Scotland is the country that brings together all you need to spend your leisure time on the bicycle with satisfaction. It offers long steady cycle paths that will get you everywhere. Hills that gives you breath taking views, seaside with wide promenades and shops or hotels within not so far away distance. And all of that becomes even closer when you will sit on a saddle and start discovering. For example, it is good to know way around Scottish capital Edinburgh where knowing few hidden paths will make your holidays beautiful experience.

Holyrood Park At the foot of the Royal Mile Holyrood Park offers spectacular cityscape views and a well surfaced road for cyclists. You can follow the road west and then north from the roundabout at the Holyrood Park Road entrance passing Dynamic Earth, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House. The route ends at St Margaret’s Loch which is an excellent spot to catch your breath (there are some steep hills) and feed the swans. Sundays are a popular day for cyclists in Edinburgh as the majority of roads within the park are closed to motor vehicles.

Edinburgh North Cycling routes to the north of the city are made up from the many disused railway lines which once traversed the area running from Granton and Leith to Haymarket and the city centre. The majority of these paths have good surfaces, lighting and a gentle gradient Silverknowes and Cramond The esplanade at Silverknowes is wide and smooth with superb views over the Firth of Forth. This is a popular spot for cyclists, dog walkers and rollerbladers. The esplanade can be quite busy in Summer as many residents and visitors enjoy a stroll and an ice-cream as they walk along the esplanade to the old fishing village of Cramond with its pretty white-washed houses. Overlooking a picturesque harbour dotted with small, colourful sailing boats you can park your bike and sit in the local coffee shop and people watch whilst families with small children feed the swans and ducks. Many walkers will stride out to Cramond Island for a picnic or a spot of bird watching

The Innocent Railway Path Originally a horse-drawn tramway constructed in 1831, the Innocent Railway Path was used to transport agricultural produce and coal from the Lothian mines to St Leonards. Nowadays, it is the longest cycle route in the South East of the capital and part of the UK-wide, National Cycle Network's Route 1 (NCN1). Starting at St. Leonard’s Tunnel in the East Parkside Estate off Holyrood Park Road you can enter the cool, but dimly tunnel, before exiting on to the majestic surroundings of Holyrood Park. This green cycle path travels on to Duddingston, Niddrie Mains and onwards to Brunstane. The Union Canal Running South and West of the capital, the Union Canal is a popular choice for cyclists as it is flat and completely traffic free. You will, however, have to share this cycle path with anglers, dog walkers, runners and families out for a quiet stroll. Starting at the Lochrin Basin in Fountainbridge it travels all the way from the city to Ratho and beyond. (City of Edinburgh Council,2020)