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From Pollock Halls to Pleasance Sport Complex and Gym

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 46 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ

Access Guide

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Route Overview

  • The start point for this guide is at the Pollock Halls Reception.
  • The end point for this guide is George Square.
  • The average walking time between the start and end points is 20 minutes.
  • This guide covers Holyrood Park Road, Dalkeith Road, St Leonard's Street and Pleasance.
  • Points of interest in this area include: Pleasance Courtyard which contains, Pleasance Quakers Studio, Pleasance West, Pleasance Salisbury and Pleasance 48.
  • There are no public transport stops or stations in this area.

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Starting Point (Pollock Halls of Residence)

  • Pollock Halls of Residence is The University of Edinburgh's main catered student halls complex, located in the St Leonard's area of the city. It incorporates several residential halls, a central conference centre (John McIntyre Conference Centre), which also houses the main refectory, as well as the university-operated Scholar Hotel and Scott Hotel.
  • There is a taxi rank outside the reception centre, as well as standard and Blue Badge parking, and EV charging points on site - please see the University of Edinburgh parking webpages for more details.

Pollock Halls to Holyrood Park Road

  • This section heads west out of the Pollock Halls Site onto Holyrood Park Road, covering a distance of approximately 100 metres.
  • From the main path leading out from the centre of the site (from the front of Chancellor's Court and the John McIntyre Conference Centre), cross the access road leading to car park 2. There is a zebra crossing over this access road, with a flush kerb that has tactile paving on the near side and a dropped kerb with a slight ramp that also has tactile paving on the far side. The road itself has a smooth tarmac surface. Then go straight ahead along the pavement until you reach Holyrood Park Road.
  • There is step-free access along this section of the route, with a slight uphill slope beyond the access road crossing that later becomes a slight downhill slope as you approach Holyrood Park Road.
  • Turn left and cross the access road into the Pollock Halls site. There is an unmarked crossing point here with a central island refuge. There are dropped kerbs with very steep gradients on either side of the access road, both of which have tactile paving. The central island refuge does not have tactile paving and is flush with the road surface. Traffic along the access road is light. There are uneven surfaces on and near the dropped kerbs either side of the access road, and the access road itself has a very uneven tarmac surface.
  • Finally, continue along Holyrood Park Road until you reach the pelican crossing.
  • Pavements throughout this section are comprised of even concrete paving slabs.

Crossing Point - Holyrood Park Road

  • There is a staggered pelican crossing over Holyrood Park Road.
  • The traffic on the road at this crossing is moderate and approaches from the right before the central refuge and the left after the central refuge.
  • The pelican crossing has a visual indicator for when it is safe to cross, activated by a push button. The crossing does not have an audible alarm or rotating cones.
  • The portion of the crossing before the central refuge has dropped kerbs with tactile paving on the near side and far side, both of which have a slight gradient. The portion of the crossing after the central refuge has dropped kerbs with tactile paving on the near side and far side, with the near side having a slight gradient and the far side having a steep gradient.
  • The road has a smooth and even tarmac surface.
  • After crossing the road, turn left.

Holyrood Park Road to Dalkeith Road

  • This section heads southwest along Holyrood Park Road towards Dalkeith Road, covering a distance of approximately 130 metres.
  • Go straight ahead, alongside the frontage of the former Scottish Widows offices, until you reach the junction with Dalkeith Road.
  • There is step-free level access along this section of the route (with very slight slopes in places), and the pavement is comprised of even concrete paving slabs.
  • There is one crossing point over the access road into the former Scottish Widows offices. There is a dropped kerb with a slight ramp and tactile paving on the near side, and a dropped kerb with a steep ramp and tactile paving on the far side. The crossing point has a central refuge with tactile paving that is flush with the road surface.
  • The road surface consists of very rough, worn and uneven tarmac.
  • There are a few street trees along this section of the route, but they are situated within alcoves off of the main footway.
  • As you approach Dalkeith Road, the pavement curves to the right. Continue along it, ignoring any crossing points over the road.

Dalkeith Road to Parkside Terrace

  • This section heads northwest along Dalkeith Road towards Parkside Terrace, covering a distance of approximately 130 metres.
  • Go straight ahead, alongside the frontage of the former Scottish Widows offices, until you reach Parkside Terrace.
  • There is step-free level access (with very slight slopes in places) along this section of the route, and the pavement is comprised of even concrete paving slabs.
  • There is tactile paving on the pavement by a pelican crossing over Dalkeith Road, opposite East Preston Street. Ignore this and continue straight ahead.
  • There are street lights and traffic lights along the pavement which may cause an obstruction.

Crossing Point - Parkside Terrace

  • There is an unmarked pedestrian crossing over Parkside Terrace.
  • The traffic on the road at this crossing is light and approaches from both directions.
  • There are dropped kerbs with no tactile paving on either side of the crossing, with the dropped kerb on the near side having a slight gradient and the dropped kerb on the far side having a steep gradient. The dropped kerb on the near side has a very uneven surface, with cracked concrete paving slabs. The road itself has a smooth tarmac surface.

Dalkeith Road to St Leonard's Street

  • Continue along Dalkeith Road for approximately 80m until it becomes St Leonard's Street.
  • The surface of the pavement is concrete with the occasional manhole covers.
  • There is a slight gradient towards the road.
  • There is a downhill gradient as you head down the hill.
  • There is a bus stop for Lutton Place along the pavement approximately 65m after the crossing.
  • After another 25m the Dalkeith Road comes to an end and St Leonard's Street begins.
  • There is no clear distinction or separation between Dalkeith Road and St Leonard's Street on this side of the pavement. The easiest way to tell where Dalkeith road becomes St Leonard's street is that you can see Lutton Place on the other side of road.
    .

St Leonard's Street to Dalkeith Road Medical Practice Car Park Service Road

  • Continue along St Leonard's Street for approximately 65m until you reach the Dalkeith Road Medical Practice Car Park Service Road.
  • The surface of the pavement is concrete with the occasional manhole cover.
  • There is a slight gradient towards the road.
  • There is a downhill gradient as you continue along St Leonard's Street.
  • As you continue, on your right is located Unite Students - Salisbury Court.

Dalkeith Road Medical Practice Car Park Service Road Crossing

  • There is a service road with dropped kerbs on either side.
  • The surface of the service road is tarmac.

St Leonard's Street to Parkside Street

  • Continue along St Leonard's Street to Parkside Street; a distance of approximately 80m.
  • After approximately 35m you will encounter the Parkside Street bus stop blocking the pavement.
  • The width of the pavement is reduced shortly after this by a signpost.
  • To get around it, proceed to your right over an area that is a mixture of cobbled and block paved surfaces.
  • After this return to the pavement.
  • Continue along St Leonard's Street until you reach Parkside Street.

Crossing Point - Parkside Street

  • There is an unmarked pedestrian crossing over Parkside Street.
  • The traffic on the road at this crossing is light and approaches from both directions.
  • There are flush kerbs with tactile paving on either side of the crossing, and the road has a smooth tarmac surface.
  • Immediately after crossing the road, you then cross a cycle lane, which also has flush kerbs with tactile paving on either side, and a smooth tarmac surface.

St Leonard's Street to St Leonard's Lane

  • This section heads northwest along St Leonard's Street, from Parkside Street to St Leonard's Lane, covering a distance of approximately 100 metres.
  • Go straight ahead along the pavement, which runs alongside a cycle lane.
  • The pavement has a smooth tarmac surface, with a very slight downhill gradient.
  • There is a small area of tactile paving on the pavement by a puffin crossing over St Leonard's Street, near to the start of the section. Ignore this crossing and continue straight ahead.
  • There are road signs, a traffic light and telecoms cabinets along the pavement which may cause obstructions.
  • There is one access road to cross midway along the section, which has flush kerbs with tactile paving on both sides. The access road has a smooth tarmac surface.

Crossing Point - St Leonard's Lane

  • There is an unmarked pedestrian crossing over St Leonard's Lane.
  • The traffic on the road at this crossing is light and approaches from both directions.
  • There are flush kerbs with tactile paving on either side of the crossing, and the road has a smooth tarmac surface.

St Leonard's Street to Bowmont Place

  • Continue along St Leonard's Street for 150m until you reach Bowmont Place.
  • There is tactile paving in front of you to mark the end of the cycle path.
  • There is then blistered tactile paving to mark a crossing over St Leonard's Street.
  • There is another small patch of tactile paving to mark the end for the cycle path.
  • There is a tactile patch of paving for a set of traffic lights to cross St Leonard's Street after 10m from St Leonard's Land.
  • The surface of the pavement is block paving to the left and cobbled to the right with the occasional manhole cover. There are trees planted in the middle of this pavement.
  • There is a slight gradient towards the road.
  • There is a downhill gradient as you head along St Leonard's Street.
  • There is a bus station for Raneillor Street taking up a large section of the pavement after approximately 55m.

Crossing Point - Bowmont Place

  • There are tactile dropped kerbs on either side of the road.
  • The surface of the road to the left of the crossing is tarmac and the surface to the right of the crossing is cobbled.

Pleasance to Service Road for Pleasance 178 - 184

  • After crossing Bowmont Place you will find yourself on Pleaseance. Proceed straight ahead along Pleasance for approximately 110m to reach the service road for Pleasance 178 - 184.
  • The surface of the pavement is concrete.
  • There are slight gradients uphill and to the road.
  • After approximately 25m from the Bowmont Place crossing there is tactile paving for a crossing across Pleasance.
  • After this, continue along Pleasance for approximately 70m where there is a concrete side road with tactile paving on each side.

Crossing Points - Service Roads for 178 - 184 Pleasance and 142 - 156 Pleasance

  • On approach to the service road for 178 - 184 Pleasance there is a tactile dropped kerb leading onto a tarmac road.
  • There is then a central island with tactile dropped kerbs on either side.
  • After the central island there is the service road for 142-156 Pleasance.
  • The island is level with the pavement and is tarmac.
  • The surface of the 142-156 Pleasance service road is tarmac.
  • There is a dropped kerb on the far side.
    .

Pleasance to Brown Street

  • After crossing the service roads continue for approximately 85m until you reach Brown Street.
  • The surface of the pavement is block paving with the occasional manhole cover.
  • There is a tactile crossing to your left after approximately 10m for the Pleasance service roads.
  • There is a slight gradient towards the road.
  • There is a slight downhill gradient.
  • There is a pedestrian crossing as you approach Brown Street after approximately 65m with tactile paving along the pavement.

Crossing Point - Brown Street

  • There are tactile dropped kerbs either side of the road.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac.

Pleasance to New Arthur Place

  • After crossing Brown Street continue along Pleasance to New Arthur Place; a distance of approximately 95m.
  • At time of survey in March 2025 signage and cones partially obstructed some areas of the pavement.
  • The surface of the pavement is concrete with the occasional manhole cover.
  • There is a slight gradient towards the road.
  • There is a slight downhill gradient for the most part, but as you approach New Arthur Place it becomes an uphill gradient.

Crossing Point - New Arthur Place

  • There are tactile dropped kerbs on either side of the road.
  • The road is tarmac.

Pleasance to the Pleasance Sport Complex and Gym

  • After crossing New Arthur Street, continue along Pleasance for approximately 110m until you reach the Pleasance Sport Complex and Gym.
  • The surface of the pavement is concrete with the occasional manhole cover.
  • There is a slight gradient towards the road.
  • There is a downhill gradient as you head down the hill.
  • At time of survey March 2025 there were roadworks partially obstructing the pavement.
  • As you continue there are two separate service roads into the Pleasance Courtyard with dropped kerbs on each side and a concrete road in the middle to access the Pleasance Courtyard which contains Pleasance Quakers Studio, Pleasance West and Pleasance Salisbury.
  • Continue onwards and you will pass Pleasance 48 after which you will encounter the gate for the Pleasance Sport Complex and Gym.

Finishing Point - Pleasance Sport Complex and Gym

  • There is a 143cm gate on the approach to the Pleasance Sports Complex (Sport and Exercise) from Pleasance.
  • The path is tarmac with the occasional manhole cover.
  • You must then cross the cobbled car park to reach the entrance.
  • There are tactile dropped kerbs on either side of the crossing to access the car park.
  • The Pleasance Sport Complex and Gym contains a large variety of sports facilities.