Leith
Edinburgh doesn’t have a river, nor a port. Instead it has Leith.
Leith rests on the shores of the Firth of Forth, at the mouth of the Water of Leith. Having served as the port of Edinburgh for hundreds of years, the area’s original harbour dates back to the 14th century and has been visited by many travelling kings and queens, including Mary Queen of Scots and King George IV.
Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history though you probably wouldn’t guess it now. It was also Scotland's leader in several industries for many centuries and has a long history of pioneering social advances, some of which were the first of their kind in Scotland.
Decades of industrial decline, deindustrialisation, slum clearance and resultant depopulation in the post-war era gave Leith a reputation for seediness and crime not so long ago, but the town has been undergoing a major revival since the 1980s with many of the district's problems gradually being resolved, even though parts still look rather run down. It now boasts a vibrant community, with a wealth of shops, pubs, restaurants, parks and community events.
The Royal Yacht Britannia is now moored here at the Ocean Terminal, serving as a luxury hotel I believe.
My photo is of the old harbour which was, I thought, the prettiest part.
Leith
Edinburgh doesn’t have a river, nor a port. Instead it has Leith.
Leith rests on the shores of the Firth of Forth, at the mouth of the Water of Leith. Having served as the port of Edinburgh for hundreds of years, the area’s original harbour dates back to the 14th century and has been visited by many travelling kings and queens, including Mary Queen of Scots and King George IV.
Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history though you probably wouldn’t guess it now. It was also Scotland's leader in several industries for many centuries and has a long history of pioneering social advances, some of which were the first of their kind in Scotland.
Decades of industrial decline, deindustrialisation, slum clearance and resultant depopulation in the post-war era gave Leith a reputation for seediness and crime not so long ago, but the town has been undergoing a major revival since the 1980s with many of the district's problems gradually being resolved, even though parts still look rather run down. It now boasts a vibrant community, with a wealth of shops, pubs, restaurants, parks and community events.
The Royal Yacht Britannia is now moored here at the Ocean Terminal, serving as a luxury hotel I believe.
My photo is of the old harbour which was, I thought, the prettiest part.