Saturday 1st June. Uphall, Union Canal and Almondell Park

Visiting the origins of Livingston, Eliburn Reservoir, a close encounter of the third kind, the Union Canal, Almondell Park, and through the Solar System. 

 

Route map for 2019 06 BX by Livingston 20 Milers on plotaroute.com

 

A casual social ride of 18 miles using a mix of some of the 144 miles of the Livingston Path Network, National Cycle Network, quiet country road, surfaced path. Smooth narrow tyres will find some of it a bit bumpy.

 

We meet at the cafe at Howden Park Centre, Livingston from just after 10 and leave at 1030am, take the Livingston path network to the north of Livingston Village, bridge across Cousland Road to Peel Park the site of  the place Livingston got its name from. Path, to Eliburn Reservoir, path up to Woodlands Park and where 40 years ago (1979) this year the site of a UFO encounter 👽. Info board   Video 1  Video 2 Some of the path after the site can be rough and we may have to walk bits.  Out onto the Loan Path and the cycle path by the A89 to Dechmont and onto the A899 road to Uphall. Less confident riders can buddy up with the more confident.

Refreshments 🍴We will stop at the Open Door Cafe, in Uphall. The cafe is run by The Busy Project charity, menu is mainly toasties & filled rolls, with nice looking cake. 

We take the Brox Burn path out to the cycle path by the A89 to where it meets the Union Canal where we will follow it out of Broxburn, the new centre of the Solar System passing Jupiter and Saturn to Muirend and onto Roman Camps and the path to Uphall to East Calder track, formerly a rail link to Pumpherston Oil Works crossing the Camps Viaduct high above Almondell Park and into Almondell Country Park and Uranus and the Kirkhill Pillar with time for ice cream 🍦.  Continue through the park on route 75 of Sustrans National Cycle Network and Almond Park.
Look out for the Kingfisher that flies between the two weirs at the east end of the park, returning to the HPC around 3pm with the option for cake.

• The distance is about 18 miles. You can also drop off at any part of the route and cycle as far as you feel comfortable with. 
• There is no need to wear special cycle clothing something comfy. We don't ask you to wear a helmet, it is not a lawful requirement, it is a matter of personal choice.
• Bring waterproof jacket & trousers, snacks and bottle of water, small tool kit for your bike, spare inner-tube, ensure the valve is the same as the existing one.
• Check your bike is safe to ride. Recommend checking it over the day before the ride, checking brakes work, the chain is lubricated and the tyres set to the correct pressure, it makes cycling easier. The recommended pressure can be found on the side of the tyre, typically 35-85 PSI or 3-6 Bar.

If the weather influences your decision not to come that is OK, we may see you another time. 

To let us know how many to expect add some details to our Contact Us form. It does not commit you to attending.

Other Events

• May Thursday 30th Recycle3 Navigators Scotland Ride. 55 mile cycle Glasgow along the canals to Edinburgh.

For details and some thoughts about going see June News

Next Ride Saturday 6th July.

 

If you cycle on a regular basis -  say a daily commute or to the shops - you'll enjoy a fitness level of a person 10 years younger... So trade in your gym subscription and forget the scare stories ; the health benefits of cycling significantly outweigh the risks on British roads. From Which July 2005.