Dundee route

I've not posted round these parts for a while but I notice that at least
one of the regular Dundee correspondents is still here. I'm after some
route advice for cycling in Dundee.

I'll be working up in Dundee for a few weeks in December, a few in
January and more occasionally after that. I'm planning to stay with a
friend in Fowlis (on the west of the city) and I need to get to the
university campus (northern edge). I've looked at some maps and map
leaflet produced by the council and it looks like there is a suggested
cycle route in most of the way. It's hard to tell from the council map
whether some sections are on-road or footway routes. It's also not easy
to tell in the parkland sections or that subway under a main road what
the surface is likely to be. I'll be doing the trip there and back on a
Brompton and prefer not to use footway facilities if possible. I'd also
quite like a nice ride in rather than, say, the A9. Finally, how dark
are the lanes and is this a good excuse to finally get a BromSON?

Any advice would be gratefully received and may even be recompensed in
real beer rather than the more usual virtual pint.

Cheers,

Colin

Colin Blackburn wrote:

I'll be working up in Dundee for a few weeks in December, a few in
January and more occasionally after that. I'm planning to stay with a
friend in Fowlis (on the west of the city) and I need to get to the
university campus (northern edge). I've looked at some maps and map
leaflet produced by the council and it looks like there is a suggested
cycle route in most of the way. It's hard to tell from the council map
whether some sections are on-road or footway routes.

The council are increasingly getting reconciled to roads not being Evil
but I'm afraid they do like their "shared facilities". It's also the
case that some of the tracks through Camperdown Park will become
"challenging" after a good rain session unless you're on mudpluggers and
don't mind being browner than you started...

It's also not easy
to tell in the parkland sections or that subway under a main road what
the surface is likely to be.

The subway under the Kingsway has a concrete surface IIRC. If you
ignore the "official" cycleway through the park you can get through ut
quite agreeably on roads though that limits your exit points quite a bit.

I'll be doing the trip there and back on a
Brompton and prefer not to use footway facilities if possible. I'd also
quite like a nice ride in rather than, say, the A9. Finally, how dark
are the lanes and is this a good excuse to finally get a BromSON?

Around Fowlis itself you'll be on unlit country lanes and at that time
of year on a gloomy day it'll be pitch dark by the end of a working day,
so I'd invest in the dynamo!
For a mix of nice ride and fairly direct route I'd be inclined to go to
Liff, keep heading East to Campie Park and follow the park roads
(tarmac) through to the East entrance. From there on its in to typical
urban roads, but you cross the Kingsway (DC ring road) by bridge there
rather than direct roundabout and it's pretty benign (as far as city
riding goes) from then on.

Another possibility would be to drop down to towards Invergowrie after
Liff and after the big roundabout at the end of the Kingsway (which will
*not* be any fun as you come in the join the wrong side of all the
traffic coming into town from Perth and connecting destinations, of
which there will be plenty if you're doing a 9-5 or similar day) and
thence wangle yourself onto Riverside Drive. This has a shared footpath
along it but it's quite benign, with little foot traffic and very few
rights of way losses. Once you're at the airport it's really rather
nice (as long as there's not a high tide combined with a big SE wind, in
which case it's a bit... salty!) and you can either take that to the
Disco and head back up to the campus (wrong side, but it's only a few
minutes) or bale out at the rail bridge, which will also be the wrong
side of campus but at least not via a dog-leg, and again it's not such a
big campus that crossing it by bike will slow you down much.

The second route has greater total length of nice riding, but the nasty
bits are nastier and the first would be quicker (last bit is actually
David Martin's daily commute, you'd probably go past his front door!).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Colin Blackburn writes:

I've not posted round these parts for a while but I notice that at least
one of the regular Dundee correspondents is still here. I'm after some
route advice for cycling in Dundee.

I'll be working up in Dundee for a few weeks in December, a few in
January and more occasionally after that. I'm planning to stay with a
friend in Fowlis (on the west of the city) and I need to get to the
university campus (northern edge).

Which department (or college, or whatever they are called this week)?

I've looked at some maps and map
leaflet produced by the council and it looks like there is a suggested
cycle route in most of the way. It's hard to tell from the council map
whether some sections are on-road or footway routes. It's also not easy
to tell in the parkland sections or that subway under a main road what
the surface is likely to be. I'll be doing the trip there and back on a
Brompton and prefer not to use footway facilities if possible. I'd also
quite like a nice ride in rather than, say, the A9. Finally, how dark
are the lanes and is this a good excuse to finally get a BromSON?

Any advice would be gratefully received and may even be recompensed in
real beer rather than the more usual virtual pint.

Apart from Pete's suggestions you could take a route that crosses the
Kingsway at the roundabout near the West side of Camperdown Park (which I
expect is a bit easier than the one near Invergowrie), and then circle
around Ninewells until you hit Perth Road. This route follows mainly
contours while the routes through town have a bit more up and down.


The subway under the Kingsway has a proper surface, but on both sides it
connects with paths of dubious quality and it involves some pretty sharp
corners and a steep dip down and up. I would have a look at how you like
the crossing at the roundabouts (I don't normally try that at that sort of
time) and if it works do that.

If you want a nice scenic detour go out along the Tay to Kingoodie and
Longforgan, use the underpass under the A90 and make your way back up the
hill to Fowlis.

When planning cycle routes in Dundee try to take routes that avoid the
hills. The council like to send you over the footpaths on Balgay hill when
traveling between Ninewells and the campus but I rather stick to the mych
flatter roads that run East-West.

The road that goes up North along the West side of Camperdown park is
pretty steep in places but doesn't last too long.

Roos

Roos Eisma said the following on 22/10/2007 12:19:
Colin Blackburn writes:

I've not posted round these parts for a while but I notice that at least
one of the regular Dundee correspondents is still here. I'm after some
route advice for cycling in Dundee.

Apart from Pete's suggestions you could take a route that crosses the
Kingsway at the roundabout near the West side of Camperdown Park (which I
expect is a bit easier than the one near Invergowrie), and then circle
around Ninewells until you hit Perth Road. This route follows mainly
contours while the routes through town have a bit more up and down.

Thanks to Pete and yourself for all the suggestions. I'll get hold of a
map and look at some of the routes. Hopefully I'll get to try a few
alternatives out over my first week up there.

Colin

On Oct 22, 12:19 pm, Roos Eisma wrote:
Colin Blackburn writes:
I've not posted round these parts for a while but I notice that at least
one of the regular Dundee correspondents is still here. I'm after some
route advice for cycling in Dundee.
I'll be working up in Dundee for a few weeks in December, a few in
January and more occasionally after that. I'm planning to stay with a
friend in Fowlis (on the west of the city) and I need to get to the
university campus (northern edge).

Which department (or college, or whatever they are called this week)?

I've looked at some maps and map
leaflet produced by the council and it looks like there is a suggested
cycle route in most of the way. It's hard to tell from the council map
whether some sections are on-road or footway routes. It's also not easy
to tell in the parkland sections or that subway under a main road what
the surface is likely to be. I'll be doing the trip there and back on a
Brompton and prefer not to use footway facilities if possible. I'd also
quite like a nice ride in rather than, say, the A9. Finally, how dark
are the lanes and is this a good excuse to finally get a BromSON?
Any advice would be gratefully received and may even be recompensed in
real beer rather than the more usual virtual pint.

Apart from Pete's suggestions you could take a route that crosses the
Kingsway at the roundabout near the West side of Camperdown Park (which I
expect is a bit easier than the one near Invergowrie), and then circle
around Ninewells until you hit Perth Road. This route follows mainly
contours while the routes through town have a bit more up and down.

The subway under the Kingsway has a proper surface, but on both sides it
connects with paths of dubious quality and it involves some pretty sharp
corners and a steep dip down and up. I would have a look at how you like
the crossing at the roundabouts (I don't normally try that at that sort of
time) and if it works do that.

If you want a nice scenic detour go out along the Tay to Kingoodie and
Longforgan, use the underpass under the A90 and make your way back up the
hill to Fowlis.

When planning cycle routes in Dundee try to take routes that avoid the
hills. The council like to send you over the footpaths on Balgay hill when
traveling between Ninewells and the campus but I rather stick to the mych
flatter roads that run East-West.

The road that goes up North along the West side of Camperdown park is
pretty steep in places but doesn't last too long.

Roos

And here is another suggestion.

or two.

From Fowlis head to Liff, follow the road round to the right, then
left and take the straight on left turn past the old Liff hospital.
This brings you to the Liff Road, known locally as Gourdie Brae [1].
At this point the routes diverge.
Go right (downhill), round the corner and take a right and you can
cross the Kingsway at a roundabout. Or by following along the Kingsway
to the left you can cross via an under pass.

Then you can go left or right when you meet South Road. Right will
take you round the hospital via a cinder track to the bottom of the
Perth Road which can be followed in to the Uni.

Left takes you up towards Balgay Hill and Glamis Road (via Elmwood
Road), giving a downhill run into the Uni via various options.

If however you go left (uphill) at Gourdie Brae, you can then turn
right and head past the duckpond and through Camperdown park (bearing
right to go past the house, rather than left up onto the main road).
Straight on takes you to The Gates from which the cycle club runs
leave at 9-9.30 on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

here you can head left then right onto the road, cross the Kingsway on
the flyover and follow the Coupar Angus Road/Lochee bypass/Logie
Street/Lochee Road (again) and a few other bits into town and the
campus. Or take one of the many other options (City Road/Blackness
Road.)

Or turn right, go round the back of the cinema multiplex and under the
Kingsway via a pedestrian tunnel. Down to South road then follow the
cycle path up the old railway line to the Ancrum Road from which the
many other options open up.

You will need lights. You trade off distance against hills no matter
which route you choose. Probably the easiest is Camperdown/Lochee/Town
but it would also be the most trafficked. I do see a chap with a
brompton on this road occasionally.

Drop me an email and I'll sort you some routes on Bikely.

...d

[1] Most of the roads in Dundee have names known only to the locals.
It is a right pain when someone mentions meeting at the bottom of
Tinky's Brae (good luck finding it on a map!).