Leith Railway Trails (9 miles)
The capital city has a host of walking paths developed from old railway lines. This trail performs a figure-of-eight circuit around Leith and is described from a starting point of Waverley Station. (the route map begins at Easter Road). Exit the main terminus at Market Street and work your way along Jeffrey Street to the Royal Mile. Proceed down to the bottom of the ancient thoroughfare and turn right to have a look at the Scottish Parliament building if you wish. Opposite the government chambers is Holyrood Palace, the queen's official residence in Scotland.
Our walk takes us up Abbeyhill from the roundabout at the foot of the Royal Mile. Another exit is Calton Road and it might be worth popping along to have a look at the New Calton Burial Ground. Back at Abbeyhill, go past Queen Mary's Bath House and branch on to Abbey Mount. We then meet Regent Road (start of the A1) which we cross to take the lengthy Easter Road.
This street basically runs parallel to the fabled Leith Walk. The home of Hibernian FC is also called Easter Road and you will catch glimpses of the stadium to your right. Eventually we meet the start of the Restalrig Railway Path opposite Thorntree Street. It's a pleasant stroll on a route completely free of traffic. We begin to loop back on ourselves and reach an elevated section looking down upon Seafield Cemetery.
The path runs out at Leith Links, a vast expanse of greensward. Walk diagonally towards the tower block in the distance. We are aiming for the foot of Leith Walk. Pass alongside Leith Primary School then take a left on to Academy Street. Turn right at Duke Street to enter the bustling heart of Leith - officially part of Edinburgh since 1920 but a place that retains its own identity a century down the line. The Foot of the Walk is a large Wetherspoons pub which serves a range of ales.
Pass by the proud bronze statue of Queen Victoria and keep following the main road. We cross the Water of Leith which is where we will finish the next section of railway walking. Head along North Junction Street and branch left at the junction with Commerical Street. We are now on Lindsay Road. Look out for a cycle path to the left and take this route. We encounter the obvious remains of an old railway station and then reach a five-path junction known - naturally enough - as Fiveways. Take the first left, signed Chancelot Path.
This brings us to a crossroads. Turn left, following the signage for Leith Shore. This route follows the Water of Leith fairly closely and ends at the old town. You may wish to quickly double back along Coburg Street to view the spooky stones in North Leith Burial Ground. The Malt and Hops at the Shore offers a wide range of ales and whiskies. To return to the foot of the walk, follow Henderson Street. It's around a mile uphill back to the Waverley Station and it's worth the effort just to see the huge variety of shops, eateries and pubs. Alternatively, jump on a bus.
