Edinburgh Photo Friday: Newhaven Harbour

It’s Photo Friday and today we leave the city centre to head towards Leith, Edinburgh’s harbour.  There’s loads of great things to see and do in Leith, and one you should have a wander to if you have time is Newhaven Harbour:

Old Beginnings

It’s hard to believe that this quiet harbour, now home to a nice fish restaurant and a couple of cozy pubs had such a fortuitous beignnings.  You see, this was Edinburgh’s shipbuilding port, and not just shipbuilding but warship vessels.  Leith Harbour wasn’t well suited for larger ships, so in 1504 King James IV created a deep water harbour here.   Because of the skilled tradesman it drew in, Newhaven was a bustling place with a lot going on.  They say that the shipbuilding here resulted in the destruction of all the forests in Fife.

You’ll find a great walking path nearby; it’s the old Newhaven railway.  You used to be able to get from Edinburgh to Newhaven on the rails, but the route was closed in 1956.

While You’re There

Recommendations for while you’re there:

• Food:  Loch Fyne (map) is definitely a top choice, and one of the best seafood restaurants in town.
• Drink & Music:  The Harbour Inn (map) is a classic pub, and often has music on in the evenings.

Photo by europealacarte