Corstorphine – Balgreen – Edinburgh Gateway

Drum Brae Roundabout looking north. Blue Chip Computers (RIP) was just across the road from PC World's Corstorphine branch.

The old brick buildings in the former quarry on Corstorphine Hill have had numerous coats of paint applied courtesy of graffiti artists. Most can't draw or paint much more than stylised text but there are a few pictures, such as this creature holding an aerosol can.

Nice for an old hippy to see old hippy things like a 'love' logo in the 2nd decade of the 21st century.

I've no idea what the silver text on an orange background is meant to say.

Behind the decorated building is the cliff at the back of the old quarry. Transmitter masts are visible, as is a man wearing a green top, perched on the cliff edge

As it's only March the trees are still only budding and it's a bit bare. There's woodland management going on. As well as some felling etc, many new trees have been planted.

Twisted, convoluted branches silhouetted against a grey sky. Within a day or two, new leaves will be appearing. The days are starting to get long again.

These rocks show evidence that glaciers have passed this way. For more information I recommend http://www.corstorphinehill.org.uk/geology.htm

A fallen tree in this area will have boulder clay in its upturned roots (information from http://www.corstorphinehill.org.uk/geology.htm).

Fungus has got a hold on the bark of this tree. According to my searching the Wild About Britain website this fungus is Turkeytail or to give it its proper name Trametes Versicolor.

The ground is still littered with last year's leaves. The wooden steps lead up the slope to Corstorphine Hill Tower. The tower celebrated its 130th anniversary in the year 2002.

Photographed on the same day as the Corstorphine Hill pictures. (We walked from Queensferry Road near Quality Street over the hill and down near Balgreen Road.)

There are more photos of the former train station later...

On the 7th of August 2012 we walked from Queensferry Road over Corstorphine Hill. This first picture shows the old quarry previously featured. The SECRET BUNKER website advertised on the van is an oxymoron.

The most obvious effect of photographing in infrared is the brightness of leaves and foliage. Any atmospheric haze usually disappears too.

A pond near the top of the hill, perhaps only present because of the wet summer.

To the left of the pond, grass sprouts from cracks in the rock.

A telephoto view of the 'Five Sisters' shale bing near West Calder.

A distant tower is the air traffic control tower at Edinburgh Airport.

Back to more attractive scenery amongst the trees and rocks of Corstorphine Hill.

A tangle of thin branches erupted from this tree's trunk, possibly due to a parasitic infection.

CORSTORPHINE HILL TOWER - evidently something to do with Sir Walter Scott but other names added underneath don't clarify what. The paper notice on the metal door says CLOSED DUE TO BAD WEATHER.

Corstorphine Hill Tower

Numerous paths criss-cross through Corstorphine Woods.

The blue sky behind the coniferous trees appears dark when only infrared light reaches the camera's sensor.

This path beside Edinburgh Zoo's fence is flooded, leading to a newly formed detour through the undergrowth.

A telephoto view of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and Salisbury Crags.

Calton Hill is at the centre of this picture.

At top left is the familiar triangular shape of North Berwick Law. Diagonally opposite are the twin gothic towers of Stewart's Melville College.

To descend past Beechwood to Corstorphine Road go through the gateway.

On the south side of Corstorphine Hill looking towards the Pentland Hills.

A more open area gives a view of the path down the hill. The square building nestling among the trees is Jenners Depository at Balgreen Road.

I panned the camera to the right to photograph Carrick Knowe golf course over the the tall grass and rosebay willowherb.

A long lens view of houses in the Balgreen area.

Looking across Carrick Knowe golf course to the Pentland Hills.

A large, destop wallpaper sized picture showing Howden Glen. To its left is Green Craig on the lower slopes of Allermuir. Capelaw is on the right and Castlelaw in the distance.

Zoomed in on the Jenners building.

Looking across Carrick Knowe golf course towards the railway and tram lines. Whitson Road runs parallel at the other side. The flats at Wester Hailes are at top right.

Zoomed in on the tram works near Stenhouse Drive. The Wester Hailes flats are at the top of the picture.

The entrance we emerged from onto Corstorphine Road opposite Balgreen Road.

After descending a short slope from the busy main road we continued along Balgreen Road.

Two shots of the Jenners Depository. First a straight-on view.

I panned left to show the reception building. More lens flare in this shot.

A new tram bridge in front of the train bridge. To the right the footpath leading past Carrick Knowe golf course to Pinkhill station was closed at the time.

Having crossed the busy road the walk continues on the east side of the road.

Through the bridge and up to the right is Whitson Road. A little further on is Stevenson Drive and the northern corner of Saughton Public Park.

The pedestrian tunnel underneath the railway bridge.

The SW corner of Saughton Public Park showing the entrance bridge over the Water of Leith. The skate park is near here.

Balgreen Road meets Gorgie Road here. Rocks are piled up to strengthen the flood defences here where the river is diverted away from its natural flood plain. Once upon a time it was used to power snuff mills in Gorgie.

The view up-river with Gorgie Road on the left.

Gorgie Road in infrared at its junction with Balgreen Road and Hutchison Crossway.

Quite near Edinburgh Zoo is the former Pinkhill Railway Station. The old train line is now a cyclepath and footpath connecting Corstorphine Village (at Paddockholm off Station Road) to Balgreen Road.

The bridge in the previous picture is just visible beyond the platform. This is the west facing view.

This old rail bridge is between Balgreen Avenue and Carrick Knowe Golf course. Blue signposts point the way for cyclists and walkers.

Looking back (north west) towards Corstorphine Hill.

After skirting the north east side of the golf course, the old railway embankment curves eastward to join the main east-west line which is still operational and quite busy. Some development work is going on close to Jenners Depository and fences make a temporary path.

Tramlines will be built here on the southern edge of Carrick Knowe Golf course. This west facing view shows the embankment being widened and leveled.

Jenners Depository as seen from Balgreen Road.

350m east of Jenners is Pansy Walk and this footbridge over the Water of Leith, leading to Murrayfield and further down river. Turn right for Balgreen or cross the river then turn right for Westfield Avenue.

The previously pictured footbridge was added to divert pedestrians from this one which serves the rugby ground. At the end of Baird Drive is Balgreen Road and the Jenners building.

The south view from the footbridge in the previous picture shows the 3 arches of the rail bridge.

Edinburgh Castle, Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat as seen from Corstorphine Hill.

Looking across Balgreen and Saughtonhall towards Stevenson Road and Westfield Road. Blackford Hill is on the left and part of Braid Hills is on the right.

Balgreen Road is on the left, Jenner's Depository building is in the centre. The green patch in the middle distance on the right was Meggetland playing fields (now mostly housing). Trees cover most of Easter Craiglockhart Hill.

Cammo Tower is not far away. Further away on the left is part of Edinburgh Airport. The red spoil tips were left behind by the shale oil industry.

Buildings visible include Oxcars and Inchmickery Courts, Birnie's Court with red Martello Court in front. Gunnet Court is right of centre in the shadow of Martello Court. Fidra Court and May Court are on the right.

Interesting trees photographed April 2017

Ravelston Woods is like a bit of Corstorphine Hill that got separated.