You start on a cycle path out of the city, down to the coast through fields and woodland, and walk into Queensferry with the sea next to you and the Forth Bridges in the distance. It's a long walk but flat and very lovely....

May Robson

The whole route to the Queensferry is great - highly walkable with nice varied landscapes....

Hannah Ustun

The city walking stops when the route joins national cycle route 1, then unexpectedly dives into the Innocent Railway tunnel at the end of a residential parking area (don't worry, it stopped being a railway in 1968). At Duddingston Road, the route turns right, then crosses Peffermill Road and continues up the road to Craigmillar Castle Park, home to the "other castle" that the route description and previous reviewer describe. The route goes through the park, then crosses the road and continues across Little France Park, which lurks quietly behind the Edinburgh Bio Quarter, home to two hospitals and an increasing number of related businesses. At the Wisp, the route reaches Danderhall, an old mining village, presumably the source of some of that coal that traveled along the Innocent Railway....

MartinF

The route goes over a beautiful river, the open land of a beautiful estate house, and finally into a forested route along Queensferry beach, which is truly magnificent....

Lily

After a while, the route turns left down McDonald Road, a quieter residential street, then into St Mark's Park, where a right turn takes you onto the Water of Leith walkway. Edilei Four suffers from one set of steps at Newhaven Road, which you can avoid by sticking on Edilei Two and following the Warriston Path (aka National Cycle Route 75) into Leith. I believe you can avoid all that by crossing the Water of Leith at West Bowling Green Street, turning left on the path on the East side of the river, then take Mill Lane, Sherriff Brae and Coalhill into Leith....

MartinF

Walking down Oxgangs Road wasn't entirely pleasant as it was so busy and if I wasn't following the route I would have cut through to one of the smaller streets. At the end of the road I jinked left onto the tarmacked path that leads past Pentland Primary School to the Braid Burn at Oxgangs and joins an excellent set of routes following the Braid Burn from Oxgangs all the way to Blackford Hill. At the junction across from Edinburgh Greenbank Parish Church the burn dives through an impressive looking culvert while the people route is a climb up to Comiston Road and a walk along Braidburn Terrace past the parish church to join the burn further on at the conveniently placed The Lodge Coffee House. After the Hermitage the route becomes more track than road but is still very accessible and winding through a steep craggy gully into the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve. This is a very accessible route with the exception of the climb on Blackford Hill, the only option I can see would be to go along Hermitage Drive and Midmar Drive instead of dropping down at the Lodge Coffee House, these do look like quiet roads....

JoB

I decided to walk Faledi two in a loop with Faledi one, walking Faledi one in reverse. Beyond the Observatory navigation down the far side of Blackford Hill heading towards the Braid Hills became a little tricky as there are a maze of paths but keeping an eye on my OS map app kept me heading in the right direction. Off the roads the paths were a little muddy that day, a sprinkling of snow was still on the ground, but I found my way down through the trees among chattering birdsong to the bridge across the Braid Burn....

JoB

Nice route through Leith Links (a park, now with a cafe), past a range of independent shops, and over Calton Hill. Great alternative to Leith Walk (which is less green but also nice)....

MW

I didn`t notice any major disruptions along the way, so the tram works and cycle route works of the earlier reviews must have finished....

Paul Chilcott

- The middle section is a great walk ... It's a good city walk, it passes some of Edinburgh's well-known attractions and covers a good cross-section of the city. From Blackford Pond, the path climbs the side of Blackford Hill through one of Edinburgh's oldest woods to the Observatory, then drops down to the Braid Burn, and climbs again up the beautiful Howe Dean path. You can probably work around that by skipping the Blackford Hill section, turning right at the Blackford Pond entrance and taking Cluny Gardens, Midmar Avenue, Midmar Drive, Hermitage Drive, Braid Road and Braid Hills Drive to the top of the Howe Dean Path and rejoining the main route. Looking at a map, I think it should be possible to walk through Burdiehouse, cross the Burdiehouse Burn, walk through the Murrays and onto Lasswade Road, then pick up the Loanhead Railway Path all the way into Loanhead....

MartinF

Follows roads the entire way, very easy to access, and very easy to ditch out at any point using the new tram lines or any other public transport if you decide the walk is too long. My only suggestion to the route would be to walk through Cavalry Park and Duddingston Kirk instead of the nature reserve and Jewel Park as the added elevation is just as easily accessed and gives great views of the city. Overall a nice walk to do in both summer and winter....

Matthew Harris

A good riverside wander, but there's quite a few steps, which would exclude some users....

Hiking Historian

A good route, and accessible to all, although with some uphill sections....

Hiking Historian

A very beautiful route that is ideal for walking, cycling, or running (the latter two of which we did on this occasion as my husband is training for a marathon and I am not...). As previous reviews state, this route is mostly off road along the Water of Leith walkway and the Union Canal towpath, with the only tricky part being the short section along the Slateford Aqueduct. Will absolutely walk this route again....

Team Tato

And once up and over, and into the Royal Terrace Gardens (high kerbs) the route takes us down a nonexistent path down a steep grass slope to the road below....

Hiking Historian

One thing I will say: at the Leith end, just past the church and Trinity House, the route seems to go through a building that has been demolished; it's best to walk to the stairs of the flats, and follow the footpath around to the right....

Hiking Historian

Review of Slow Ways route Ratedi one (Ratho to Edinburgh). The route begins in the centre of Ratho and almost immediately drops down onto the north bank of the Union Canal....

wellchoughed

Lifting the bicycle over the Brunstane rail steps is generally less hassle than taking the alternative route round the houses, depending on lifting ability. I would also just go through the Innocent tunnel (either cycling or walking) as it's easier. And then for cyclists, there's now reasonably good and sign-posted cycle paths into town as a quicker/safer alternative to this route ending (to avoid cycling through pedestrian spaces/pavements)....

Doug Bridgens

This route is all the better for taking the 'high path' via the Colinton tunnel, rather than the usual (and usually muddy) Water of Leith river path. You get all the views, with a better walking/cycling surface. I nipped into Molly's Bakery at Juniper Green for a sit down coffee (also has toilets)....

Doug Bridgens

Recommend walking on left side of road down from Edinburgh to Leith...

Hannah

A gentle up (or down!) hill route following the main road between Edinburgh and Leith....

Waywardwonderer

Straightforward to follow, and gets nicer as it goes on - only point of slight navigational doubt was when you see an old sign to Musselburgh pointing across a field to your right, you just keep going straight, sticking to the John Muir way....

Bruno

I walked this route from Edinburgh to Currie and found it extremely enjoyable! The route from Waverley to the canal is awesome. Then comes the rest of the route, a very comfortable walk along a paved cycle route from the canal all the way to Currie....

mtormey

The first part of the route is along pavements as it makes its way steeply up to George Street then steeply down to George V Park....

wellchoughed

A large part uses the Warriston Path and Water of Leith Walkway and so avoids busy roads....

Kiki

Nice stroll from the Waverley station area, firstly up a bit and down a bit through the streets of the new town, before dropping down into a little park to follow a wide, obstacle-free cycle path along a green corridor (trees, allotments, waterside) to Leith....

Mockymock

Avoids the chicken shops of the direct route down the Leith Rd, and walks along the rather nice cycle route to Leith. Slight risk of high speed brutes in lycra but otherwise a rather nice stroll on the hols....

Steve_Roser

Lovely route taking advantage of as many traffic free options as possible and giving great views of the city as a bonus. There aren't many places when you can see both castles at one time!...

CatrionaS

Great route but needs at least one modification to use Victoria Street to get from the Grassmarket up to George IV Bridge. It can be very muddy on the Water of Leith Path but if you take that into account it's fine. I would suggest continuing on the path until you get down the Visitors Centre on Lanark Road and getting up to canal there to avoid the very narrow aqueduct at Slateford but this may not be an option if you're wheeling....

CatrionaS

The only suggestion I might make, but it does involve steps, is to keep on the Water of Leith path down to the Visitors Centre on Lanark Road before joining the canal path if you have an issue with the height and narrowness of the aqueduct at Slateford....

CatrionaS

Near the start I would mention that Baird Road between Newbridge and Ratho has a pavement that is quite narrow and uneven in places which might mean it's not suitable for wheels. It's also not possible to get directly from the Cowgate to George IV Bridge so using Victoria Street would be the simplest amendment to the route as you get close to the end....

CatrionaS

If steps are a possibility then perhaps continue down the Water of Leith to the Visitors Centre on Lanark Road to avoid the narrow aqueduct at Slateford but otherwise well worth following this one....

CatrionaS

As the previous review said don't go for the 15m drop down to the Cowgate from George IV Bridge....

CatrionaS

This is a well marked route into the city centre using as much off road paths as possible (and quite ingeniously)....

ewan davidson

Path beside braid hills road is indeed muddy (shared with mountain bikes, ponies and joggers) but there is a pavement on the other side of the road, and it is a steep climb over blackford hill. Lovers Lane is curious but also very secluded with poor sightlines and might be a little scary (although easily avoided)....

ewan davidson

Chose this route as it took me along paths I'd never used. That long straight path through the Grange and Sciennes was a revelation. Really enjoyed the route...

Ben

An excellent route starting from fairly rural surroundings getting more and more built up as you head into the heart of Edinburgh. Paths are really good and amazing that roads can be avoided almost completely even towards the city centre....

Ben

Makes sense to join the Blackhall Path at Davidson's Mains, rather than Queedi one's more more circuitous route to the south from this point. But I think there's a slight plotting error here - you can either go slightly to the north along Silverknowes Terrace/Drive, or to the south through the Tesco carpark and onto the Blackhall Path, but I don't think you can go in between. Nearly the whole route of off-road (or off busy roads) until Haymarket, when you're walking along main streets, but that's unavoidable really....

jamtista

However, most of this is alongside very busy roads and would not be a particularly nice route to walk. The crossings at Gogar roundabout (A720/A8) are technically possible, but are across multi-lane trunk roads with no traffic signals. There is an underpass alongside the tram line which could be used instead...

drnoble

The addition of Calton hill and London Street gardens add elevation/descent and lower path quality that probably isn't worth it for the lower traffic route. A more direct route along Leith walk would have traffic levels that are higher, but also cut of 1km (25% reduction). A much more scenic and traffic free route would connect with the cycle path at Scotland street or Canonmills and adds only 250m....

davidxmiller

Use it regularly in all seasons and can get a bit muddy after prolonged rain but never stops me coming back to it....

afm

Cockmylane is a lovely tranquil departure from the busy Comiston Road, topped off by a pleasant wander through the Hermitage and Blackford Hill. Recommend the tea shop at the entrance to the Hermitage, lovely coffee and cake!...

afm

Cut through into Buckstone and into Mortonhall is lovely and particularly love the alleyways through Marchmont missing out the worst of the streets....

afm

I advise leaving Old Burdiehouse Road a bit sooner than the route suggests, going up to join the big road where the bus stop is. Finally, rather than walking along Frogston Road East you can turn left onto the path across a field between points 9 and 10 on the route and then take whatever path you want through the houses of Mortonhall (returning to the prescribed route at point 13) I took this route on my return journey, and found it more interesting and pleasant....

jconnolly

I can't comment on all of the route but the section that goes from Cowgate to George IV Bridge to is leap or drop of 15m depending on which way you are going. You can take the road West Bow to easily get between Grassmarket and George IV Bridge....

Slow Ways Cristie

If coming from Currie it is better to avoid Fairmilehead and follow Swanston Road to Oxgangs Road, thus avoiding some busy roads. Taking the first road right after the Fairmilehead crossroads into Fairmile Avenue then taking Caiystane Avenue and Caiystane Terrace before rejoining the route avoids the busy Oxgangs Road....

grussell

Not a bad route as such, but there seems to be a plotting error on the canal, near the Meggetland sports complex. Also towards the end of the route I don't think there are any steps up from the Grassmarket onto George IV Bridge. You need to go up Victoria Street....

jamtista

If I wanted to get from Edinburgh to Leith I would probably just go directly along Leith Walk, although this provides a reasonable alternative using less busy roads. I would cut out the section going through London Road Gardens and around the side of Calton Hill though. Coming up from Leith, that felt like an unnecessarily steep slog just to come down again the other side of Calton Hill, when sticking to the main roads would have been a lot less strenuous!...

Kiki

At the Musselburgh end the route goes over the Old Bridge which has steep steps at either side - going along Bridge Street (rather than Market Street) would take it over New Bridge with no steps....

Kiki