Water of Leith facts for kids

The Water of Leith flows through a wooded area near Dean Village in Edinburgh.

The Water of Leith is a famous river in Edinburgh, Scotland. It flows right through the city centre. This river eventually reaches the port of Leith. From there, it joins the sea in a large bay called the Firth of Forth.

What's in a Name?

The name Leith might come from an old language called Common Brittonic. In that language, *lejth meant 'damp' or 'moist'. This is similar to the Welsh word llaith. Some people thought it might come from an old Norse word, but that's less likely.

In Gaelic, the river is called Uisge Lìte. This means "Water of Leith." The word "water" here means a stream that's bigger than a small burn but smaller than a full river.

The River's Journey

The Water of Leith is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) long. It starts high up in the Pentland Hills at Colzium Springs. The river then flows through Harperrig Reservoir. You can see the old Cairns Castle ruins along its path.

The river passes through many towns and areas. These include Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, and Colinton. It also goes through Slateford, Longstone, and Saughton.

Through Edinburgh's Heart

As it gets closer to Edinburgh's centre, the river enters a deep valley. This area is called the Dean Village. Long ago, there were many watermills here. The impressive Dean Bridge, built in 1832, crosses this valley. It was designed by Thomas Telford.

St Bernard's Well is a historic building next to the Water of Leith in Stockbridge.

The river continues past Stockbridge and Inverleith. It flows through Canonmills and Warriston. Here, it passes a shallow area called Puddocky. People often think this name comes from "puddocks," which means frogs in Scots. However, it actually got its name from an old building called Paddock Hall nearby.

To the Sea

The Water of Leith then reaches Bonnington, another place with old watermills. Finally, it widens into the old harbour at Leith. This is where the river meets the sea. The Leith Docks have grown a lot into the Firth of Forth. There are now plans to build homes in this area.

Walk Along the River

You can walk or cycle beside the river on the Water of Leith Walkway. This path is about 19.7 kilometres (12.25 miles) long. It goes from Balerno all the way to Leith. Most of the path is away from busy roads. It's a great place to see nature.

The walkway often follows old railway lines. You can still see parts of old tunnels and bridges. There is also a visitor centre for the river. It's located where the Union Canal crosses the Water of Leith. This happens at the Slateford Aqueduct in Slateford. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust helps protect and improve the river. They also teach people about the river and its environment.

River Wildlife

The Water of Leith is home to many different animals. You can find brown trout and wild grayling in the water. There are also eels, stone loach, minnow, three-spined stickleback, and flounder. Sometimes, sea-trout swim up the river. Very rarely, Atlantic salmon are seen. However, it's hard for salmon to live here because of the weirs (small dams) in the river.

A Heron standing in the Water of Leith.

You might also spot larger animals near the river. These include roe deer, badgers, and otters. The riverbanks and nearby woods are full of birds. Look out for colourful kingfishers. You might also see grey herons, pied wagtails, and great spotted woodpeckers. The white-throated dipper is another interesting bird that dives into the water.

See also

In Spanish: Water of Leith para niños