Water of Leith, Upper
Kayak spot · UK
Whitewater: a river with rapids
Is it worth the trip?
Not for new paddlers. Suits grade III paddlers and up, by its grade.
The spot in two facts
- Grade IIIat its hardest
- Moving waterthe water
Full forecast
every day, every number
Not for new paddlers. Suits grade III paddlers and up, by its grade. See it for grade III paddlers.
Forecast updated . It refreshes every three hours. Forecast data: ECMWF, DWD, Météo-France and NOAA, served by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Changed by us. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.
Map
put-in, take-out, its town
Water of Leith, Upper on Google Maps · Directions
Each place wears its best day on these dates: green good, amber fair, pale red poor, as the key says.
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Photos of Water of Leith, Upper
More kayaking near here
4 places
- Water of Leith, Lower 3.8 km away
- Forth Canoe Club 5.6 km away
- Almond 7.5 km away
- Roslin Park 9.8 km away
About
the place in full, sources, credits
About Water of Leith, Upper
A river section on the Water of Leith, from a put-in down to a take-out. Grade III, on the international scale. Suits grade III paddlers and up, by its grade. 2 paddling schools, clubs or hire within 10 km, the nearest 2.0 km away. The town to stay in is Edinburgh. Within 5 km we also list 2 kayak spots and 1 mountain bike area.
- River Water of Leith
- Grade Grade III, on the international scale.
- Who it suits Suits grade III paddlers and up, by its grade.
- Access No source states the access rules: check locally.
- Schools, hire 2 paddling schools, clubs or hire within 10 km, the nearest 2.0 km away.
Spots and rivers: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Whitewater sections © Rivermap (rivermap.org), Riverzone and Jonathan Riddell, ODbL.
The score is the conditions only: the journey, the price and the partners never change it (how we score, how we earn).
Rough cost (estimate): about US$1,270–US$2,400 each
about US$1,270–US$2,400 each · 6 nights, 2 sharing: flights, taxi, stay, food, kayak hire.
Our estimate from typical public prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book (where they come from). Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 2 November 2026.
How we worked it out
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to EDI, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | about US$423–US$886 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | about US$20–US$40 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | about US$322–US$543 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | about US$315–US$584 |
| Kayak hire | 5 days, or about US$114 to fly your own | about US$188–US$349 |
| Total | about US$1,270–US$2,400 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026.
Where to stay: Edinburgh
Ad Links marked Ad may pay us if you book. You pay the same, and they never change a score. How we earn
about 15 min by car · 520 places to stay
about US$121/nightcountry average
About Edinburgh its beds, food and every spot near it
About US$121 a night is our estimate of the country's average 2-star double room that month: not each town's price, and not a quote. Drives are estimates. Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 2 November 2026.
Getting there: about 12h 25m
About 12h 25m door to door from Chicago
Fly ORD → EDI, direct, then 30 min by road
Flights ORD → EDI on your dates · AviasalesAdeSIM for your phone · Search on AiraloAd
An estimate, one way; the journey never changes the score.
On the water
Kayak trips and courses in Edinburgh · GetYourGuideKayak hire in Edinburgh · GetYourGuide
River level
River levels: no free forecast gives them, so check a gauge before you go.
Paddling schools, clubs and hire nearby
Bridge 8 Hub 2.0 km
Forth Canoe Club 5.6 km
The nearest named schools, clubs and kayak or canoe hire within 25 km, in a straight line. Listings, not a recommendation. Schools, clubs and hire: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits