A few years ago I moved into a flat in Bruntsfield and was rather surprised to discover a canal right by me. Despite being from Edinburgh I never managed to become aware of its existence. The canal starts in Fountainbridge and the Edinburgh bit goes through Slateford, Meggetland and Westerhailes to Ratho which is about 8 miles.
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| Harrison Park bit of the canal |
It's not somewhere to go if you want to cycle fast; there are too many joggers, dogs, dog walkers, other pedestrians and other cyclists for that, especially on a sunny weekend. There are also a number of blind bridges. where you should ring your bell (or yell if you don't have a bell) and slow down. A cyclist once had to brake so hard to avoid crashing into me that he fell off his bike and got his bottom wheel in the canal. I was meandering slowly and he was cycling too fast to stop properly, so I think it was his fault. I am always super religious about bell ringing now (I think I probably did that time too, but couldn't swear on my life)
Places along the canal
Fountainbridge Quay
Apparently the canal once went all the way to Princes Street, but these days it begins in Fountainbridge. There have been efforts to regenerate this area - with new flats built and there are a few restaurants at this end, although some of the units appear empty so it doesn't seem like it is quite the thriving area that the developers envisioned.
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Swans at Fountainbridge Quay
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There is an annual canal festival at this bit of the canal with stalls, free boat trips and a homemade raft race.
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Annual canal raft race - part of canal festival
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Continue further west along the Canal and you get to Harrison Park in my opinion -this is the prettiest bit. There is a little boat shed here where in the summer you can rent out a rowing boat.
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| Zazou cafe sign |
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| View from a row boat hired from boat shed |
Continuing along the canal, at certain times of day, you are likely to come across school children learning to row. Often there is someone cycling alongside them yelling instructions.
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View of canal from near Ashley Terrace
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The next landmark is the Slateford Aquaduct. There are steps just before it which lead to the Water of Leith visitor centre. You can also transfer here to cycle along the Water of Leith northwards. If you are going south you are better continuing over the Aquaduct and transferring to the Water of Leith at the bridge a bit along from this (it's well sign posted as route 75). Signs tell you to dismount and walk over the aquaduct and you definitely should if there is anyone coming the opposite direction. It's quite a squeeze.
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| Pedaling along the canal |
As you get towards the edge of Edinburgh you pass Hailes Quarry Park, noteworthy for a bright green and black outside gym. The path continues through Wester Hailes. As Wester Hailes is a housing estate some people think it is a bit dodgy. I personally have never had any problems though (although one year there were some particularly aggressive swans blocking the whole path).
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| Piece of outdoor gym equipment |
You then get to a bridge over the city bypass. Psychologically I think of this as the end of Edinburgh, but in a mile or so you reach Ratho which is still within the city boundaries, but feels like a separate village, and is a nice rest stop with benches and everything.
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| Ratho |
It's a lovely place to cycle...just as long as you aren't in a rush.
