Good walks, right on the doorstep.

The Water of Leith Walkway

The Walkway follows the river for about 13 miles, from Balerno to Leith, where the river meets the sea. You can join it at many points, so it works for a short sniff along the bank or a long morning out. It’s a shared path, used by cyclists as well as walkers, so keep your dog close where it’s narrow or busy, and on a lead if they like to chase bikes.

The river is a haven for wildlife. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust lists otters, herons, kingfishers and dippers living along it, so a dog that crashes into the water or the undergrowth can disturb more than you’d think. Bridges and short stretches sometimes close for repairs: follow the diversion signs, and check the Trust’s website before a long walk.

Watch out for giant hogweed

Giant hogweed grows on riverbanks, and volunteers on the Water of Leith work to clear it. It looks like a huge cow parsley, often far taller than a person, with purple-blotched, bristly stems. The council’s information sheet warns that even tiny amounts of sap can blister skin after it’s exposed to sunlight, so keep your dog (and yourself) out of it. If your dog has brushed through it, or you see redness or blisters, call your vet.

Leith Links and the local parks

Leith Links is wide, flat and open, which makes it good for recall practice and a game of fetch. Victoria Park and Lochend Park are smaller and quieter alternatives nearby. These are council parks, and the council’s park management rules apply:

• Keep your dog under close control at all times.
• Dogs aren’t allowed in children’s play areas or in any area signed as dog-free.
• Don’t let your dog run onto sports pitches while they’re in use.
• At nesting time (April to July), keep your dog at heel or on a short lead in grassland, woodland and at the shore.
• Follow any sign that asks for dogs to be on a lead.

Picking up

Not picking up after your dog in any public place, including pavements, paths and parks, can get you an £80 fixed penalty under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003. Bagged waste can go in any litter bin, or in your own non-recyclable bin at home. Take more bags than you think you’ll need.

Making city walks easier

• Busy pavements, bikes, scooters and other dogs can be a lot. Quieter times, usually early in the morning, make a big difference for nervous or reactive dogs.
• A well-fitted harness and a lead you can shorten quickly help on narrow riverside paths and at road crossings.
• Let your dog sniff. A slow walk with plenty of sniffing is often more tiring, and more satisfying, than a fast one.
• If your puppy hasn’t finished their vaccinations, ask your vet when it’s safe for them to walk in public places.

Walks with ORLAGH’S in Leith

Leith and Leith Walk are right in the middle of where we work. If you’d like a hand, our group, private and support walks are planned around your dog, and the ORLAGH’S app shows you how each walk went.