Edinburgh Leith Private Photography and History Tour

Photograph and discover Leith, one of the most vibrant & interesting parts of Edinburgh. David is a local guide & photographer, who will help you photograph and discover one of the most fascinating & historic parts of the city.
Learn about the Royal Kings & Queens who landed here, visit some historic churches & graveyards, learn about one of the first Inuit's to visit Scotland, the Leith author who became bigger than Shakespeare, Leith's very own Rock n' Roll star who outsold Elvis, the aeroplane shop that sold early bi-planes, the Zeppelin bombing raids of WW1 and the golf club at Leith Links, which created the first known rules of golf.

There'll be lots of David's hidden gems, many off the beaten track, with lots of history, stories and travel photography tips along the way. All kinds of cameras can be used, including smartphones.

Meeting Point

Malmaison Edinburgh

1 Tower Pl, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7BZ, UK

I will be standing outside the entrance to THE MALMAISON HOTEL, wearing a BLUE BLAZER, a BLUE CAP and have a BLUE RUCKSACK. I will give you my telephone number incase you need to contact me for directions.

What's included:

• FREE 100 page Edinburgh City Guide PDF, written by David Wheater of Adventures in Scotland
• My Guide to Spending a Day in Edinburgh and my recommendations for Cafe's, Restaurants & Pubs.
• My iPhone Photography Guide, explaining how to use your iPhone camera to take better iPhone photos.

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Leith Links

4 Links Gardens, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8HR, UK

David will tell you about all the highlights & history of Leith Links - the home of golf. We'll take pictures, while David gives you lots of tips & tricks to improve your photos.

10 minutes

The King's Wark

36 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QU, UK

Discover the Royals who landed here, including Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria. David will explain about the historical significance of the this lovely shoreside pub and help you to take great photos of this striking building and the Shore.

5 minutes

North Leith Parish Church

1a Madeira Pl, Edinburgh EH6 4AW, UK

Explore this beautiful, historic churchyard and its lovely secret garden. A wonderfully atmospheric church, which we'll take a stroll through, while David points out some of his favourite features and photographic spots.

10 minutes

Trinity House Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum 99 Kirkgate, Edinburgh, EH6 6BJ

Learn about this historic maritime house and Leith's long history and association with the sea. Leith was an important maritime port for centuries, and its history & people are inextricably shaped by their connection with trade & commerce. David will explain the importance of Maritime House to Leith, and help you take striking architectural shots, with lots of helpful tips along the way.

5 minutes

Queen Victoria Statue

1 Duke St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AE, UK

Learn all about Queen Victoria's historic visit to Leith in 1842. This magnificent bronze memorial statue, situated at the 'Fit o' The Walk', is dedicated to Leithers who fought in the Boer War. David will cover the history of her visit and help you to take stunning close-up photographs of this well know Leith landmark.

5 minutes

Robert Burns Statue

Constitution St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7BG, UK

Learn about Scotland's best loved poet, Robert Burns, and his associations with Leith. We'll spend time at the statue, while David tells you about some of his greatest works and we'll learn about the 'Rule of Thirds', a compositional rule that will help you get better photos of objects and people.

5 minutes

Malmaison Edinburgh

1 Tower Pl, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7BZ, UK

Formerly The Sailor's Home, founded 1853 and now the Malmaison Hotel, Leith. Learn about this pioneering innovation in social care for sailors. David will explain how important the Sailor's Home was to sailor's from all around the world. We'll photograph the beautiful exterior and the 'Coat of Arms of Leith' on the exterior.

5 minutes

North Leith Parish Church

1a Madeira Pl, Edinburgh EH6 4AW, UK

Photograph & admire the Manse & Dutch Style bell tower of the former St Ninian's Chapel and North Leith Parish Church. David will tell you about its conversion into a granary & mill and subsequent office & residential use. The oldest building in Leith and a wee gem. A very photogenic spot that David will help you to capture great photos of, with lots of tips for taking photos of buildings and great architecture.

5 minutes

Lambs House

Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QU, UK

Andro Lamb's House is a beautiful example of an early 17th century Scot's Merchant's House, where Mary, Queen of Scots is said to have visited briefly on her arrival to Leith in 1561. It's one of the finest 17th century merchant houses in Scotland, and David will tell you all about it's history and development into a family home, along with capturing some great architectural shots of this striking building.

5 minutes

North Leith Burial Ground.

17a Coburg St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6ET, UK

A beautiful, atmospheric graveyard dating back to 1664, that's a real hidden gem and easily missed. David will take you for a stroll through this magnificent medieval graveyard, pointing out all his favourite features, and give you instruction on how to use light & shadow to take some stunning photos.

10 minutes

Custom House Leith

65-67 Commercial St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6LH, UK

Built in 1812, a beautiful, classical building by Robert Reid and remodelled by William Burn. David will explain its history as a place for collecting duty on goods passing through the port, and help you photograph this beautiful Greek, Doric Revival style building that's one of most impressive buildings in Leith.

5 minutes

The Signal Tower

1 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QW, UK

Built in 1685, one of the oldest buildings in Leith, and used for signalling to ships coming into the harbour. David will help you capture stunning photos of this lovely tower, and give you some valuable travel photography tips, which you can use during the rest of your holiday, and in the future.

5 minutes

Teuchters Landing

1c Dock Pl, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6LU, UK

A look at one of Leith's most loved, dockside pubs & beer gardens. One of Leith's most popular pubs, we'll pop our heads inside and admire the views of the dock from the dockside pontoon.

5 minutes

Old Town Hall, Leith

29-35 Queen Charlotte St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7EY, UK

A magnificent classical building that's wonderful to photograph. Learn about Leith's struggle for autonomy and independence from Edinburgh and how it was lost in 1920, despite the majority of Leither's voting against amalgamation with Edinburgh. David will tell you about Leither's proud fight to remain a separate burgh from Edinburgh, and how they still maintain their own distinct identity and heritage from the rest of Edinburgh.

5 minutes

Leith Assembly Rooms

Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7BG, UK

The Leith Assembly Rooms opened in 1783, fast becoming the lively social centre of Leith. Next door is the magnificent Exchange buildings, which served as the commercial centre for the Port of Leith. David will show you some of his favourite features of these wonderful buildings and give you some of his best tips for photographing historical details.

5 minutes

Scottish Merchant Navy Memorial

Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 7BZ

Opened in 2010 by Princess Anne to commemorate civilians lost in the Second World War. David will show you the beautiful intricate details of this superb memorial, and show you how to select the best possible backgrounds for photos, to make your subjects pop and stand out.

5 minutes

Sandy Irvine Robertson Statue/Bench

282 Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 6QW

Dedicated to Sandy Irvine Robertson OBE (1942-1999) who was a much loved local wine merchant, charity promoter and founder of the Scottish Business Achievements Awards Trust. Now an iconic landmark of the Shore area, David will show you how to use 'Portrait mode' on your iPhone, or Smartphone, to get the best possible photos & portraits of the people you love. David will also take some photos of you as a keepsake and memory of your visit to Leith.

5 minutes

Water Of Leith Walkway

Water Of Leith Walkway, Leith, Edinburgh EH6, UK

Enjoy a short stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway, where it meets The Shore of Leith, and spot some wildlife and birds along the way. David will show you his favourite spots along this short, riverside walk and we'll look out for flowers, birds & other wildlife to photograph, alongside some of David's top photography tips for shooting nature & wildlife.

20 minutes