Water of Leith Conservation Trust

The Water of Leith Conservation Trust works to conserve and enhance the river, its heritage and wildlife.

About Water of Leith Conservation Trust

	24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh West EH14 1TQ
	01314557367
	Water of Leith Conservation Trust Website
	Follow WOLCT on Twitter
	Facebook information can be found here
	Follow waterofleithconservationtrust on Instagram

Listed Under Activities - Voluntary Groups / Attractions - Visitor Centres

The Trust promotes education and recreation through the Visitor Centre, and works with volunteers and community groups to deliver around 100 river clean-ups and habitat improvement tasks annually. Operating since 1988, it was the first river charity to be established in Scotland. Support our work by becoming a member, sending a donation or joining the hundred strong team of volunteers who are involved in projects on the river and in running the Visitor Centre which is open every day.

Explore Edinburgh’s hidden natural asset, the Water of Leith. Flowing for 24 miles from its source in the Pentland Hills, the river winds its way through the heart of our capital to its outflow into the Firth of Forth at Leith. Once Edinburgh’s industrial heartland, the valley was host to over 70 mills harnessing the power of the water to produce paper, fabric, and flour with the river mouth supporting a vibrant dock and boat building industry. Today the river is home to a wide diversity of plants and animals from wild garlic and orchids to brown trout, heron, kingfisher and otter, and can be explored on foot or bike along the 12 3/4 mile Water of Leith Walkway.

The Water of Leith Visitor Centre is situated in a renovated schoolhouse by the Water of Leith. It combines a free exhibition together with a cafe selling teas, coffees and snacks. There's also a gift shop too, selling books and souvenirs.
The Centre is accessible to wheel-chairs throughout and caters well for families with young children.

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Upcoming Events at Water of Leith Conservation Trust

Exhibitions

Mesmerising Mechanisms

19th April 2025

Water of Leith Conservation Trust, Edinburgh West

Mesmerising Mechanisms is a free, hands-on exhibition on 19th April at Water of Leith Visitor Centre featuring a collection of wooden machines designed and built by Ian Graham of Colinton Clocks!

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