HOW TO REACH THE CENTRE

DESCRIBE ONLINE

Overview

The Centre is on the north side of Morrison Street, see the Outside the Building page.

This section of the guide explains walking routes to the Centre from Haymarket Railway Station, as well as routes to the Centre from local bus stops in Morrison Street and Lothian Road. A step-free route to the Centre from the Sheraton Hotel is also included.

Note that, at the time of our survey, extensive development works were in progress: at Haymarket Station, the tram-related development in Morrison Street and the building works surrounding the Expanded Facility of the Centre. The details of walking routes to/from the Centre may vary as these works proceed.

From Haymarket Railway Station

Describe Online has published an online guide to Haymarket Railway Station. Note that this station is under redevelopment so details of routes through the station may change over time.

Summary of Route

Leave the main exit from the station and continue across Dalry Road. We suggest you cross Morrison Street via the first crossing, then continue (east) along Morrison Street, across Torphichen Place then Dewar Place.

You pass Conference House on your left before going over the bridge above the Western Approach Road. The Centre is now on your left, with the access door before the two revolving doors into the building.

Detailed Route

You Leave the Station going east. Veer right (south) then left (east) and continue past shops on your right, to Dalry Road (southwest).

Turn right here, continue (southwest) to the tactile paving indicating the crossing. This is a single-stage crossing, with tactile paving and rotating cones, the post, with push button is to your right.

Cross Dalry Road and return (northeast) towards Morrison Street. You pass a bus shelter on your left, then planters on your right, before you follow the pavement round to your right (east) into Morrison Street.

Continue to the tactile paving indicating the first crossing. We suggest you cross Morrison Street here. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving and rotating cones. The post, with push button is to your left.

Continue (east) along the north side of Morrison Street, to Torphichen Place. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving but no rotating cones. The post, with push button is to your left.

Continue, past tenement housing, to Dewar Place. This is a two-stage crossing, via a triangular island, with tactile paving and rotating cones. The post, with push button is about a metre to your right of the tactile paving as you cross east towards the island. Bear slightly left for the second half of the crossing (east) the post is to your left as you cross east towards the pavement.

Continue on the north side of Morrison Street, up the slope, past Conference House. The wall retreats around a large planter in the pavement. Continue across the bridge over the Western Approach Road. The Centre building is beyond this. Continue to the Main Entrance, on your left.

GO TO END

From Local Buses

This section considers four bus stops:

Due to the ongoing building work in Morrison Street, the north pavement was blocked at the time of our survey. The routes described here therefore include using the temporary crossing of Morrison Street, just east of the Centre building.

From the Far (East) Side of Lothian Road

At the time of our survey, this stop served:

There were no details of destinations indicated at the time of our survey.

Get off the bus, turn left and continue along Lothian Road, bearing right into Bread Street. The tactile paving indicates the crossing, cross Bread Street.

The single-stage crossing of Lothian Road is in front of you. The post, with push button but no roatating cone is to your right. Cross Lothian Road and continue along the left-hand (south) side of Morrison Street to Semple Street.

The crossing of Semple Street is a two-stage crossing, with tactile paving and rotating cones, via a triangular island. The post for the first stage is to your left. Cross to the island, bear left and find the post for the second stage, which is to your right of the crossing. Cross the second stage, into Morrison Street.

The pavement along the right-hand (north) side of Morrison Street was blocked at the time of our survey, so we suggest you continue along the left-hand side, through the taxi lay-by in the pavement, till you reach the tactile paving indicating the temporary crossing. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving but no rotating cones. There's a post with push button to each side of the crossing. Cross to a temporary walkway then turn left and follow the hoardings on your right. Beyond the end of these hoardings, move right, onto the pavement and find the Main Entrance to the Centre on your right, after a few metres.

GO TO END

From the Near (West) Side of Lothian Road, South of Morrison Street

At the time of our survey, this stop, about 50 metres south of Morrison Street, served:

Get off the bus, turn right and continue along Lothian Road to the corner of Morrison Street and turn left.

Continue along the left-hand (south) side of Morrison Street to Semple Street.

The crossing of Semple Street is a two-stage crossing, with tactile paving and rotating cones, via a triangular island. The post for the first stage is to your left. Cross to the island, bear left and find the post for the second stage, which is to your right of the crossing. Cross the second stage, into Morrison Street.

The pavement along the right-hand (north) side of Morrison Street was blocked at the time of our survey, so we suggest you continue along the left-hand side, through the taxi lay-by in the pavement, till you reach the tactile paving indicating the temporary crossing. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving but no rotating cones. There's a post with push button to each side of the crossing. Cross to a temporary walkway then turn left and follow the hoardings on your right. Beyond the end of these hoardings, move right, onto the pavement and find the Main Entrance to the Centre on your right, after a few metres.

GO TO END

From the Near (West) Side of Lothian Road, North of Morrison Street

At the time of our survey, this stop, about 50 metres north of Morrison Street, served:

Get off the bus, turn left and continue along Lothian Road to the junction with Morrison Street. The crossing of Morrison Street is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving and rotating cones. The post, with push button, is to your right of the crossing. Cross Morrison Street, turn right and continue along the left-hand (south) side of Morrison Street to Semple Street.

The crossing of Semple Street is a two-stage crossing, with tactile paving and rotating cones, via a triangular island. The post for the first stage is to your left. Cross to the island, bear left and find the post for the second stage, which is to your right of the crossing. Cross the second stage, into Morrison Street.

The pavement along the right-hand (north) side of Morrison Street was blocked at the time of our survey, so we suggest you continue along the left-hand side, through the taxi lay-by in the pavement, till you reach the tactile paving indicating the temporary crossing. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving but no rotating cones. There's a post with push button to each side of the crossing. Cross to a temporary walkway then turn left and follow the hoardings on your right. Beyond the end of these hoardings, move right, onto the pavement and find the Main Entrance to the Centre on your right, after a few metres.

GO TO END

From the North Side of Morrison Street, Between the Centre and Semple Street

At the time of our survey, this stop served:

As the pavement on this side of Morrison Street was blocked at the time of our survey, we suggest you go to the crossing at the Junction with Semple Street and come back on the opposite side.

Get off the bus, turn right and continue (east) to the junction with Semple Street, then cross Morrison Street to your right.

The crossing of Morrison Street is a two-stage crossing, with tactile paving and rotating cones, via a triangular island. The post for the first stage is to your right. Cross to the island, bear right and find the post for the second stage, which is to your right of the crossing. Cross the second stage, onto the south pavement of Morrison Street.

Turn right and continue, past the taxi lay-by in the pavement, to the tactile paving indicating the temporary crossing. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving but no rotating cones. There's a post with push button to each side of the crossing. Cross to a temporary walkway then turn left and follow the hoardings on your right. Beyond the end of these hoardings, move right, onto the pavement and find the Main Entrance to the Centre on your right, after a few metres.

GO TO END

From the Sheraton Hotel

Overview

This section includes details of routes from the drop-off point at Level 1 plus the routes from the underground car park at Levels 1 and 2.

The normal step-free route via Ladyfield Walk is likely to remain blocked until the Expanded Facility of the Centre is complete. We therefore hope that access to the Centre will be possible via the rear entrance from Conference Square, into the Lomond Foyer. If not, delegates would have to follow a much longer and more difficult route round the east side of the site and along the disrupted pavements of Morrison Street, which at the time of writing includes several high kerbs.

Note that the left-hand of the two lifts (Lift 1) is not available at levels 1 and 2.

From the Drop-Off Point

There's step-free access into the lift area at Level 1. Go through the pull double door into this area and find the second lift on your left.

From the Car Park at Level 1

The ramp is in the southeast corner of the car park, you go up the first slope, away from the building, turn right (180 degrees) then go up the second slope. You go through a push door into a small lobby then continue through another push door into the lift area. Cross this area, turn right and locate the second lift on your left.

From the Car Park at Level 2

The door towards the lift area is in the southeast corner of the car park. You go through a push door into a small lobby then go through the push door on your right into the lift area. Cross this space, turn right and locate the second lift on your left.

The call button is to your left of the door.

Inside the lift, the control panel is about in the middle of the left-hand side with the buttons arranged:

Go up to Level 3 and leave via the other door.

You're now in the area under the hotel spa, the floor has a slightly cobbled texture. Turn right and continue through two sets of push doors into Conference square.

At the time of our survey, the building works were to your left. Until these are complete, we recommend the following route, on the understanding that the rear entrance into the Lomond Foyer will be available.

You come out onto the same slightly cobbled textured paving, continue beyond the end of the hoardings on your left. At the time of our survey, this took two approximately 45 degree turns. You're now facing the Centre building. Continue forward, the cobbled surface gives way to normal flag stones as you come near to the entrance. The doors in front of you should be open, we understand staff will be available to assist as necessary.

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© 2013, Terry Robinson