Edinburgh
Edinburgh
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| <map lat='55.9353563623487' lng='-3.179168701171875' zoom='10' view='0'/> | |
| Information | |
Country:  |
Scotland |
| Population: | 471.650 |
| Major roads: | M8, M9, M90 |
| Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots | |
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.
Hitching Out
Heading West or North
To head West take a bus out to Ratho Station (number 48, stops at Princes Street), and get off at the petrol station before the M9 meets the M8. This is a good place: cars can see you from a way off, there's plenty of space for them to stop and it is easy to backtrack from if necessary. Don't go with the bus until the Park & Ride Area - it's difficult there.
A harder spot, due to the nature of the junction, is close to the train station Edinburgh Park / Hermiston Gait commercial centre. There is a roundabout there that precedes the junction of the A8 with the A720 (Edinburgh bypass). The junction itself is a high-traffic area, but the Hermiston Gait roundabout offers some space for cars to stop and some visibility. To get there, simply take the high-frequency Lothian Bus 22 from the centre, and get down right at South Gyle mail centre. There is a walkway after the DHL warehouse (Cultins Rd), which leads to the Edinburgh Park station. Pass the station and turn right on the boulevard: the roundabout is right there.
To head north (through Perth) the best place seems to be on Queensferry rd, just passed Barton junction: plenty of traffic going north, they see you from far and there are many good spots with some space for cars to stop especially nearby a large bus stop). To get there take bus 43 or x43 from the city center and ask the driver to be told when you're at Barnton juction.
Use a sign to express your direction: Glasgow or M8 if heading West, Stirling or M9 if heading for the Highlands and Perth, M90 or Bridge if going North.
Heading South or East
There are three main ways south:
- the A70, which heads south-west, through which one will eventually hit the A74(M)
- the A68, which heads due south through the Borders
- the A1, which follows the east coastline. There has been some success getting on the A1 from Tranent: a safer bet is to take the bus 44c from st.Andrews square to Musselburgh, get off before the crossing of the River Esk, and walk south along the river towards the A1. There is a service station there: on occasion rides also go from there down the A74 and the A68.
Some anonymous hitchhiker joined the southbound M74 by hitching down the A702. Just catch the bus #4 of Dalry rd for 1.20 and get off where the circle Edinburgh city bypass loop passes under a bridge (about 30 mins on the bus). Walk south through two roundabouts and there's a good place to hitch as the cars exit the second roundabout straight onto the A702. This hitching spot has lots of room for cars to pull in as it's parking for a golf course on the west side of the road and some ski slope thingy. You'll see. Some anonymous hitchhiker hitched here twice. First time took 10 mins, second took about 50. Probably be quicker for a girl.
