Star.pngStar.pngStar.pngStar.pngStar grey.png

B703

From Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
B703
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (2)
From:  Newtongrange (NT333639)
To:  Eskbank (NT325667)
Distance:  2 miles (3.2 km)
Meets:  A7, B6482, A6094, A768, B6392
Former Number(s):  A7
Old route now:  A768
Highway Authorities

Midlothian

Traditional Counties

Midlothian

Route outline (key)
B703 Newtongrange - Eskbank
B703 Eskbank - Bilston

The B703 is a short out-of-zone B-road through the towns to the south and west of Dalkeith, Midlothian.

Route

Newbattle

The route starts at a T junction on the A7 in Newtongrange and heads north past the shops on Main Street, which is the original line of the A7. Beyond the shops, a church stands in a small park, and then houses line the roadside before another small group of shops is reached. The B703 then crosses the B6482 at a double mini-roundabout, which takes the pre-bypass A7 away to the west for a time. Still running north, the route follows Newbattle Road which soon enters open country and descends to cross the River South Esk adjacent to the old Newbattle Bridge. There are some large, old houses around the bridge, including Newbattle Abbey which stands back in expansive grounds on the north side of the river, as well as some modern housing estates, with the road snaking gently as it climbs up the hill. Midway up the climb, a narrow section runs between tall stone walls, giving the impression of a deep cutting, although the ridges of roofs can be seen poking over the top.

At the top of the hill, the route crosses a mini roundabout in front of the cemetery, and then continues northwest along Newbattle Road, through the leafy suburbs of Eskbank. There are some large houses here, hidden behind high walls and hedges, and also some modern estates, but few properties face onto the road. One of the busier side turnings, Abbey Road leading into Dalkeith town centre, is signalised, but otherwise Newbattle Road continues, climbing again, to end at the 6-way Eskbank Toll roundabout in the centre of Eskbank. Here it meets the A6094, A768 and B6392 (another pre-bypass section of the A7).

History

The original route of the B703

None of the current route of the B703 was classified as such in 1922, but there is a continuous history. Originally the B703 started at Eskbank Toll (its current northern end) and headed west via Loanhead to end on the A701 near Bilston. By 1928 it had been extended south to Newtongrange, and along the pre-bypass A7, to its current southern terminus. By 1932, however, the original section of the route had been upgraded to Class I status, becoming the A768, which it remains. The Newtongrange bypass road itself appears to be shown on the OS Six Inch map from 1915, and earlier, but the A7 was initially routed through the village.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Eskbank - Loanhead - Junction with A701 near New Pentland





B703
Junctions
Crossings
Places
Related Pictures
View gallery (2)
Newbattle Old Bridge - Geograph - 937301.jpgNewbattle Road, Dalkeith (C) Oliver Dixon - Geograph - 4021779.jpg
Other nearby roads
Dalkeith
NCN1 • A7 • A68 • A720 • A768 • A772 • A6093 • A6094 • A6106 • A6124 • B6373 • B6374 (Dalkeith - Portobello) • B6392 • B6414 • B6455 • B6482 • Borders Historic Route • C34 (Midlothian) • C64 (Midlothian) • E15 • EuroVelo 12 • T26 (Britain) • T86 (Britain)
B700 – B799
B700 • B701 • B702 • B703 • B704 • B705 • B706 • B707 • B708 • B709 • B710 • B711 • B712 • B713 • B714 • B715 • B716 • B717 • B718 • B719
B720 • B721 • B722 • B723 • B724 • B725 • B726 • B727 • B728 • B729 • B730 • B731 • B732 • B733 • B734 • B735 • B736 • B737 • B738 • B739
B740 • B741 • B742 • B743 • B744 • B745 • B746 • B747 • B748 • B749 • B750 • B751 • B752 • B753 • B754 • B755 • B756 • B757 • B758 • B759
B760 • B761 • B762 • B763 • B764 • B765 • B766 • B767 • B768 • B769 • B770 • B771 • B772 • B773 • B774 • B775 • B776 • B777 • B778 • B779
B780 • B781 • B782 • B783 • B784 • B785 • B786 • B787 • B788 • B789 • B790 • B791 • B792 • B793 • B794 • B795 • B796 • B797 • B798 • B799
Earlier versions: B705 • B706 • B707 • B708 • B713(E) • B713(W) • B714 • B715 • B716 • B724 • B727 • B730 • B734
B735 • B736 • B739 (S) • B739 (N) • B743 • B744 • B746 • B752 • B761 • B762 • B763 • B765 • B773 • B783 • B785 • B789 • B791 • B795
Anomalous numbers: B77


SABRE - The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts
Discuss - Digest - Discover - Help