Edinburgh: Circular Bike Tour, Union Canal & Dean Village

Summary

Cycle Edinburgh’s hidden corners from Craigmillar Castle to Portobello Beach with stops at Dean Village and Leith Harbour

You’ll cycle from Craigmillar Castle past canal boats on Union Canal, through historic Dean Village and lively Leith Harbour, all with a local guide who keeps things relaxed and real. Expect small group warmth, plenty of stories, and sensory moments—from coffee by the sea to echoes in an old railway tunnel—that’ll stick with you long after you’re back in town.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — 20-mile circular cycle tour of Edinburgh

• Start at Craigmillar Castle grounds
• Cycle along The Union Canal
• Pass canal boats and 19th Century bridges
• Drop onto cycle ramp at Water of Leith
• Cycle under aqueducts and past allotments
• Pass Saughton Park and original Bandstand
• Pass Murrayfield Rugby Stadium
• Visit Dean Village World Heritage site
• See Thomas Telfer's bridge and School Board house
• Stop for refreshment at Leith harbour
• Cycle towards Portobello Beach
• View Fife across Firth of Forth Estuary
• End at 1860 built Innocent Tunnel railway path

Top questions

How long is the Edinburgh circular bike tour?

The tour covers about 20 miles on mostly traffic-free cycle paths.

Where does the bike tour start?

The tour starts at Craigmillar Castle grounds near Edinburgh city centre.

Are e-bikes available for this tour?

E-bikes can be hired for an additional £25 per person paid in cash on the day.

Is lunch included on this cycling tour?

No lunch is included but there is a refreshment stop beside Leith Harbour.

What should I bring for this Edinburgh bike tour?

You should bring comfortable clothes suitable for cycling; gloves are provided in winter.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at Craigmillar Castle grounds which are accessible by foot, bus, taxi or car (with free parking).

Can beginners join this cycle tour?

You need to be able to confidently ride a bike for 20 miles; moderate fitness is recommended.

Are there public transport options nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the meeting point.

What’s included

Your day includes use of manual bikes and helmets plus guidance from a qualified local guide throughout your 20-mile journey; gloves are provided during winter months to keep your hands warm as you ride between historic neighborhoods and scenic stops.

What’s the experience like?

“You’ll want gloves,” our guide said, handing me a pair that smelled faintly of fresh laundry and Scottish rain. I fumbled with my helmet strap while the rest of the group laughed about last night’s pub quiz. We started right in the grounds of Craigmillar Castle—no buses or cars needed, just straight onto the path. It felt good to be moving, wheels humming quietly as we threaded out of the city center. I noticed how quickly the sounds shifted: city chatter fading into birdsong and that soft scrape of tires on gravel. Didn’t expect to feel so far from traffic this fast.

The Union Canal was still waking up—rowers slicing through water, canal boats with little puffs of chimney smoke, old bridges arched like someone’s tired back. Our guide (I’m terrible with names but he had a kind smile) pointed out allotments overflowing with rhubarb and mint. We coasted under aqueducts and through Saughton Park where a bandstand stood empty except for a lone crow. Passing Murrayfield Stadium was surreal; I’ve only ever seen it on TV. Then suddenly we were rolling into Dean Village—cobblestones under our tires, stone houses stacked along the river like something from an old postcard.

I think my favorite bit was stopping by Leith Harbour for coffee—seagulls arguing overhead, salt in the air. Someone tried to order in Scots and got gently corrected by a woman behind the counter who grinned at our attempts. After that it was Portobello Beach, cold wind off the Firth of Forth making my eyes water but wow, you could see all the way across to Fife when the clouds broke for half a minute. The Innocent Tunnel came last—a long echoing ride through old railway darkness that made us all shout just to hear our voices bounce back. Twenty miles didn’t feel like twenty miles somehow.