Water of Leith Walkway

The Water of Leith Walkway is a public footpath and cycleway that runs alongside the small river of the same name through Edinburgh, Scotland, from Balerno to Leith.

* [http://www.communitywalk.com/map/12213#101;3;kA010755.3^T86-3.YK2M9 Map] of pathway.

The concept of a public path first appeared in 1949, but the necessary construction work was not begun until after 1973. Nowadays, it provides access to many interesting sights, like the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery.

Walking and cycling the path

The path starts next to Balerno High School and runs 12.25 miles [19.6 kilometres] to Leith. The path runs downhill, but the incline is so slight that it is barely perceptible. Approximately half a mile of the route is on roads, for the remainder the path runs alongside the Water of Leith, and away from traffic. The path surface is a mixture of tarmac, compressed grit and compressed earth. The surface is uniformly good with very few muddy patches or potholes. The route is well used by both pedestrians and cyclists.

The path is fairly well signposted, but there are one or two places in Edinburgh where the path breaks and it is necessary to hunt around for its continuation. The odd signpost has been vandalised, so that the sign points in the wrong direction. The path breaks where it crosses under the Union Canal and the signposting here is confusing. If you are taking the path generally north-eastwards, that is, going with the direction of the water, the way to proceed is as follows. After crossing a footbridge over the dual carriageway Lanark Road there are two ways of continuing.

#Turn right and descend steps to the Lanark Road. Go down the road in the direction of Edinburgh. Cross over a T-Junction, still going in the same direction, and after a few hundred feet you will come to the Water of Leith Visitors Centre. The path can be rejoined here.
#Join the Union Canal and proceed in the direction of Edinburgh. After you have passed over a viaduct there are steps leading down to the path close to the Water of Leith Visitors Centre.

The path passes through the attractive Dean Village area of Edinburgh and ends in the docks at Leith. The docks were once a dismal place but are being gentrified and there are a lot of new restaurants and bars.

Walkers can return to Balerno by catching a bus to the centre of Edinburgh from Ocean Terminal, and then the 44 bus to Balerno. For cyclists the easiest way to return to Balerno is to cycle back.

External links

* [http://www.youredinburgh.info/opencms/opencms/cecrangerservice/sites_and_trails/water_of_leith.html Places of interest along the route]

* [http://www.spokes.org.uk/oldsite/waterofl.htm Water of Leith Millennium Bid document - successfully allowed some sections to be upgraded for 2000]