Turf Zone – RYouNextTruls
Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. It’s actually quite amazing when you mention Wester Hailes to people, well, some of them anyway. Oh, I wouldn’t go there, it’s too rough and they will nick the wheels of your car and the chocolate off your Kit-Kat. Good job I’m on my bike then, and Mr Bumble, the yellow single speed Brompton, at that. Actually, I think riding a bright yellow silly-looking folding bike like the Brompton is something of a secret weapon. Any would-be assailant is too busy trying not to laugh, or rolling on the ground in raucous laughter, to even contemplate trying anything untoward. Suits me just fine.
Turf Zone – ResearchThis
Anyway, Wester Hailes offers a good base for ticking off a few unique zones dotted about the area. The car park at the railway station seems safe enough, plenty of activity and people about. My first unique was a zone called ClovenPebble, an energetic cycling up a steep slabbed path from the station, quite trying on the single speed but I made it, all the way past the broken glass, Police crime tape and a scattering of discarded 9mm brass cartridge casings. Guess some people are so untidy.
Turf Zone – TheAndroid
After that, an about turn and I’m heading for Sighthill Park and a unique of the same name. Hard work cycling across the soft grass on skinny tyres. Then onwards to another park, Edinburgh Park, a business district, for zone with the unusual name of RYouNextTruls. Quite an interesting artwork nearby. Thought it was a giant troll at first. And no apologies for including pictures of my bike because, as you might have guessed, I like bikes! A few very stressed people in suits wandering about having heated conversations on their phones. Glad I’m now retired.
Turf Zone – HeriotWatt
My next target area was the Heriot Watt University campus at Riccarton. And getting there was easy enough, as it’s well signposted from the Edinburgh Park tram stop. I actually missed a zone called ChickenSmell, not far off the route, which was a bit annoying. Not sure why I didn’t notice it on the app as I cycled nearby. After crossing the busy M8 motorway, by bridge I should add, then the Union Canal, I arrive in the small village of Hermiston, which once even had a school and a smithy, both now long gone though a garage now replaces the smithy. After taking another unique zone, it was short cycle to my main destination for the session, the Heriot Watt Riccarton Campus.
Turf Zone – IslandIsland
Around a dozen zones are dotted about the campus, all of them uniques to myself and all easily taken from the saddle. That is all except one, zone IslandIsland, which, as the name suggests is located on a small island in the middle of a pond, or reservoir, depending on what old map you look at. As it was the middle of February with temperatures a few degrees above freezing, I decided not to venture across to the pond. The zone was created in October 2020 and has only been taken 27 times by only 7 different turfers. Guess I’ll need to build an amphibious Brompton for that one. Thought the zone might have the Order of Aquamen attribute but alas it does not. Perhaps the cyborg security Mallard ducks make it too dangerous to swim.
Turf Zone – GogarZone
With my main mission accomplished, I followed the Union Canal back towards Edinburgh, which was very handy as it passes only a stone’s throw from Wester Hailes, where the car was parked. Also ticked off another unique zone on the Union Canal along the way. Must say I quite enjoy turfing new areas and really should do more of the same. Bye for now.
Turf Zone – DaltonBridge
Copyright ©2025 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.
