A Sunny day in Sunny Leith

What started as a cloudy and blustery day in Edinburgh turned into a Sunny day in Edinburgh’s port, Leith last week.

I followed Walk D from my website (www.Edinburghwalks.com) and got a marvellous view of the North of Edinburgh, the Kingdom of Fife and the Forth Bridges from Calton Hill. However because of the height and our position to the West of the hill, it was blowy so it was good to get down onto Leith Walk for a bit of shelter.

Venturing North, I made it to the boundary between the City and it’s Port at Pilrig. It brought back stories of the Boundary Bar with it’s two doors (one in Leith and one in Edinburgh) and two liquor licenses, so the patrons could drink up in Edinburgh at the end of the day but drink later on the Leith side as it was still open. All prior to 1920 of course when Leith became part of the city, to the displeasure of the majority of Leithers.

Pilrig-House

I took in sites of interest to those with a love of literature, the former family homes of Robert Louis Stevenson, Harry Potter’s J.K.Rowling and a train station from Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting.

For much needed refreshment and to dodge a quick shower of rain, I headed to the Lioness of Leith pub in Duke Street, Leith where I had a great pint of Summerhall Ale. The menu looked great too, but I decided to venture out as the sun had come out from behind the clouds and the sky was clearing.

I took in much of the South/Eastside of The Shore and the streets here are full of life. It has been about 30 years now since the first business ventured in here to open a restaurant and try to entice people from The City into their Port. Well now there are Michelin starred restaurants and great bars here to visit. I had lunch in The Vintage on Henderson Street, sharing a tapas style platter and the beers came in 2/3 pint glasses. Staff were very keen and knowledgeable and I would highly recommend it.

After lunch I made it along the old bondside in Commercial Street, past the remains of Cromwell’s Citadel and ended up at the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Ocean Terminal shopping mall. By now the sun was splitting the sky. It was Sunny Leith afterall.

A brilliant walk and such a relaxing day.