Adjacent to the Ferry Glen and to the west, lies the area known locally as the Back Braes comprising a high level footpath linking Station Road with Kirkliston Road. The land drops steeply from the back braes footpath on the southerly edge to the cycle path formerly the railway line that ran along to the Naval Dockyard at Rosyth.
After lengthy discussions, the committee submitted its management plan for the area to the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) in April 2008.
Feedback indicated many diverse and strongly held views. As a result, the CEC insisted that a public consultation should be held. This took place over a ten day period in the autumn of 2008. Reaction from the CEC was that this had been the biggest consultation of its type it had ever seen. The outcome was a fifteen point development plan.
In the following months £65,000 was raised with the Council providing over £40,000 and the remainder subscribed by the Forestry Commission to deliver the agreed plan. The grants provided on this occasion allowed for the back braes path to be rebuilt in tarmac, along with a viewing platform, and a new flight of steps down from the corner of the Bowling Club to the cycleway below. A degree of tree thinning and felling also took place. A further enhancement to the area was completed at a later date with the construction of a new entrance/exit from the cycleway on to Stoneycroft. Thanks also to good work by the Community Council, agreement was reached for the rebuilding of Jacob’s Ladder comprising 120 steps from the embankment down to the Hawes.
