Cool Place of the Day: Water of Leith, Edinburgh

Every day, a new place to discover or explore, from coolplaces.co.uk

Winding its way through the west and then the north of Edinburgh, from Balerno to Leith, the Water of Leith is – remarkably – the city’s only river of any size in the urban area. But unlike the Clyde in Glasgow or Thames in London, it doesn't define the city. Pleasantly verdant, if occasionally a little scruffy, it’s one of the most unique walks you can do in any city, with a managed walkway that sticks to the riverbank along most of its length; you can also cycle most of the way and can even ride a horse along some stretches. Perhaps the most interesting section for visitors is between the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, through the former mills and millworkers’ houses at Dean Village, to Stockbridge. However, there is huge variety along its approximately 12-mile length, passing patches of ancient woodland, Saughton Park and Gardens, Murrayfield rugby stadium and a series of slightly eerie Anthony Gormley statues of a man standing in the river before eventually reaching the sea at Leith (where there is a further sculpture). There’s also a Visitor Centre about halfway along in Slateford, with lots of info on the river and its history in various interactive displays. A unique city walk, and a perfect way to spend part of a summer weekend in Edinburgh.

Cool Places is a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk).