Water of Leith walk Photo supplied by Spencer Means
| Start/Finish | Category | Distance | Estimated Walking Time |
| Haymarket station / St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral | History and Architecture, Tourism, Nature | 2.9 km | 45 min* |
Summary
This walk follows the Water of Leigh walkway through the beautiful and historic Dean Village before finishing at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral.
Public transport
Catch a train or tram to Haymarket Station. Ends near West End tram stop.
Directions
Starting point – Haymarket tram stop
The Water of Leith walk starts at Haymarket tram stop. To get there you can catch a tram or train from the city.
From the tram station walk in a westerly direction up Haymarket Tce and then turn right down Magdala Crescent in a northerly direction. At the corner of Magdala Crescent and Douglas Crescent is a hidden track through the trees that will take you to the Water of Leith Walkway. Walk down the track and turn right along the Water of Leith walkway heading in an north easterly direction.
The water of Leith walkway will go under Belford Bridge before winding alongside the river to Dean Village. Dean Village is one of the oldest of the villages in Edinburgh. Known for its picturesque cobbled streets, and charming heritage houses it is definitely worth a visit. Other places of interest nearby include the National Gallery of Scotland and the Dean Cemetery which are located just west of the village.
One you are done exploring Dean Village head over the small bridge taking you to the other side of the river. Turn left and walk up Hawthornbank Lane which follows the river and then turn right down Bells Brae.
At the end of Bells Brae turn down Lynedoch Pl, Drumsheugh pl and then Queensferry St heading in a south easterly direction. This will take you to Shandwick Pl, which the tram runs along. Turn right down Shandwick Pl, past the West End light rail stop and continue down Atholl Pl until you get to Palmerston Pl.
Finish – St Mary’s Cathedral
Turn right up Palmeston Pl and it will take you to St Mary’s Cathedral where the walk ends. St Mary’s Cathedral opened in 1879 and is known for ornate features, including its stained glass windows and beautiful north gardens . From the Cathedral you can catch a tram or train back into the city from Haymarket station, which is located nearby.
Water of Leith walk – GPX file
To access to the GPX file for this walk click on the download button below.
Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google maps on your phone can be found here.
Water of Leith walk – Map
Start – Haymarket station
- National Gallery of Modern Art Two
- Dean Cemetery
- Dean Village
- St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
End – St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
