Currie: Village History on the Water of Leith

Currie sits on a ridge above the Water of Leith and is surrounded by greenbelt. The townscape brings together the historic settlement, the river landscape and the paths in the valley. If you’re looking for a hotel in Currie, these two main features may shape your choice of location: the history around Currie Kirk, or the landscape and its paths.

Landscape and Historic Centre

The Currie Conservation Area focuses on the original historic village and the kirk. The woodland and vegetation around the Water of Leith are also part of the character of this conservation area. The village’s history and the river valley are therefore closely connected themes that define Currie as a destination. The historic settlement developed around Currie Kirk; the more formal historic settlement also grew up around the kirk. Currie Kirk has served as a place of worship for more than 1,000 years. If you’re interested in how a place developed, it offers a tangible starting point for understanding the history of the settlement’s centre.

Bridges, Wells and Milling History

Currie Brig shows why the date of a historic structure’s original form should be distinguished from that of its present-day form: the original bridge is said to date from the 14th century, while Currie Brig in its present form dates from the 18th century. St Mungo’s Well is also part of Currie’s heritage. The well is dedicated to Saint Mungo, also known as Saint Kentigern.

The history of industry can be traced through other names. The Bottle Kiln is considered one of the few surviving circular grain mills in Scotland. The old Kinleith Mill was once the largest mill on this stretch of the Water of Leith. These two examples differ in how they are notable: the Bottle Kiln stands out for its rare surviving design, while Kinleith Mill is notable for its former importance along this stretch of the river.

Paths Between Currie, the River Valley and the Pentlands

The Muir Wood Path connects Currie and Juniper Green along Muir Wood field. The section between Muir Wood Road in Currie and Bloomiehall Park in Juniper Green is used by pupils from Currie High School, families and people walking their dogs. Another path leads up through Poet’s Glen into the Pentlands. The routes therefore differ in the connections described: the Muir Wood Path links two places, while the path through Poet’s Glen climbs towards the Pentlands.

The Water of Leith walkway, the churchyard and the valley paths in Currie are also used for recreation and education. Together with the Muir Wood Path and the route through Poet’s Glen, they give a stay a focus on the landscape, although not all the paths have the same destination or purpose. Lanark Road adds a historical perspective: it was Currie’s main route south and is still known as “The Lang Whang”.

Choosing Currie as a Destination

This makes it possible to compare Currie with your travel interests through specific themes, rather than searching by place name alone.

If you’re interested in fishing on the Water of Leith, check the permit stretch and applicable rules separately. A fishing permit covers a stretch of about 12 miles between Bridge Road in Balerno and West Bowling Green Street Bridge in Leith. Check the seasonal rules and permits before fishing.

Discover more destinations: Newbridge, Ratho, Leith, Queensferry.

For the main travel overview: Edinburgh.