Learn to Skate - inline skating
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Where to skate
(Photo by Lenny Willcox)
On this page you find information about the best places to skate safely in Scotland.
GliDE the GREEN (Glasgow City Centre)
Due to Glasgow being a bit "hilly" and having many street surfaces that are not ideal for recreational, street or fitness skating it has been very difficult to locate places where skaters can meet to enjoy informal skating in one another's company. Glasgow Green, has been considerably upgraded, is skater friendly with long runs, reasonable surfaces with flat skating on the neighbouring streets. This is a good central spot for everyone to reach with easy access by car or public transport.
BELLAHOUSTON PARK (Glasgow South)
Due to resurfacing many of the pathways are now skater friendly. Add to that the renovated outdoor running track and you have especially good skating on mainly smooth flat surfaces.
CRAMOND/SILVERKNOWES (Edinburgh West)
The long Esplanade gives skaters a chance to skate greater distances, an opportunity to improve striding technique. Nice and flat, most of the surface is smooth with some rougher parts. Private Lessons are held here most Saturdays, all year round, weather permitting.
LOCHWINNOCH LOOP (cycle path)
Lochwinnoch Rollerstrollers
A popular venue for the ROLLERSTROLL a relaxed informal skate along the "off the road" cycle path at Lochwinnoch aimed at new skaters who have taken lessons or have previously skated and can manage the basics of stopping to cope with the entry/exit hill. The stroll is a slow pace skate on Sunday afternoons and allows time for everyone to catch up but if you are a first-time beginner we recommend lessons before you join in. Wednesday evenings are a quicker pace. We meet at, and leave from, the Water Sports Centre car park, skate for about an hour or longer depending what skaters want to do on the day. The stroll is completely FREE and you take part at your own risk. Juniors must wear safety pads and a helmet. Dates are posted on the "lets Go skating" page.
Always remember to wear safety pads and a helmet when you skate. When skating in a public area, please be on your best behaviour giving precedence to pedestrians especially children, elderly and disabled people at all times.
| Location/Maps | How Difficult | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Ayr Esplanade | Very Easy | Good surfaces, flat, sometimes busy, can be windy. Easy access. Recommended. |
| Dunfermline to Clackmannan cycle path | Easy | Straight, smooth, undulating cycle track. A little rough surface, mostly easy skating. |
| Edinburgh West, Cramond Esplanade | Easy | Esplanade off Marine Drive, over a mile long, mainly flat and smooth, some rough patches, steep hill access/exit at Silverknowes. |
| Edinburgh East, Portobello | Easy | Smooth surface, some cobbles, slight gradient, can be busy and windy. |
| Edinburgh Central, Victoria Park | Very Easy | Off Ferry Road. Ideal venue for the first-time beginner. Easy access. Recommended. |
| Glasgow South, Bellahouston Park | Very Easy to Difficult | Mainly good surfaces, some rough, flat, some hills one steep. cycle track, good out of park skating, plenty of easy skating. Recommended. |
| Glasgow Central, Glasgow Green | Very Easy to Difficult | Some rough surfaces, a couple of steep hills but mainly flat. Plenty of easy skating. |
| Glasgow West, Kelvingrove Park | Easy to Difficult | Good surfaces, hilly, skate park. Smaller skating area but in the West End! |
| Greenock Esplanade | Easy | Mostly flat, hill at one end, reasonable surfaces. Easy access. Can be windy. |
| Largs Esplanade | Easy | Flat, mainly good surfaces, sometimes busy near the ferry terminal. Can be windy. |
| Lochwinnoch (off the road cycle path), | Easy | Steep start/finish hill. Good "off the road" skating slight undulating terrain. Skater friendly pathway. Recommended. |
| Monifieth to Carnoustie cycle path | Easy to Difficult | Must be capable of stopping on this cycle pathway and cope with some rough surfaces. |
| Montrose | Easy | Skate anywhere, the town is flat. |
| Perth, North Inch Park | Easy | Mostly flat, reasonable surfaces.Easy access. Recommended for beginners. |
| Prestwick Esplanade | Easy | Smooth surface, some paving, slight gradient. Can be windy. |
| St. Andrews to Guardbridge cycle track | Easy | Good skating. Unless competent don't skate on the small pavement section that runs beside the A91, turn and come back. |
| Troon | Easy | Skate anywhere, the town is flat. |
Grading skate locations can be tricky because, dependent on ability, what one skater finds easy another finds difficult. The major problem is being able to stop. If you can't stop competently it will affect your confidence. Look for skate clinic dates in the monthly newsletter to help. Once you can stop proficiently all the skate locations are easy.
The "lets go skating" page has a calendar of outdoor events you are most welcome to join.
Do you know somewhere good to skate in your area with decent surfaces and mainly flat? Like to see it shown here. Please contact Don to have it listed.