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Water of Leith
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Photos of the Water of Leith walkway at
Edinburgh.

 From the village of Balerno, on the southern outskirts,

 through a wooded glen to the visitor centre at Slateford.

Onwards past Murrayfield stadium,

and through Dean Village

with its imposing buildings towering above the river,

 to end at the port of Newhaven

 on the Firth of Forth at Leith.

Church at Balerno

Church at Balerno

 


Viaduct over the Water of Leith

Viaduct over the Water of Leith




Bridge over the Water of Leith

Bridge over the Water of Leith




Sculpture in the Water of Leith

Sculpture in the Water of Leith




Weir in the Water of Leith

Weir in the Water of Leith





Weir in the Water of Leith

Weir in the Water of Leith




Viaduct over the Water of Leith

  Viaduct over the Water of Leith




Weir on the Water of Leith

Weir on the Water of Leith





Viaducts at Visitor Centre for the Water of Leith at Slateford

Viaducts at Visitor Centre for the Water of Leith

at Slateford





Murrayfield Park

Murrayfield Stadium




Folly at St Bernards Well

Folly at St Bernards Well





Dean Village above Water of Leith

Dean Village above Water of Leith





Bridge on Water of Leith walkway

Bridge on Water of Leith walkway





Clock Tower above Water of Leith walkway

Clock Tower above Water of Leith walkway





Villa on route to Leith

Villa on route to Leith





Port of Newhaven on Firth of Forth at Leith

Port of Newhaven

on Firth of Forth at Leith




Port of Newhaven on Firth of Forth at Leith

Port of Newhaven

on Firth of Forth at Leith




Church at Newhaven on Firth of Forth at Leith

Church at Newhaven




Docks at Newhaven on Firth of Forth at Leith

Docks at Newhaven at Leith




Inverleith Park on return from Newhaven

Inverleith Park

on return from Newhaven





Fettes College on return from Newhaven

Fettes College

on return from Newhaven





Gallery of Modern Art on return from Newhaven

National Gallery of Modern Art

on return from Newhaven





Gallery of Modern Art  Mod 2 on return from Newhaven

Gallery of Modern Art - Mod 2





Signpost on Water of Leith walkway

Signpost on Water of Leith walkway





Signpost on Water of Leith walkway

Signpost on Water of Leith walkway





Viaduct over Water of Leith walkway

Viaduct over Water of Leith walkway





School in Balerno

School in Balerno




Map of Water of Leith

Map of Water of Leith





Map of Water of Leith

Map of Water of Leith





Map of Water of Leith Walkway

Map of Water of Leith Walkway





Tourism Map of Edinburgh - capital city of Scotland

Tourism Map of Edinburgh

- the capital city of Scotland





WATER OF LEITH WALKWAY - FROM SLATEFORD TO LEITH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-

STAGE 1
The Water of Leith visitor centre at Slateford is most easily reached by bus,
though there is also a train station nearby. The centre is well worth a visit for its
interesting displays; they also sell a good cheap detailed map of the whole
route. This section begins alongside the river beside the centre, passing under
two impressive arched structures - the aquaduct carrying the Union Canal and
the viaduct carrying the railway. Continue along the riverside walkway, running
past a graveyard on the right and then an area of allotments around which
both the river and path make a wide loop.

STAGE 2
Beyond these cross a wooden footbridge and then emerge on the busy A71.
Use the pelican crossing and continue on the riverside path on the farside,
soon passing under a rusting iron bridge and past an offlce block. After
emerging at a road and Saughton Park the route returns to the Water. At the
next road cross another pelican crossing and follow the path on the far side,
now back by the river and soon passing under a wide railway bridge. Beyond
this turn right to cross a hump-back iron footbridge and then continue along the
opposite side of the water. Ignore various other paths that lead back over the
river and continue on its right bank. There are now good views of the massive
Murrayfleld Stadium - home of Scottish rugby - over to the right.


STAGE 3
The path emerges on a road at a bend; turn lelt here and then left again to
meet the busy A8. Use the pedestrian crossing and head very briefly to the
right on the far side before heading left between two stone posts topped with
pyramids onto Roseburn Cliff. Next look out for a ‘Water of Leith' footpath sign
indicating a path on the left. This passes under an old viaduct and continues by the river - the start of a very
pleasant and leafy section of the walkway. Ignore a wooden footbridge ( which
gives access to the excellent National Gallery of Modem Art ) and pass a weir.
Further on a signpost indicates a path a route off to the right that leads to Haymarket
Rail Station, but the walkway continues by the river. soon switching to the
north bank at a footbridge.

STAGE 4
Pass under an arched bridge via a platform suspended over the river ( there is
access to the Dean Gallery by ascending from here ). Do not cross the next
iron bridge and pass the bottom of a long flight of wooden steps which climb
up to the left. A suspended walkway now leads past an attractive weir passes
under another metal footbridge. Turn left on the far side of this to climb up and
then cross it to the far bank. You are now in perhaps the most enchanting spot
on the Water of Leith; on the north side of the river is the impressive red-brick
Well Court, built by the owner of the Scotsman newspaper to house his
workers. Follow the cobbled walkway which climbs on the south side of the
river, alongside some picturesque half-timbered cottages. This is Dean village.


STAGE 5
The cobbled Hawthorne Elank Lane leads up past some characterful old
houses. Go straight across - downhill - at the top. signed for St Bernard's Well.
The walkway now leads under the towering arches of the Telford Dean Elridge;
built in 1832 this removed the need for a steep descent and climb on the
crossing of the river. Soon St Bernard's Well is reached, capped by a Roman
temple-style folly and a statue of Hygeia. Goddess of Health. Once popular for
healing. recent tests have shown it to be unfit for drinking. Further on, pass
under the steps and bridge onto Saunders Street. Across the river opposite is
Dean Terrace and an area with some of the finest Georgian streets of
Edinburgh. Continue ahead to emerge on Stockbridge, the heart of the trendy
district of that name. and descend the steps on the far side next to the
beautiful Pizza Express building with its clocktower.

STAGE 6
When the walkway emerges on a road turn left and then right onto Arboretum
Avenue. with the terraced houses of the Stockbridge Colonies across the
water. These were built by a cooperative to provide low cost homes for
craftsmen. releiving the pressure on the slums of the Old Town. The walkway
cuts a corner of the road and then passes through a gateway on the right to
continue above the river overlooking the colonies opposite. Ignore the next
bridge over the river but cross the following one - signed for Leith. Emerge up
steps onto a road in Canonmills and turn left. At the busy junction with the
traffic lights: use the crossings and take the Warriston Road almost opposite
[slightly staggered to the right]. This runs alongside the river. passing under an
arch bridge. Turn left to cross St Mark's Bridge and then right onto a path on
the far side.

Stage 7

Continue beside the river through parkland, passing but not crossing a bridge.
The route leads under a low arch carrying the railway and passes a wide weir.
Keep right at a path junction, eventually heading up steps on the left up to a road.
Turn right briefly along the road and then left just before the river onto a walkway once more.
This crosses the water twice and passes through a light industrial area;
turn left when it emerges on a road and then right and finally left through the business park.
The route then regains the river; pass under a bridge
and when the path meets a road bridge turn right across it and then left on the far side.
You are now on the 
Shore in Leith
- once a seedy area but now packed with some of Edinburgh's most prestigious restaurants, reflected in the water.
Continue by the Shore, crossing Commercial Street, to reach Victoria Bridge and the end of the walk.


 Water of Leith Gallery Thumbnail Gallery :: Arthur's Seat Gallery Thumbnail Gallery :: Edinburgh Photo Gallery Thumbnail Gallery

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