Date spot in Edinburgh
Dean Village and the Water of Leith
Follow the Water of Leith Walkway from Dean Village, a cluster of old mill buildings in a gorge, downstream to Stockbridge.
Dean Path, West End, to Stockbridge
Address: Dean Village, Bell's Brae, Edinburgh EH4 3BE- Outdoors
- Free
- Dog friendly
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Why it's a good date: Ten minutes from Princes Street and it feels like a village. On a Sunday, time it to finish at Stockbridge Market for lunch from the stalls. Dogs are welcome on the walkway; keep them on a lead where it's busy.
Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
More from our Edinburgh guide
Scottish National Gallery
The Mound, between the Old Town and Princes Street
Address: The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
See Scottish and European old masters in the free gallery on the Mound, including Raeburn's skating minister.
Why it's a good date: Small enough to see properly in an hour, which leaves time for a walk in Princes Street Gardens right outside. Each of you picks a favourite painting and makes the case for it.
Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
The Shore, Leith
The Shore, Leith
Address: Fishers in Leith, 1 The Shore, Edinburgh EH6 6QW- Restaurant
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Romantic
Have dinner on Leith's old harbour front, where seafood restaurants and pubs line the quay along the Water of Leith.
Why it's a good date: It has a different feel from the city centre: slower, by the water and easy to linger in. Book ahead at weekends, and walk the riverside afterwards while it's still light.
Photo: Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Portobello Beach
Portobello Promenade, east Edinburgh
Address: Portobello Promenade, Edinburgh EH15 1HH- Outdoors
- Free
- Dog friendly
- Best in Spring, Summer
Take the bus to Edinburgh's seaside and walk the promenade along two miles of sand.
Why it's a good date: A day at the beach without leaving the city. Walk the prom one way and the sand the other, and warm up with chips or an ice cream from one of the cafés along the front. Dogs are welcome on the sand all year; from April to July, when birds are nesting, keep them close or on a short lead.
Photo: Graeme Yuill, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
