The Details

Amisfield lies approximately 1.5 miles north of Locharbriggs along the A701 (Edinburgh Road). The Caledonian Cycleway ends at Quarry Road in Locharbriggs. Continuing to Amisfield directly along the A701 (Edinburgh Road) is not a safe route for cyclists. It’s a heavily congested road, with a mixture of traffic including fully laden quarry vehicles. Sections of it are winding, undulating and narrow and the road soon changes from a 30mph limit to a 60mph stretch before reaching safer, quieter back roads. The safest option is to go 2 miles on the back lanes of Kirk Brae and Kirk Bank from Jericho Bridge via Tinwald and then down the hill to Amisfield. From Tinwald you can also head east towards Torthorwald and ultimately Collin, avoiding the hazards of the A709 and the A75, while from Amisfield you can reach Lochmaben via Shieldhill.

While this is the most viable route, there are still two main hazards. The first is where A701 meets the Jericho Bridge junction. At the Jericho Bridge junction, where the speed limit is 60mph, turning right into Kirk Brae from the A701 is hazardous, with cyclists vulnerable not only due to oncoming traffic, but also very fast traffic coming up from behind, accelerating out of the 30mph limit just as they approach the bend. There is no right turn lane refuge here. The second is at the Amisfield crossroads with the A701. Although there is the concession of a 50mph speed limit (!) by the village, this is a busy, fast trunk road, with no concessions to those wanting to cross whether on foot, on bike, or even in a car. A shared-use path on the eastern side of the A701 with the crossing taking place near the car dealership (still a 30mph zone) would provide separation from the traffic for pedestrians and cyclists and avoid the need to cross the A701 in a 60mph zone with poor visibility.