Andy Hayes - What I love about Edinburgh

While we're in the same place for the next few months we've invited guests to contribute to There & Here by telling us what they love about their favourite place in the world. Our guest this week is Andy from Portland, Oregon.

What I love about Edinburgh is the Water of Leith.

When most people think of Scotland, they think of the rain - grey, dull skies. And while that's a reality, the Water of Leith reminds you that there's no better place to get outdoors than Scotland.

The Water of Leith is actually a very historic setting. This river was home to a number of processing mills, who used the river's continuous current to power the city's long-gone economic manufacturing boom.

Today, the river is a quiet place, the ravine setting and the water pouring over smooth rocks and man-made waterfalls (called "weirs") drown out any noise from the traffic above.

If you love architecture like I do, this is also a great area to get a fresh perspective on the city's historic Georgian architecture. Even the old city well, still in working condition yet no longer used, calls you closer to sit and relax.

Next time you're in Edinburgh, take a chillout break and go explore the Water of Leith. The easiest access point is along Dean Bridge in the Stockbridge neighborhood, and from there I'd suggest heading south for the most scenic path that keeps clear of any busy roads.

Andy Hayes is the author of the iPhone app Edinburgh Secrets and, although now based in Portland Oregon, also continues to blog about the city on edinburghguides.com.

LinkedIn: Andy Hayes 
Twitter: andrewghayes