Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells, Slateford

This delightful walk follows one of the most attractive sections of the Water of Leith, passing through the wooded Craiglockhart and Colinton Dells in southern Edinburgh. The return uses a cyclepath along an old railway line and then a section of the Union Canal. Landslips caused some closures of sections of the route in Colinton Dell in 2020, follow any signs.

Terrain

Woodland paths up through the dell, return on cycle track.

Public Transport

Slateford is served by regular buses from central Edinburgh.

Start

Water of Leith Visitor Centre, Slateford. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 5km / 3 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Ascent: 148m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NT221707

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the Water of Leith visitor centre at Slateford, which is most easily reached by bus, although there is also a train station nearby. The centre is well worth a visit for its interesting displays. Our walk begins by using the pedestrian crossing to cross the busy road, turning left and the immediately right, signed for the Water of Leith walkway.

Stage 2

It soon comes alongside this wooded section of the burn, passing a stone seat. At a fork take the right hand branch to stay near the water. Soon a stone grotto is reached, built in the eighteenth century by the Craiglockhart Estate to add interest to the dell. Cross the footbridge; further on the path climbs some steps, before descending back to the waterside.

Stage 3

Ignore a footbridge over the Water, instead continuing until another fork. Keep right here, heading down steps and passing a bench in a grassy clearing.

Stage 4

Eventually a stone bridge is reached - turn right to cross this, then left on the far side to continue upriver. Further on the path recrosses the Water of Leith, this time on a wooden footbridge. A track leads uphill to the right, passing a house. When it forks keep left uphill - the right branch leads only to houses. A short distance further descend a flight of steps to return to the burn. Eventually the route leads back across the water once more, on a footbridge which gives views of an attractive weir.

Stage 5

Turn left to continue upstream through Colinton Dell. Eventually the path climbs a steep flight of steps and emerges on a lane outside Colinton church; there has been a place of worship here for 1,000 years, although the current church is only a hundred years old. Near the entrance is a statue of Robert Louis Stevenson as a boy - he was a frequent visitor in his childhood.

Stage 6

Head down Dell Road, crossing yet another bridge over the Water. Continue uphill on Spylaw Street on the far side, turning right at the top to cross the main road bridge high above the burn - giving good views back down the Dell. On the far side turn right down a track, signed as cyclepath 75.

Stage 7

When the track doubles back to the right descend steps to shortcut down to the cycleway along the old railway line, turning left along this. This soon leads into Colinton Tunnel which passes far beneath the outward route; it is around 150m long but its gentle curve gives the impression it is longer. The tunnel is usually well lit. Emerging on the far side continue along the cycleway along the railway line, coming very close to the outward route at a couple of points. The cyclepath crosses footbridges high above a couple of roads.

Stage 8

Eventually the cyclepath crosses another bridge, this time over the Union Canal. On the far side turn right down steps to gain the canal towpath, and follow this eastwards. Soon it crosses a high aquaduct above the Water of Leith and the visitor centre. On the far side turn left to descend a long flight of steps to regain the Water of Leith walkway. Turn left here to head back to the visitor centre and the start of the walk.

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