The Water of Leith

The Water of Leith is my happy place.
Anytime I’m having an off day, it’s a perfect little refuge just steps from my door for a wander and a think. The fact that you can traverse most of the city via its paths? Well sheesh, like I needed another reason to love Edinburgh…

I love the water. So much so, I actually live along it (makes it very easy to check in on Unilocal!)
Its a nice path to walk along in Stockbridge. It’s also a stunning running path, I usually enter from Dean Path and its like stepping into somewhere entirely different– its luscious, green, and the sunlight always manages to shine through.
I think the water is hard to miss since walking along it can take you all over Edinburgh, but if you’re up for an adventure just stick with it and see where you end up– I’ve done it a few times and I’ve never been disappointed!

The Water of Leith is a fantastic place to spend a weekend morning exploring.
Catch a bus down to the Shore, and then stroll along the Water of Leith, feeling like you are a million miles away from the city centre.
The walkway itself is clearly signposted, and has distance markers so you know roughly where you are and how far you have to go at all times.
You can detour slightly from the water into Stockbridge for a coffee, before continuing past the absolutely beautiful Dean Village, and then onto my favourite part near the Gallery of Modern Art.
The walk then takes you past Murrayfield Stadium, beyond cute allotments, over a viaduct and then onto a beautiful walled garden at Redhall.
This is as far as I’ve walked, but walking the full length is very much on my to-​do list!

Hands down one of my favorite bike paths in this city. Was taking my wee one to Stockbridge farmers market and took this path from murrayfield area. Absolutely lovely. She had a great time seeing the water and listening to the birds and other animals along the way.
Truly a breath of fresh air right in the center of town! Looking forward to strolling along this path to discover all it’s nooks & crannies. Lovely day out when the weather permits ;)

I love the Water of Leith Walkway!
I love having a fabulous mixed walk (13 miles from end to end I believe) that goes through the heart of Edinburgh. There is even a visitor center where you can get a map for the inevitable instance when you pop out onto the street and have no idea where to go next because the sign posting is poor.
I would love to try walking the whole thing without falling off course because there are so many walks that link up to the WoLW, it’s easy to end up on the wrong one.
Despite the lows, the walkway truly is fabulous and highly recommended!

This is perfect for a stroll on a sunny afternoon or an alternative (slightly longer but much prettier) cycle or walk into town. You can venture along it for as long as you like with paths diverting off along the way to the Shore, Leith Walk, Stockbridge, the city centre all the way down to Balerno.
The Water of Leith is a haven in the city. There’s nothing more relaxing than a stroll down the walkway or a jog up to the Shore. The Water of Leith walk scores massive points for being so accessible, so good for bike paths and so darn lovely.

Why did I wait so long to write this review. I don’t know. I haven’t walked the breath of this wonderful piece of nature and urban mix, but I sure have walked it many times!
It is difficult to add what has already been said by my fellow Unilocalers over the years and i will only try to describe the effect that WoL has on myself.
It helps me escape the city. I even can get as far to state that it sometimes helps me forget what decade (century) we are currently in. Walking here on a quiet evening or early morning gives you the impression of a time warp. (without pulling you knees in tight.). I tend to imagine what it would be like walking here in more historical times and you know what — it works. The bridges, the nature, the buildings and sometimes even the people you encounter — they bring up images of a long forgotten past.
The walk may be the same distance or on the same location, but the images and experiences it evokes differ every time.
They are improving the waterway and building flood defences on several parts of the water.
Animals can be found here like fish, storks, otters and many birds and butterflies. Oh and mosquito’s. or worse midges.
But that doesn’t happen often and hey. it’s nature.
I can easily imagine that people have made part of Water of Leith their own. I tend to prefer the Shore to Stockbridge — as I am most familiar with it.
One time Anita & I walked home from the Stockbridge back to the shore start on sunset and dusk with an orange & pink sky. The silhouetted trees, the blackbird and owls and the sheer emptiness transported us into a world of our own and it was one of the most romantic and personal bubble walks I have ever had. *deep sigh*

a very nice place to take long nature walks. great whether it be in winter or summer. so much to see. Nice to take a picnic and enjoy the scenery, sitting for awhile taking in nature’s beauty. Not sure how it at night as i’ve never been there @ this time.

A wonerful and extensive walk.
There are multiple access points and bike paths (I use it as a direct bike path to the Shore).
Many beautiful views too. Looking forward to enjoying it more as the weather improves.

Just go walk down it. You’ll see.

Very nice and convenient riverside walk through Leith and Edinburgh. Lots of trees and grass and plenty of wee parks and other adjoining paths for picnics, random exploring and curious dogs. I’ve found the vast majority of dogs on this walk are very well behaved. Done it every day with the dog for the last year, never any complaints.

I’ve tackled this walk from Balerno to Leith, and it’s a great way to spend a day feeling like you’re in Stand By Me. I would like to point out that it is NOT the Union Canal, it is a river called the Water of Leith. The Union Canal does pass over the Water of Leith when you get to the visitor center at Longstone, look out for the aquaduct!
The nicest parts are probably Balerno to Longstone and Dean Village to Cannonmills. It’s nice to stop in Stockbridge for a break, however my friends and I managed the whole thing in 4 hours when it was very icy and snowy and then had a drink in Leith. It’s awesome when you get to the end and see the smiling face of Sandy Irvine Robertson welcoming you to the Shore.

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure for a big surprise. Ok, so the Water of Leith isn’t exactly «the woods» and there are no bears hiding here. But once you’re strolling by the river, with greenery all around, you feel as though you’re miles away from the city. And there are actually some wonderful hidden gems along the way.
The Water of Leith walkway is 35 km long. That’s really quite long. But there are many, many entrance and exit points. I started on the Walkway at Dean Village (which is in itself a glorious, old-​town charm spot) and came out at the Leith Docks. It was a lovely amble, that took a few hours, and along the way we passed some monuments, cyclists, joggers, a very excited dog and his stick. We walked through tunnels of trees with branches and leaves so thick you couldn’t see the sky (so it really did feel like «the woods») and we side-​tracked through parts of the streets, to be taken back onto the path again.
I admit, that was confusing. At times you need to leave the walkway by the river and cut out onto the streets again, through one or two areas that felt a bit… unsafe…and then were back on the path again. But it was hassle free and not too confusing when you realised what was happening.
For a pre-​brunch Sunday afternoon stroll or bikeride this walkway is ideal. There are also fishing spots, a tourist centre, conservation activity and, as the piste de resistence, the Antony Gormley artwork that provides a «where’s wally?» guessing game for fun along the way. There are several metal-​cast statues of Antony Gormley scattered along one part of the walkway. We only spotted 3 but apparently there are 6. Let me know if you see more!

Leith gets a bit of a bad press, but a wee stroll down the Water of Leith and all those Trainspotting-​esque thoughts will melt away.
The waterway is very scenic and calm, and such a different atmosphere from the City centre shops and noise.
It is actually quite romantic, so much so that my Mum often tells us the story of when my Uncle proposed to his wife on this very Waterway, so it always holds a special place in the heart of a lot of my family.

If you want to change the way you look at Edinburgh, take a walk along the Leith walkway.
It’s an absolutely gorgeous scenic route right through the heart of Edinburgh. Unlike the film depictions and misconceptions, you’ll find yourself surprised and quite taken with the beautiful area, and seeing a side of Leith that you may never have seen before.
The walkway itself is picturesque, and since it’s full of friendly dog walkers whenever I take a stroll, I feel quite safe walking along it by myself. I love diving out the city for a while into a calm, tranquil wonderland of green and grey-​blue. For that it can’t be beat. Definitely one of the best alternative ways to see virtually undiscovered parts of the city.

An Edinburgh attraction that gets an instant plus point for being far more popular among locals than tourists, The Water of Leith is a meandering, scenic waterway that travels through much of the city. It’s great for a stroll and at certain parts you can even get so lost in it’s sea of tranquility that you forget you’re only yards from a bustling, pollution ravaged metropolis.
Beautiful.

The Water of Leith is one of Edinburgh’s gems!
Running from the Pentland Hills, right through the city to the Firth of Forth, the river slithers through many parts of the city including Gorgie, Slateford, Stockbridge and finally, Leith.
Once used to power the old shipping and paper industries of Leith, the water is now used as a place to relax and enjoy!
The river is a marvel when the sun is bouncing off it, and furthermore it is a place of life! It is home to many birds and insects, and even fish (very typical for a river, but not so much for a river in the middle of the city!).
The water of Leith adds so much to the city, and it even has a visitor centre, located in the south of the city. The river is looked after by the local conversation trust, and hats off to them, because they help keep this gem what it is… one of Edinburgh’s main features!

The union canal — I used to love walking along here as a kid it was like a mini adventure. Great walks long or short — cycle if you prefer.
Wander along without a care in the world and take a breather from the hustle of the city centre. Really good on a sunny summer day.
Spot wild life such as fish (trout) and many species of birds.

The walk along the Water of Leith from the Shore all the way up to Balerno is a lovely way to spend a quiet afternoon. The entire walk is quite a challenge, but you can easily pick it up at points and only do part of it.
Starting at the Shore the walk takes you past the waterfront and through the park with all it’s ducks and swans. It’s then on through Canonmills to Stockbridge where where the walk becomes particularly pretty. Passing through the Dean Village is one of my favourite parts as the area is so peaceful.
As you make your way between the Dean Village and Murrayfield don’t forget to look out for the Granary bar as a quick place to have a stop off, and the back entrances to the Modern Galleries.
Once past Murrayfield the walk veers up past the stadium towards the Viaduct at Longstone. Here there is the Water of Leith visitor centre, which is another great place for a stop over. From here, it’s a nice walk as you head out towards the countryside and the Pentlands and beyond.

Lovely, nature in the middle of a busy city.
Good for walks, short cuts and forgetting your worries.
take your time here and a camera.