At the end of the Links, the route takes a short climb onto the Restalrig Railway path - as the name implies, a path created from a defunct railway - and passes Seafield cemetery. As the main path curves right, the route follows a narrow muddy path down to Seafield Street. The route crosses Seafield Road and follows another path between the railway and some industrial units. The route leaves Seafield Road and drops down to a walkway along the river front. As it enters Musselburgh, the route leaves the main road, passes the pretty Fisherrow Harbour and follows the promenade around Fisherrow Park. Overall: 3 or 4 stars, so I've gone for 4 because the segments through Leith Links, Portobello and Fisherrow Park outweigh the segments at Seafield and Joppa-Musselburgh....

MartinF

A nice bracing walk along the coast with some excellent wildlife viewing....

Paul Chilcott

I chose this slightly longer route to avoid the main roads as much as possible and it turned out to be an excellent coastal walk, taking in Leith Links, Portobello Promenade and the wide open Fishberrow Park headland in Musselburgh. Photo 6 - Looking back on Musselburgh Harbour and Arthur`s Seat...

Paul Chilcott

Follows roads the entire way, very easy to access, and very easy to ditch out at any point using the new tram lines or any other public transport if you decide the walk is too long. My only suggestion to the route would be to walk through Cavalry Park and Duddingston Kirk instead of the nature reserve and Jewel Park as the added elevation is just as easily accessed and gives great views of the city. Overall a nice walk to do in both summer and winter....

Matthew Harris

The route through the Links and along the old railway, and the footpath running alongside the railway and sewage works, are all good, but then the route seems to plunge onto the beach, which obviously requires a low tide. Too much beachwalking and odd diversions in the route do not make this a suitable route for all, even walkers, especially reliant as it is on the tides....

Hiking Historian

At the main road, we cross, then turn along a footpath between the railway and the sewage works. At the end of the prom in Joppa, we join the main road as far as Newhailes, where we take the road closest to the estuary, passing the harbour at Fisherrow and onto the tarmac footpath that runs across the old links....

Hiking Historian

We cross the Esk using the old bridge (stepped), before ending at the new crossing at Bridge Street....

Hiking Historian

Takes you through some pretty bits around Musselburgh and Inveresk, and then a pleasant walk through Dalkeith Country Park....

rachgriff

Good paths throughout, though the riverside path approaching Musselburgh can be muddy after heavy rains. Only the short section from Smeaton to Whitecraig is on pavement by a busy road. There's good public transport either end of the route....

Doug Bridgens

Lifting the bicycle over the Brunstane rail steps is generally less hassle than taking the alternative route round the houses, depending on lifting ability. I would also just go through the Innocent tunnel (either cycling or walking) as it's easier. And then for cyclists, there's now reasonably good and sign-posted cycle paths into town as a quicker/safer alternative to this route ending (to avoid cycling through pedestrian spaces/pavements)....

Doug Bridgens

Straightforward to follow, and gets nicer as it goes on - only point of slight navigational doubt was when you see an old sign to Musselburgh pointing across a field to your right, you just keep going straight, sticking to the John Muir way....

Bruno

A nice route, particularly picturesque as you approach Prestonpans....

Bruno

Review of SlowWays Route Leimus one (Leith to Musselburgh). I reviewed this route on a sunny Sunday afternoon in August 2022....

wellchoughed

I agree with the other reviwers and will upload an alternative route largely avoiding the busy roads. The Beach House cafe on Portobello promenade is recommended for coffee and cakes. Adventurous walkers who do not mind scrambling over boulders can walk all the way from Seafield to Musselburgh by the shore (at low tide - check the tide tables!)....

grussell

The part from the Morrison's Haven car park to Prestonpans is very pleasant....

grussell

A straightforward route from Leith to Musselburgh which affords an opportunity to walk along the beach if you're able and get the tide....

Andrew White

For a start (coming from the Musselburgh end) there appears to be a footpath between w3w tooth.with.cubes and yours.waddled.margin on the far side of the disused railway track, and then you could use Seafield Street to pick up the cycle path (either by the ageing wooden steps at w3w busy.doctor.money, or a slightly more roundabout step-free route to the south) that goes by Seafield Cemetery and on through Claremont Park, arriving into Leith via Queen Charlotte Street (though it is currently a little hampered by the tram-building works)....

Mockymock

This slow way takes you a long an A road and crosses two slip roads with a larger A road which has no signals....

Andrew White

to avoid spending more time on it I ll simply say that I cant recommend it because of the section down fa side hill and I d recommend that anyone who wants to walk from Musselburgh to tranent either goes via prestonpans or follows the minor road up fa side hill via west mains farm. interesting and quieter options at both ends are available on the local path network leaflets for Musselburgh and Tranent...

ewan davidson

As the other review indicates the section down the old post road can be muddy as used by mountain bikes (although the path is metalled underneath) , and the route along the A199 is by an increasingly busy road with constant traffic between 8 and 8....

ewan davidson

A pleasant straightforward route between Musselburgh and Prestonpans that largely avoids roads and is flat and easy to walk. A small section of the footpath (that runs parallel to the B1348 and is part of the John Muir Way) is quite narrow and was a little overgrown when I went, so may not be suitable for ‘wheelers’ but presents no difficulties to walkers. It would be possible to walk alongside the road instead....

Kiki

A practical route between Musselburgh and Tranent that is mainly flat and avoids main roads where possible....

Kiki

At the Musselburgh end the route goes over the Old Bridge which has steep steps at either side - going along Bridge Street (rather than Market Street) would take it over New Bridge with no steps....

Kiki

For ‘wheelers’, be aware the Musselburgh end of the route goes over the Old Bridge with steep steps at either side - a slight adjustment to go over the New Bridge and along Bridge Street (rather than Market Street) would avoid this....

Kiki