This 14.5km run route follows several popular and very picturesque walkways. It is, therefore, mostly paved, mostly quiet (depending on the time of day and season) and has very few stairs. A fun feature, if you’d like to learn more, is the Water of Leith walkway has an audio trail, which you can listen to here.
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Route overview
Leith Links—Giant’s Brae is a mound that was once a gun position. Somerset’s Battery was set up in 1560 during the siege of Leith. The John Rattray Monument commemorates, you guessed it, John Rattray. A surgeon and a huge fan of golf, Rattray often played here at Leith Links, which was once a five-hole golf course.
In the early 1700s, eleven golfers played in the first Open tournament, where the original 13 Rules of Golf were drawn up, which Rattray signed. Rattray won that year and again two separate years after that, with a silver club as the prize, which is the oldest golf trophy still played for today. Leith is, therefore, considered the birthplace of competitive golf, and the aforementioned 13 rules are still followed today. There are three plaques near the statue which you can read to find out more.
Rattray Memorial. Credit: The Home of Golf
Leaving Leith Links past the Rattray Memorial, turn left onto Links Place, continue straight onto Queen Charlotte Street, then slightly left onto Tolbooth Wynd.
Part 1 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
From Tolbooth Wynd, cross over the bridge onto Sandport Place to turn right onto Dock Street, then left onto Commercial Street.
Part 2 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
At the next big intersection on Commercial Street, keep to the right to stay on the pedestrian pathways. Just after Lindsay Street (on your left), cross over the pedestrian crossing, turn right, and then start down the Hawthornville Path just to your left. Follow the path straight for roughly 3.9km and cross the red bridge.
Part 3 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
Continue following the main pathway straight for roughly 2.5km when the path becomes Roseburn Path.
Part 4 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
Just after crossing the Coltbridge Viaduct, turn sharp right (in a u-turn) onto Water of Leith Walkway, turning right again. Continue along the path closest to the Water of Leith, where you will pass the AIDS Memorial at the first bend. When you reach the little bridge to your left, cross over, then turn right to continue under Belford Bridge to Dean Village. You will still follow the path closest to the Water of Leith.
At the next bend, you can either walk up to Dean Path, turn right and continue behind Dean Village (as shown below, turning left onto Miller Row), or continue along the Water of Leith Walkway towards the Weir, around the front of Dean Village, over the walkway bridge, turning left onto Hawthornbank Lane then onto Miller Row along the Water of Leith again passing under Dean Bridge.
Part 5 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
The Life Tribute AIDS Memorial was placed here in 2004 as a permanent memorial using money left over from the World AIDS Day Remembrance event. “If I should ever leave you whom I Love. To go along the silent way. Grieve not. Nor speak of me with tears. But laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there.” – Isla Paschal Richardson.
Life Tribute AIDS Memorial. Credit: David McNuh
One of Edinburgh’s pride and joys is Dean Village. What started out as a milling village and you’ll see mill stones and plaques with baked bread and pies nodding to this, is now a charming little village away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In 1824, a great fire burned down much of the village, which marked the end of its industrial history. Thankfully, it has been restored to what it is today. Locals and tourists often come here to escape for a little while; listening to the rush of the waters.
Dean Village
Continue following this path closest to the Water of Leith to pass St. Bernard’s Well. Just after the well, go up the stairs to turn left and over St. Bernard’s Bridge, then right onto Dean Terrace. Turn left onto Deanhaugh Street, right onto Haugh Street, then left back onto the Water of Leith Walkway. At the end of the path, turn left onto St. Bernard’s Row, then immediately right onto Arboretum Avenue.
Part 6 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
Erected in about 1789, St. Bernard’s Well was dedicated to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a medieval French abbot who lived in a nearby cave known for his healing miracles after it was apparently discovered in 1760. It was believed that the waters had medicinal properties as it is rather mineral-rich. However, many say it tastes… well… as awful as medicine describing it as having “an odious twang of hydrogen gas” and like “the washings from a foul gun barrel.” Aligning with its supposed healing properties is a statue of the Greek Goddess of health, Hygeia.
St Bernard’s Well. Credit: Eye on Edinburgh
Off to your right is a shortcut back onto the Water of Leith Walkway. Continue following this pathway, which becomes the Rocheid Path after the second bridge (turn left at this second bridge). Turn right onto Summer Place, then left onto Howard Place/Inverleith Row. You will be passing the Royal Botanic Gardens on your left.
Part 7 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
Rocheid Path is named after the Rocheid family, who built Inverleith House. Inverleith House and its surroundings are now the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens which is free and open to the public.
Turn right at the next pedestrian crossing and then right into Eildon Street, to the left of the open field. Turn right to stay on Eildon Street, then off to the left is a small gate leading to pathways. Follow the path just ahead of you, turning left (not Goldenacre Path, which is sharply left) onto National Cycle Route 75. Keep an eye out for the Party Crow Mosaic.
Continue straight for about 750 metres. When the path splits with Connaught Place and Victoria Path to the left, continue straight still following National Cycle Route 75. Continue straight for another 900 metres.
Part 8 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
The Party Crow Mosaic is a hidden feature. Its creator, Helen Miles, is a self-proclaimed graffiti mosaic artist. Having learnt this art form in Greece and spent a few years in the US and the Middle East, Miles experimented with a “graffiti version” of mosaics not long after moving to Edinburgh. Miles prefers adding her mosaic graffiti to existing graffiti; thus, one of her other popular designs is at Calton Hill: a speech bubble with “Why me?” inside, alongside a graffiti girl in winter clothing. You can read more about this artist here.
Party Crow Mosaic. Credit: Phill Gillespie, X.com
You will run under two bridges, then find the Water of Leith on your right and go under a third bridge. Continue following the path closest to the Water of Leith, reaching Sandport Place again, where you can turn right to reach Leith Links, where you started your run.
Part 9 of the 14.5km Edinburgh Run Route: Walkways and Pathways
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Resources:
If you enjoyed this route, see our Meadows to Seaview Terrace Run.
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Download the GPX File here.