A6095
A6095 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Cameron Toll, Edinburgh (NT275712) | |||
To: | Musselburgh (NT342726) | |||
Via: | Craigmillar | |||
Distance: | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) | |||
Meets: | A7, A6106, A1, B6415, A199 | |||
Old route now: | B6415 | |||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A6095 is a nearly five miles long road in Midlothian running west to east from the city of Edinburgh to Musselburgh. The route is totally built up, but while by no means a fast road it provides a useful link between the city's southern suburbs and places to the east.
We start at the Cameron Toll roundabout on the A7 (ex-A68), at the point where the South Suburban Railway crosses on an overbridge. The line, which provides a useful freight route avoiding Waverley station, has carried no regularly scheduled passenger traffic since 1962 although the idea of restoring a local passenger service continue to be raised from time to time. After just over half a mile we pass over this line and then come to a light-controlled intersection: the unclassified road to the left leads to the salubrious village-within-the-city of Duddingston; that to the right to the ruins of Craigmillar Castle on a rocky summit.
This is the start of the anything-but-salubrious suburb of Craigmillar, urban deprivation much in evidence. Though a lot of redevelopment is taking place both here and in Niddrie, the next district along, there's a lot still to be done. Beyond Niddrie we come to a light-controlled crossing with the A6106 between Portobello and Sheriffhall, and then a pair of closely-spaced roundabouts giving access to Fort Kinnaird, one of Edinburgh's edge-of-town shopping complexes.
Immediately afterwards there is a diamond grade-separated junction with the A1, with full slip roads controlled by lights on either side of the bridge which takes it overhead. This is Newcraighall Junction, with the village and its P&R railway station, linked to the city centre by an overbridge, following shortly. Another rail overbridge is reached, then we pass over the ECML and from this point onwards the road is maintained by East Lothian Council.
A further roundabout gives access to the drive into the grounds of Newhailes House. The property is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, but for many years it was neglected and suffered increasing dilapidation.
After Newhailes, the rest of Musselburgh is distinctly mundane. At a final roundabout, the B6415 leads north-east towards Fisherrow, the harbour area, following the original route of the A6095. The present road meanwhile continues eastward, following the alignment of a disused railway to reach the town centre. The B6415 has multiplexed along this stretch, and it now leaves at a right turn, bound for Old Craighall Junction where the A720 City of Edinburgh Bypass terminates on the A1. Our road crosses the River Esk, runs along its eastern bank and ends at traffic lights where the westbound A199 TOTSOs right in the town centre. A few yards further on is the start of the A6124 on its route south to the A68 and Fordel.