Leith Food Tour on the waterfront

The Foods of Leith Waterfront

NEW FOR 2023. This food walking tour is a celebration of the historic Leith waterfront - and we don’t need to stray far from the water, there is so much history, stories, food and drink. Come and join us.

In the 12th century, Leith was was Scotland’s gateway to the world. On this food tour – the past will come alive: as we imagine ships weaving out the port, laden with coal, grain, fish and hides, with more ships arriving at The Shore area bringing in spices, timber – we’ll walk through the former timber market  Timberbush,( ‘bush’ comes from the French  ‘bourse’ )  cloth, and whale oil ( you can see one of the original harpoons on the Shore) and very importantly wine, especially from Bordeaux. Now many of the warehouses have been converted into flats and restaurants. 

As well as being a hub of medieval commerce, it was in Leith that the first rules of golf were drawn up for use on Leith Links in 1744. 

A home for stranded sailors has been transformed into a stunning boutique hotel, but the angel above the door still remains vigilant for all its inhabitants.

And some of old trades have seen a rebirth – gin and whisky distilling is back and we meet the newest gin distiller on this tour – who use lime peel as one of their botanicals – as a nod to Lachlan Rose of Leith who started bottling lime cordial as a scurvy deterrent.

This food safari is a circular tour – easily accessible from the Shore tram stop and equals a very good lunch with seafood being a focus. 

You’ll experience some of these on this food tour around Leith waterfront:

  • We start with a coffee from a local quay side roastery – and if we are lucky; get a tour of the roastery with a made-on-the-premises Danish pastry.
  • Smoked haddock kedgeree in the old waiting room of the landing area where the boats from Aberdeen used to dock: Teuchtars Landing. ‘Teuchtars’ means a rural Gaelic speaking Scot from the Highlands.
  • Creamy fish soup – Cullen Skink – at one of the oldest pubs in Leith and freshly made ginger beer.
  • We explore one of the newest gin joints in town and taste a gin which is distilled on the premises in Leith.
  • Spanish cheese grilled with sugar in an old bonded warehouse which is now a cool Spanish bar.
  • Afternoon tea of scones, jam and cream.
  • If it’s a Saturday we can fit in a trip to the Farmer’s Market for lobster rolls and a beer from one of Leith’s newest breweries : Lost in Leith.

Leith waterfront is such an exciting part of Edinburgh to visit and we hope you will join us on this wonderful food and drink tour : )

Highlights

  • Coffee and Danish on the Leith Waterfront
    Coffee and Danish on the Leith Waterfront
  • Coffee beans being roasted at the roastery on the Leith waterfront
    Wake up and smell the coffee!
  • Swans landing at Teuchtars Landing
  • Smoked haddock and rice
    Delicious breakfast food: smoked haddock kedgeree
  • freshly made ginger beer
    This lively drink has a kick - The Roseleaf
  • Harpoon statue -
    Harpoon - whale oil was used to make margarine and soap

Price

£73

When

Saturdays

Time

11.30am

Duration

3 pm

Location

Leith Waterfront

Style

Scottish seafood

Group Size

10

Difficulty

Uneven, cobblestone-lined streets

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