Water of leith facts
Most of the river and its corridor have been identified as Local Biodiversity Sites LBS and several protected species live along its course. The wooded river-banks are host to carpets of wildflowers and many dramatic trees, including patches of ancient woodland. Often peat-stained, the water is still of a high quality both chemically and biologically, water of leith facts many species of invertebrate and fish flourish. Notable bird species resident on the river include: kingfisher, dipper, water of leith facts, grey wagtail, heron, cormorant, goosander, swan and moorhen.
Flowing for around twenty-four miles from its source in the Pentland Hills, the river winds its way through the heart of our capital to its outflow into the Firth of Forth at Leith. Today the river is home to a wide diversity of plants and animals from wild garlic and orchids to brown trout, heron, kingfisher and otter, and can be explored on foot or bike along the thirteen mile Water of Leith Walkway. For detailed information about the river, its catchment, uses, water quality and quantity, habitat and species, access and recreation, heritage, landscape and geodiversity, you can view The Water of Leith Management Plan The Water of Leith Conservation Trust works to conserve and enhance the river, its heritage and wildlife: The Trust promotes education and recreation through the Visitor Centre, and works with volunteers and community groups to deliver around river clean-ups and habitat improvement tasks annually. Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram. Join Donate Contact. The River.
Water of leith facts
Edinburgh is one of the busiest and most iconic cities in the UK, yet part of its beauty comes from the fact that you are never too far away from nature. The Water of Leith provides a picturesque route to the capital strewn with nature in all its glory, from wildlife to hanging trees. The gentle waterway flowers for about ten miles before reaching the outskirts of Edinburgh in the southwest. From Balerno to Leith, the river twists and loops for another twelve miles until it enters the Firth of Forth. With so much river to explore, it should come as no surprise that the Water of Leith harbours its own set of stories and sites. For centuries, the Water of Leith was necessary in keeping life afloat in Edinburgh. The power provided by the rapid flow of the river was harnessed to drive mill waterwheels at more than 70 sites along the river. This helped establish a string of villages, many of which have transformed into the settlements we know today. The mills found along the Water produced a variety of vital goods for Edinburgh to use and trade, including paper, flour, spices, snuff, wool and linen. Before the construction of an artificial harbour, the tidal mouth of the river allowed ships to pass through, creating a flourishing shipping port for timber, wine and, of course, whisky. While the port was useful for shipping, shipbuilding and even whaling, this industrialisation took a toll on the river. Pollution plagued its waters, but as the mills closed and sewers were constructed, the river was able to regenerate and recover. Today, only relics of this time remain, including weirs, lade streams, mill buildings and millstones. Many of the settlements found along the Water boast their own histories, including Dean Village. Dean Village was the centre of the flour milling industry as early as
Below you'll find a list with the best and most interesting temples and graveyards:. The first of the Leith's two main tributaries, Ross Creek, joins the Leith between the suburbs of Glenleith and Woodhaugh.
It rises to the north of the city of Dunedin , flowing for 14 kilometres 9 mi southeast through the northern part of the city and the campus of the University of Otago before reaching the Otago Harbour. The Leith's source is close to the Dunedin Northern Motorway , part of State Highway 1 , metres ft south of Leith Saddle , at an elevation of some metres 1, ft above sea level. From here, the Leith flows south, skirting a water supply reservoir formed behind Sullivan's Dam , which was constructed in From the southern end of the Sullivan's Dam reservoir, the Leith flows southwest, passing under the motorway and through the wooded Leith Valley. A gravel road parallels the course of this stretch of the river, becoming asphalted close to the point where the Leith meets the urban parts of the city at Glenleith. Several small tributaries join the Leith on this stretch, notably Morrison's Burn.
Unlike many ancient cities, Edinburgh was built without many of the essential features which help to sustain substantial populations. The city lies too far inland to have a natural port of its own, on too mountainous a landscape to provide land for grazing animals or planting crops, and wasn't on any major waterway to provide access for industry or shipping. But many of these features lay just beyond the bounds of the original city. The port of Leith, at one time the busiest port in Scotland, developed as a separate town, and was only formally incorporated into Edinburgh in the 20th century. Farmland to the south, east and west sustained agricultural communities who came to Edinburgh to trade their goods and produce. Today the Water of Leith continues to flow through Edinburgh's outskirts and central suburbs, offering a sliver of pastoral idyll to those seeking to escape the city itself. The various former industrial towns are now predominantly quiet residential areas with their own peaceful atmospheres, and a pathway along the length of the river provides a tranquil and accessible route for those looking to walk, jog, cycle or just wander aimlessly through the meandering and sometimes dramatic landscape that the water has carved out over countless millennia. Here is my guide to some of the highlights found along the Water of Leith, with tips for areas to explore that can take you well beyond the tourist trails of the Old Town. The route as a whole will take you from the high, exposed wilderness of the Pentland Hills, to the former industrial heartland of Leith.
Water of leith facts
The ability of the Water of Leith to provide water, power, disposal facilities and safe mooring at its mouth, means that it has been actively used for many hundreds of years. The river has a rich history dating back to pre-historic times, with Bronze Age remains and Neolithic sites. Leith harbour and docks also has a rich and varied history and was of strategic importance for battles and trade. The power of the Water of Leith was used for a variety of industries including grinding grain, wood, spices and snuff, paper making, washing and waulking fulling cloth, tanning hides, and cutting timber and stones. Weirs and mill lades were constructed to provide adequate water for the mills. During these industrial times, the river was grossly polluted. However, as the mills closed and sewers were constructed, the river was able to regenerate and recover. Now, the only remaining relics are weirs, lade streams, millstones and mill buildings scattered along the river valley. Numerous listed buildings are also present along its banks, and the area from Roseburn to Stockbridge is part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage site.
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Water of Leith Action Group. The park houses various hills, lochs, cliffs and vast green plains. This article is about the river in Scotland. River in Edinburgh, Scotland. Contents move to sidebar hide. Remember… Although the walkway is a pleasant area to visit by day, it is not recommended to walk along it at night. West Lothian , Edinburgh. Literary Corstorphine: A reader's guide to West Edinburgh. Design commenced in January and construction was completed in December Download as PDF Printable version. The river has been historically managed by a group of Honorary Bailiffs, who can trace their origins back to , although an active role has been taken by the Water of Leith Conservation Trust since its formation in
The Water of Leith walkway is ideal for families, couples and groups of friends that want to get away from the city and go for a walk surrounded by a lush vegetation.
Location Along the Water of Leith. Great spotted woodpecker, long tailed tits, mistle and song thrush, sparrow hawk and tree creeper are frequently spotted in the woodlands. Riveting Rivers: the fascinating history behind the Water of Leith. Wikimedia Commons. Otago Regional Council. River in Edinburgh, Scotland. Retrieved The Water of Leith Conservation Trust works to conserve and enhance the river, its heritage and wildlife: The Trust promotes education and recreation through the Visitor Centre, and works with volunteers and community groups to deliver around river clean-ups and habitat improvement tasks annually. Leith Docks have been extended considerably out into the firth from the old shoreline. Water of Leith Management Plan pdf Report. Legacy Giving.
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