There is plenty of free parking available at Davidson's Mains Park as well as a good selection of coffee shops and a Tesco in Davidson's Mains should you need to top up or get some last minute goodies before you start.
Head west uphill on the footpath within the park taking the right hand turn just before the top to join the quiet residential road. Follow this road passing the Royal High School on the left just before reaching a T-junction. Go straight on following the road round to the left and downhill. Careful as the road narrows down to a cycle path passing between the Royal Burgess and Bruntsfield Golf Courses. Follow this path until it emerges onto another quiet residential road serving some of Edinburgh's most sought after properties.
At the end of the road a shared cycle and pedestrian crossing leads almost straight over onto a very shaded and quite steeply downhill section of road leading to the old Cramond Brig, this road though narrow can be busy and care should be taken especially towards the bottom of the hill where the road is narrowest and most shaded where pedestrians can be walking in the road. Look out for a road on the left which gives access to a small playpark, and ponies can often be seen in the adjacent field.
Follow the road round to the left ignoring the road off to the right and emerge onto the original Cramond Brig with the pub/restaurant beyond. Take a minute to enjoy the view from the bridge of the River almond below.
Cross the bridge, negotiated the traffic barriers and climb the steep but short hill, be mindful of Inn customers as you pass the car park on your left. At the top of the hill on the left bend go straight over entering Dalmeny Estate.
Follow the estate road for about 1 mile taking the left turn at a large storage silo on the left, road surface deteriorates for a while after this point, beware of loose surface as you first go downhill then up, turning right at the top of the short rise. Follow this road round to the left and downhill through the trees before joining a surfaced estate road, go left and slightly uphill again, continue along until you meet a larger road at a bridge, follow this road to the right and up a short hill. cresting the hill you will see the private Dalmeny Estate golf course on your right, very select membership I believe limited to Estate workers, residents or employees of the Earl of Roseberry's Companies. In the distance you will see the east elevation of Dalmeny House, follow the road along to pass the house on the sea side cutting through the golf course, watch out for errant golf balls as a number of the holes are very close to the road and 2 actually cross this road in this area - golfers have priority so take care.
There is a pleasantly sheltered seat at the edge of the beach just before the plantation to the west a good place to stop and take in the views of Cramond and the other Forth islands as well as the main façade of Dalmeny house.
If you have the time it's a pleasant cycle to South Queensferry, just continue along the road westwards, the track is surfaced for the first section to just past Barnbougle Castle (about 1/2 kM), then a good gravel track meanders through the mixed established woodland passing Houndpoint before joining the public road below the Rail Bridge at Queensferry. Queensferry has a good selection of pubs, restaurants and an ice cream shop at the Lifeboat House.
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