The Herald - The Herald Magazine
The walk Union Canal and Water of Leith
Location: Edinburgh Map: OS Landranger 66 Distance: 6 miles (10km) Time: 2-3 hours Terrain: canal and riverside towpaths THIS walk offers an excellent circuit using two very different waterways, and passes many places of interest along the way. Start at Haymarket station, whose refurbishment in 2014 earned it a Saltire Society award. Stay on Morrison Street until nearly at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, then turn right. Rosemount Cottages are a rare surviving example of two-up two-down housing near the city centre. Gardner’s Crescent, on the left, was built in 1822 in classical style.
From Edinburgh Quay the Union Canal provides a lovely walk out to Slateford, often in surprisingly quiet surroundings. Lochrin Basin leads to the Leamington Lift Bridge, which raises the roadway for boats to pass through. The whole area on the right (Fountainbridge) has been transformed into an “urban village” with offices, piazzas and restaurants as well as luxury flats.
Before long you pass Harrison Park, a pleasant open space. Then high above on the left is Polwarth Parish Church (Mitchell and Wilson, 1901) with its powerful square tower. The church has a notable sculpted pulpit by William Beveridge.
Just before Gray’s Loan is the boathouse of the Edinburgh Canal Society, restored through Heritage Lottery funding but sadly now disfigured by graffiti. There are usually boats moored here, and often ducks and swans eager to be fed.
Before long Meggetland is to the right. Once a much more open area, it is now converted to housing and retail units, but Boroughmuir RFC are still based here, in a new clubhouse. Corstorphine Hill, another popular Edinburgh walk, can be seen over to the right. Edinburgh Zoo, with its pandas, occupies its lower slopes. Craiglockhart Hill is to the left: this open section of the canal gives excellent views.
After you leave the canal at Slateford, it is worth visiting the Water of Leith Centre (open daily, 10am-4pm except Christmas and New Year holidays). It has interesting displays on the river and its path and explains the work of the Water of Leith Conservation Trust. If you have walked far enough, Slateford Station is nearby, with regular trains back to Haymarket.
For the full walk, follow the Water of Leith, which rises in the Pentland Hills and runs down through the city to the Firth of Forth at Leith. Before long, across the river you see Saughton Prison, which has developed an international reputation for fish breeding, working with Stirling University.
A short diversion along the road to the left, and then first left, allows you to see Stenhouse Mansion. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, it was built in 1623 as a waulk mill. The path then runs through Saughton Park. It is noted for its rose garden, which provides a superb display of flowers in the summer months.
The path passes close to Murrayfield Stadium, home of Scottish rugby. It takes its name from Archibald Murray, landowner here in the 18th century, and was a polo ground before the stadium was built in 1925. In the inaugural match, Scotland beat England 14-11. The stadium has been extensively modernised in recent years and has staged American football matches, concerts and many other events. Before long you pass Murrayfield ice rink (home of Edinburgh Capitals), which is on the site of Dalry Mill, the first paper mill on the river.
On the final stage of the walk, as you go along Mandala Crescent, the former Donaldson’s School for the deaf is over to the right. The imposing building, with its distinctive green cupolas, was designed in 1841 by WH Playfair. The area around Haymarket station has cafes and bars if you need refreshment, and the trams pass by on their way between the city centre and Edinburgh Airport. ROGER SMITH Route Start and finish at Haymarket Station (GR: NT240732). Go R along Morrison Street. TR on Gardner’s Crescent. Keep ahead between buildings to reach Edinburgh Quay. TR on canal towpath and follow it for 4km to Slateford. After crossing Lanark Road at Slateford, go down steps and then back along path to Water of Leith Visitor Centre. Leave centre and TR on riverside path. Pass under canal and railway and continue on path. Follow river as it goes 90 degrees R. Cross river on footbridge and continue with path up to Gorgie Road. Return to riverside path. Cross Ford’s Road into Saughton Park. Follow main path through park. Cross Balgreen Road and go through gate to continue with riverside path (Pansy Walk). Cross river, with Murrayfield Stadium straight ahead. Follow edge of Roseburn Park. At its far end follow signs out to Roseburn Terrace. Cross, and continue along Roseburn Cliff. Pass under Coltbridge Viaduct. Make sharp R turn with the river. In a further 300m, go up long flight of steps on R. TL on Haymarket Terrace back to the station.