Had a bit of a Dr Frankenstein moment...

[crozier74]

Been a while since I last posted here, not really done many tracks recently, but had a bit of a sesh late last night.

First came boredom. Then came curiosity. Then creativity. Followed by a hefty bit of madness. All finished off nicely with a smidge of tinkering. The result was a bit of a monster...

Edinburgh Street Circuit, 15.5 miles, 97 corners



I designed the circuit primarily to pass by as many landmarks as possible, and also utilising a lot of places that were very personal and familiar to me. I also did so largely with disregard for flow, raceability, and most definitely safety, practicality and realism lol, though I did try to make sure it would at least be a reasonable drive, with some variety.

Circuit guide (clockwise):

J-I: Starting on the modern high street, Princes St, which is currently closed to traffic due to roadworks installing tramlines, but due to reopen in 2011(ish). Starting off in front of Princes Street Gardens under the imposing shadow of the world famous Edinburgh Castle, the streets would likely be lined with spectators here. Heading east we'd have a long straight passing by the Scottish National Gallery, Scott Monument and Waverley railway station, picking up some serious speed.

I-H: We turn left at Princes Mall and head uphill, doing a lap of the greenery of St Andrew Square and passing by Edinburgh Bus Station. We then briefly double back on ourselves along the posh George Street, rounding the George IV statue, heading downhill down Hanover Street before another 90 right onto the short backstraight along Queen Street/York Place.

H-G: Here we turn right at the roundabout, and head steep uphill past the Omni Centre multiplex and St James Centre mall, then a tight left hairpin back onto the main road, overlooked by the prestigious Balmoral Hotel and the Duke of Wellington statue.

G-F: A fast uphill esses sequence follows, sided on the left by Calton Hill and by some impressive period buildings on the right. We then turn right and go back downhill, running in front of the Scottish Parliament.

F-E: Now the fun really begins. A tight chicane section, finishing with the new Lion of Scotland statue on the left, before heading out along Queen's Drive on a lap of Holyrood Park. Back in the day this road was actually proposed as a potential British GP venue, though it's hard to imagine it now, as it's extremely narrow, with a small lake on the apex of one corner, and a sheer cliff-face on the South side! This road rounds the impressive Arthurs Seat, an extinct volcano and the highest point in Edinburgh. As we head back West we then head steeply back downhill, before plateauing out and passing Edinburgh University's Pollock Halls of Residence, where many 1st year students live. From there we have a few 90s before we reach The Meadows - one of the city's largest parks and a great spot for spectators to line the roadside, especially on a (rare) sunny Scottish day. We then turn left and head uphill into Marchmont, a popular student flat area.

E-D: We crest the hill at a 90 left and head back downhill down the Grange, before turning right in front of the National Library of Scotland, heading steeply downhill along Minto Street, across to Dalkeith Road to continue the descent past the cemetery, and ending in the large roundabout in front of the Cameron Toll shopping centre at the bottom.

D-C: Now bearing back West, we head back uphill and pass by the University of Edinburgh's King's Buildings science campus, where I study. Now for my daily commute: We head back steep downhill along Blackford Avenue (a nightmare to cycle up every day...), past the Royal Observatory, before bottoming out just after the junction and beginning the long slow climb toward Morningside, a run which ends in a deceptive chicane where both corners are double-apex.

C-B: Now turning right onto Morningside Road itself, heading uphill briefly, passing Church Hill Theatre, my flat, and the imposing Holy Corner, where there are 4 churches on the 4 corners of a large junction. The main Napier University campus is also just around the corner from here. We then swoop right and head steep downhill through Bruntsfield, passing the Bruntsfield Links golf course/park (which would be another popular viewing spot) opposite the Bruntsfield Hotel, and further down the hill the 24hr BP garage and the huge spire of the Barclay Church.

B-A: We reach the bottom of the hill and pass through Tollcross, one of the biggest/busiest junctions in Edinburgh, with a fast double-apex right hander taking us back uphill along Lauriston and past the Edinburgh College of Art on the left. We then pass another school before entering a triangle-shaped section - the first lefthander is overlooked by the Faculty of Medicine; the student-run Bedlam Theatre is on the apex of the right, with the National Museum of Scotland and the famous Greyfriar's Bobby statue also watching the action on the outside; before the sequence ends with a righthander in front of the impressive domed building of McEwan Hall. We now pass by the main University of Edinburgh campus at George Square, sweeping around the Potterrow Union, past some impressive street art, and turning left into a wiggly section in front of the brand new state-of-the-art Informatics Forum building.

A-M: We now bear right along one of the busier shopping streets in Edinburgh, Nicolson/Clerk Street, a potential spectator hotspot, passing in front of the period (albeit now disused) Odeon Cinema, before doubling back in front of Blockbuster and heading back north, running steep downhill past The Pleasance union and the Centre for Sports and Exercise, before a tricky left-hander at the bottom of the hill leads us onto the historic Cowgate.

M-L: Famous for its drinking establishments and scene of much rowdy behaviour every weekend, this section is fast, narrow and one of the lowest points on the course, as you pass beneath both of the city centre's main bridges. Through a chicane at the bottom of Candlemaker Row to slow the cars and create a spectating point, before accelerating back along the equally historic Grassmarket, site of the old market square to where cattle would once have been led along the Cowgate for sale.

L-K-J: No particular landmarks here of note, but this section is one of the slower and more technical parts of the track, where the tight uphill switchback hairpins will provide a challenge which will reward good clean lines and throttle patience. A short blast past Napier University's Fountainbridge Halls, before turning right onto the 2nd busiest street, Lothian Road. A street of contrasts, the grandeur of the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Clydesdale Bank Plaza find themselves at home amongst strip bars and seedy clubs. A small compression as we go from downhill to uphill, before a final 90 right in front of the Caledonian Hotel leads us back onto Princes Street in front of the screaming fans. And into another lap...

There. Boredom cured.

[Luke Kinsella]

What would be the lenght of the track using just the hill loop? connecting M point to the...well... the G point

Because I think that it would be a great track

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Crozier, I was wetting myself with laughter as I visualised the circuit as I too know most of these roads pretty well.
I spent time at Napier Uni both Merchiston, (as mentioned in section C-B) and Craighlockart (off the map).

It would have to be the 24 hours of Edinburgh, though with the way the traffic is at the moment the race distance would only be about 10 laps LOL.

[formula1fan]

Wow. I'm speechless! That is one of the maddest and most interesting circuits I have ever seen! I think this is a worthy contender for My Tracks 2009 Track of the Year!

[TilkeWannabe]

Hi, guys! Long time no talk.

I think that if Edinburgh was to host the Commonwealth Games, it could be used for road cycling, part of a marathon/triathlon and things like that.

[Stig]

The Nurburgring of street circuits, haha. Still looks like a lot of fun though, especially the hilly section to the right.