Start : Tizo’s (41, Commercial St.), Leith
(S) From Tizo’s (41, Commercial St.) turn left along the frontage of the old passenger terminal of North Leith Railway Station; and then left again, behind the terminal, into Citadel Place. A snicket and steps lead up to Couper Street, as Bethany House towers above.
(1) Go left, and then half-right across Coburgh Street onto the Water of Leith. Turn right upstream. Keep to the riverside path as it bears sharp left away from the old railway line we have been following. Follow the Water of Leith walkway signs. The path emerges into an old industrial state. Signs direct us right and left back down to the riverbank.
(2) The walkway crosses and re-crosses the river. It emerges onto Newhaven Road. Go right for a few paces. Cross and take the steps down, at the far side of a bridge, to re-join the railway path. At the base of the steps, keep ahead. The path turns slightly up to the right.
(3) Here we turn sharp right along Victoria Path, an old branch line that leads straight through to Victoria Park. Keep ahead, along the route of the old railway as it sweeps gently left, through the Park and down through an underpass. Keep left at a junction with yet another old railway path.
(4) Keep on ahead, then right at the 5-ways junction. This path (the former East-Coast Main Line) leads through the magnificent Trinity Tunnel and down to the coast. Cross the road-junction, using the pedestrian light, to swing left (still keeping along the course of the old railway) between a grassy strip and the embankment.
(5) In a while, beyond bus shelters, as the picturesque East Cottages are approached, cross (at the pedestrian lights) and enter Wardie Steps. Turn right to walk through the delightful Wardie Steps and Square. On re-emerging into Lower Granton Road, turn left, cross, and walk on to Granton Square (public toilets).
(6) Turn right along Lochinver Drive, with the harbour water on your right. Turn left, just before the Port Authority Gates, behind flats. At the time of writing (2014) it is possible, at the end, to bear half-right across scrubby land and through to new roadways in the Waterfront development area.
On reaching the roads, bear half-left to pass to the right of a modern looking (7-storey) apartment and walk right around it, following its water features. Exit the housing development area, by heading directly inland, up Chestnut Street.
(7) On reaching West Harbour Road, near the Old Lighthouse, go straight across and swing gently to the right up Waterfront Avenue. Keep ahead, and reach the imposing iron gates to Caroline Park House. Turn right to follow a footpath, past the far side of the house, down towards the coast.
(8) At the main road turn right, to soon cross over, into a car park and the start of the Cramond promenade at Granton Point. Follow the promenade left for a long stretch (1.5 km). Once past The Globtrotter Inn, up-above, turn up left through trees and grass to reach, and cross the road. A track ahead leads straight on through Silverknowes golf course, to pass beneath the club house.
(9) Go around its right-hand side, to continue on up and, inland, to the roundabout. Cross and follow the tree-lined avenue ahead, Silverknowes Rd., inland towards shops. Cross, just before the shops, to the old Silverknowes farmhouse and take a snicket to the right. On exiting go left, right and 2nd left along Silverknowes Dr., admiring the clean white-harled walls, red Rosemary roofs and neat privet hedges of Edinburgh’s garden suburb.
(10) Turn right beside a grassy patch to join cycle path #1 which follows along Silverknowes Terrace. We now keep on along this general direction (and cycle path) all the way to the end of Leg 4. Keep half-left (in 200 m) along the cycle path.
(11) Go straight over at the pedestrian light. Follow the cycle path signs as Barnton Av. sweeps, right-left-right-left, to eventually lead between golf courses and on ahead along Barton Av. West to reach the Barton-Cramond Road (and 41 bus stop). (E)
