East Sands of Leith

Beach in Midlothian

Scotland

East Sands of Leith

Tenements, Leith Thorntree Street off Easter Road. A Leith street scene. — Tenements, Leith Credit: Richard Webb

Located on the eastern coast of Scotland, the East Sands of Leith is a picturesque beach in the county of Midlothian. Situated just a few miles from the bustling city of Edinburgh, it offers locals and tourists alike a tranquil escape from the urban environment.

Stretching over a mile long, the beach boasts soft golden sands that are perfect for sunbathing, picnicking, and leisurely strolls. The calm and shallow waters provide a safe and enjoyable swimming experience, particularly for families with young children. Lifeguards are stationed during peak seasons to ensure the safety of visitors.

East Sands of Leith is known for its stunning views of the Firth of Forth, with its clear waters and distant views of the iconic Forth Rail Bridge. The beach also offers a picturesque backdrop of the surrounding rolling hills, providing a serene setting for visitors to relax and unwind.

Facilities at the beach include public toilets, ample parking space, and a nearby café where visitors can grab a bite to eat or enjoy a refreshing beverage. The beach is easily accessible by car or public transport, and there are several walking and cycling paths that lead to the area.

For those seeking more adventurous activities, East Sands of Leith is a popular spot for water sports such as kayaking and paddleboarding. The beach is also a prime location for bird watching, with a variety of seabirds frequently spotted along the coast.

Overall, the East Sands of Leith in Midlothian offers a delightful combination of natural beauty, recreational activities, and stunning vistas, making it a must-visit destination for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.

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East Sands of Leith Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.977508/-3.1510497 or Grid Reference NT2876. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Tenements, Leith

Thorntree Street off Easter Road. A Leith street scene.

Richard Webb

Parking at Leith

On the redeveloped waterfront at Leith Harbour.

phil smith

Street sculpture, Leith

Urban regeneration by Leith Docks.

Richard Webb

Port of Leith

Taken in the Port of Leith, this shows the Fisheries Protection Vessel MV Minna.

Richard Webb

Mills, Port of Leith

Richard Webb

Scottish Executive offices

New civil service offices in Leith, part of the docks redevelopment.

Richard Webb

Builder's Merchant, Salamander Street

An area of warehouses and tin shed shops. Beyond this yard, deeper into the square, is an area by the docks that was once a railway marshalling yard.

Richard Webb

Seafield.

Sea defences at Seafield. The bulge in the coastline is an area that has been reclaimed from the sea. The photo was taken at the end of a beach that stretches 3km south east to Joppa.

Richard Webb

House repairs, Craigentinny

Craigentinny Avenue, a private road beside a municipal golf course in an otherwise industrial area.

Richard Webb

Ship's Bell, H.M. Yacht Britannia

Richard Rimmer

H.M. Yacht Britannia

Richard Rimmer

Digesters.

Part of the sewerage treatment for Edinburgh, built on reclaimed land in Seafield. The towers provide a site for anaerobic bacteria to digest waste and produce methane. The methane is stored in the sinister looking white sphere at the end and used to produce electricity and heat for the Seafield complex.

Richard Webb

Fuel depot, Leith Docks.

Taken from the shore, on a long walk to get at the inaccessible squares of Leith. Fuel, oil for heating was being taken from these tanks by lorry. I expect some of this complex supplies fuel oil for shipping - it is probably a store for some of the longer chained hydrocarbons.

Richard Webb

Coastal defences, Leith.

The current docklands around Leith contain a lot of reclaimed land. The sea is repelled by all maner of builders rubble. Bricks, reinforced concrete etc. View over to Inchkeith.

Richard Webb

Tally Too'er, Leith

One of Scotland's three Martello Towers, Napoleonic era defences. This was an offshore fort, but now is buried in an industrial area on reclaimed land, surrounded by pipes. However the area is due yet more change. Currently far from the public eye, I walked miles along the shore to get here, and was surprised not to be stopped, this area is due to be developed for housing. A bridge will link it to the developments currently being built west of the docks entrance. 2019 The development never happened. The company behind it went under when the banks collapsed in 2008.

Richard Webb

Knee deep in the Big Muddy

Except for exceptional spring lows when the pipeline pops out, the navigation beacon at the end of an outfall pipe is all of this square visible above the sea. The OS suggest that a fragment of beach exists at low tide at NT290760. I visited the corner nearest land at the lowest tide of the month and was still knee deep in the murky Firth of Forth. Quite a bit of wading was required.

Richard Webb

Eastern Craigs.

Visited just after a spring low water and was able to get to these offshore rocks which are flooded at high tide. Lots of rockpools and mussel beds (Being the "Shiney Bright", not fit for human consumption)

Richard Webb