like my dad there…
Tarzan
Another of the locals…
One of the locals
At the end of the path Network Rail block you from going any further, you can see the roof of Matalan and the Maltings on Slaterford Road to the right.
Rail Yard
Beyond the gates there are trains parked up, the bridge in the foreground is part of the rail line that runs up past the side of the Locarno on Slateford Road.
Train
This is the old Caledonian Railway mainline from Edinburgh to Carstairs and the South. Just beyond the photo of Harrison Road bridge you can see the remains of the platforms of Merchiston station. This line became surplus to requirements when Princes Street station was closed. At Slateford the traffic to Edinburgh now diverts past the Caledonian Brewery to Haymarket instead and the railway trackbed is now the West Approach Road.
Would make for a good bike ride. Thanks for sharing.