about the Route

The new Quiet Route runs from Greenbank to the Meadows. It provides a link that forms a key connection from the South of Edinburgh to the City Centre, via the use of modal filters and the existing parts of the active travel network. It was established in 2021 to provide a safe route for walking, wheeling and cycling, as an alternative to public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along the path of the Quiet Route and nearby are several nurseries, primary and high schools, and the route also connects with several different green spaces - the Meadows, Bruntsfield Links, The Hermitage (of Braid), the Braidburn Valley Park, the Braid Hills, Blackford Hill area and the Mortonhall estate & Pentland Hills beyond.

edinburgh's quiet routes & Accessible paths

'QuietRoutes' are Edinburgh's walking and cycling routes - perfect for exploring the city. You can find both interactive and printable pdf maps online here.

City of Edinburgh Council has designed these routes for users of all abilities. They are a great way to avoid the busy main roads. Look out for the route number and colour on blue cycle signs to help you find your way.


Quiet Routes

  • Quiet Route 6 - Meadows to King's Buildings

  • Quiet Route 8 - Roseburn to Edinburgh Park

  • Quiet Route 9 - Roseburn to Newbridge

  • Quiet Route 10 - Leith to Joppa

  • Quiet Route 11 - Roseburn to Trinity

  • Quiet Route 12 - Telford to Cramond

  • Quiet Route 13 - Warriston to Granton

  • Quiet Route 14 - Trinity to Ocean Terminal

  • Quiet Route 15 - Victoria Park

  • Quiet Route 20 - Craigleith to Lochend

  • Quiet Route 61 - Gilmerton to Roslin


The QuietRoutes supplement the extensive National Cycle Network which also passes through Edinburgh and is managed by Sustrans. Some of those are listed below;

  • NCN1 - Dover to Tain

  • NCN75 - Edinburgh to Gourock via Glasgow

  • NCN76 - Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kirkcaldy

  • NCN196 - Haddington in East Lothian to Penicuik in Midlothian

  • NCN754 - Forth and Clyde canal pathway


Finally the John Muir Way passes through Bruntsfield Links, which provides connections from the new Quiet Route to the Union Canal & Innocent Railways at the Meadows. The John Muir Way is 215-kilometre (130 mi) continuous long distance route in southern Scotland, from Helensburgh, in the west to Dunbar, in the east. It is named in honour of the Scottish conservationist John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838 and became a founder of the United States National Park Service.



So why not use the new Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route to explore your local area or further by walking, wheeling & cycling!

what's on the route

the 17th CeNTURY story of sweet Water

Though it might not be so obvious when travelling along the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route, but the route roughly follows that of the first piped public water supply that served Edinburgh’s Old Town residents. From the 1690’s Edinburgh had a supply of fresh spring water delivered via wooden and lead pipes northwards from Comiston to the Castle. The location was chosen due the altitude of the springs being 18m (60ft) above that of Castlehill. Thus gravity fed the water northwards to a cistern at the Castlehill, from where it was distributed to public wellheads around the Royal Mile.


Like today’s knowledge of safe cycling infrastructure, 17th Century water supply hydraulic technology was brought to Edinburgh by Dutch engineer, Peter Brauss, who was contracted in 1674. Brauss was to be responsible for constructing the pipes, wells and cisterns within the town whilst Sir William Bruce was responsible for their architecture. The King's Master Mason, Robert Myle, was the builder. Along the route marker stones with 5 & 7 engraved indicated the diameter (in inches) of the pipe as it crossed property boundaries. Four pairs of numerals are visible on the route at Canaan Lane & Whitehouse Loan. A map & profile of the route can be seen online here;

This plan of the City of Edinburgh and its environs: Kirkwood & Son, 1817.


Profil of the earth's surface along the course of the great pipe from the Fountainhead at Commistown to the reservoir on the Castle-Hill, Edinburgh.


The Comiston Springs Water House, at the southern end of the route, contained the main wellheads and cistern. The tank inside was fed by 5 springs. Small lead figurines of a fox, swan, lapwing (pewit) and a hare were sited within, but since 1967 they have been in the Museum of Edinburgh. The original purpose or date of these sculptures is uncertain, however it is assumed the animals reflected the names of the five springs which fed into the Spring House thus indicating which pipe was connected to which spring. It has also been described as a Baroque Grotto showing the status and importance of the water supply to the city. Subsequently it is known to have been disused since 1945, with water now flowing into the Braid Burn. You can see a picture of the figurines in the museum below, and we have chosen to use the hare figurine as inspiration for the Friends of the Quiet Route logo.


However simple this system was compared to today’s complex Scottish Water network, which we take for granted, we can be sure that this significant improvement was revolutionary for the time and likely contributed in a small part in the Scottish Enlightenment of intellectual and scientific progress, centred on Edinburgh, in the 18th Century.


We hope that the Quiet Route will not only help to promote active travel and clean air in this part of South Edinburgh, but also possibly help to find a future use for the Comiston Springs Water House which is currently on the Buildings At Risk Register.

THE fox, Hare, pewit & swan

Spring Head lead figurines| Edinburgh Museums

Spring Head lead figurines in context in Comiston Spring House | Scottish Water

The MARKERS, PIpes & map

One of the remaining pipe markers on the route

Wooden water pipes found on Middle Meadow Walk

1817 map of the pipeline route | NLS Maps

COMiston to castle cycle Route


Facing the challenge of the global climate crisis, urban air quality issues caused by particulate pollution, the physical health emergency caused by inactivity and car dependent lifestyles. Friends of the Quiet Route hopes that the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route will become a key part of Edinburgh's active travel network.


We have created a proposal for a new, numbered Quiet Route from Comiston to the Castle. This will provide both utility and leisure cycling opportunities to local residents, businesses and tourists alike, thus helping to promote sustainable lifestyles and tourism, joining up and strengthening the fantastic communities along the route.


For example, in the morning and afternoon it provides safe links to walk, wheel, cycle to school or work. At evenings and weekends it provides a scenic connection for a walk, wheel or cycle to Warrender Swim Centre and activities in and around the Blackford, Braid or Pentland Hills.


This proposal utilises the existing off-road cycle network of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links via Leamington, South & Middle Meadow Walks. From here it will connect to the Meadows to George Street permanent cycle scheme to the City Centre. There are also connections to Holyrood Park in the East, the Union Canal to the west and the Pentlands Hills to the South.


Below is a concept map of a route proposal. We'd love to hear if you think this would be a good idea too and how wayfinding and interpretation could be improved.

220315_C2C QR_A4 MAP.pdf