# Leith To Granton

## Route

| Section Walked   | Distance | Date |
| -------- | ------- | ---- |
| Leith to Granton | 6.88 km    |  15/11/2025 |


We walked from Leith to Granton on the Saturday after storm Claudia. By completing this section, we have now walked the Scottish coast from Bo'ness to Aberlady.

We took the tram to Ocean Terminal and popped into the brand new Tesco for a wander. The road that runs in between Ocean Terminal and the Britannia was closed, so we walked along Melrose Dr. Massive ships have docked in the harbour. From the tram stop, we saw the Spirit of Tasmania V and was amazed by its size. 

We turned left on Sandpiper Dr and continued towards the Western Harbour flats. There are lots of new buildings here but it is very quiet. There are hardly any people outside. We pass a cafe, then walk along the Western Harbour ponds. Metal nets have been put up around these ponds as boundaries; inside, there are a handful of water birds. We wonder if this marshy land will ultimately be sold for development.

We round the corner. Behind the Leith East Breakwater Lighthouse, a freighter carrying what looks like parts of windmills is docked. There are English and Chinese characters painted on the hull. We walk over the pebbly path, take a few photos, and admire the Forth bridges which shimmer in the west.

As we walk towards the harbour, the clouds shift and Newhaven lighthouse is bathed in golden sunlight. We walk past the restaurants, then pop into Norah for a coffee. We walk along the Firth of Forth, past Starbank Park where the cherry trees put on a glamorous show every spring, past Starbank Inn and the Old Chain Pier. There are a few cyclists and dog walkers on this path. We walk past Wardie Bay with its jangle of boats, past the colourful houses of Granton. There are lots of new buildings here, and industrial estates. There's the [Pianodrome](https://www.pianodrome.org/) and the old [Granton lighthouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granton_Lighthouse) which looks somewhat derelict on West Harbour Road. We haven't been in this past of the town before; it has a look of neglect very unlike Edinburgh. Perhaps the plans to regenerate Granton will offer something new to these areas.

We edging close to the coast again. Somewhere in the waters here is *General’s Rock* where English forces under Lord Hertford (Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset) are alleged to have landed in 1544 before the burning of Edinburgh and Leith. We only found out about it at a lecture recently. We can see the lights of the Pitt, our destination for the day, ahead of us. To our left is a cove, and to our right we can make out a ruined wall/gate of Granton walled garden. The bright blue Granton gas holder looms behind. The wind has picked up. We use the facilities at the Pitt, check out the food trucks, and head home.

## Notes

| Item                | Details                            |
|---------------------|------------------------------------|
| **start**           | Ocean terminal, Leith              |
| **finish**          | The Pitt Market, Granton           |
| **weather**         | Overcast and windy                 |
| **public transport**| Lothian buses                      |
| **difficulty**      | Easy                               |
| **terrain**         | Concrete and tarmac path           |


## Highlights

- Lovely walk along Western Harbour ponds and Newhaven harbour and lighthouse
- Nice walking path along Lower Granton Road all the way to Wardie Bay
- Historic buildings along the way such as the Newhaven lighthouse and the Granton lighthouse

### Cafes and Pubs

- `Irish Dude Coffee` near Ocean Terminal. If you are finishing at Ocean Terminal, we recommend the `Port of Leith Distillery` for a drink.
- `Norah` cafe in Newhaven; they do coffee, cakes, and lunch. For a drink, head to the `Harbour Inn`. If you want lunch, we recommend `The Fishmarket` in the harbour, `Starbank Inn` near Starbank Park, or `Old Chain Pier`.

### Public Toilets

- Inside Ocean Terminal
- None on the way
- Toilets in Pitt Market