The Water of Leith through Edinburgh is free to fish with a council permit (1 April–30 September, catch-and-release brown trout and grayling); the Tweed's salmon season at Peebles, 34 km away, runs 1 February–30 November. The waters with mapped locations lie 3.4 km to 34 km from the city centre. Scotland has no recreational fishing licences; you need a permit or written permission from the owner of the fishing rights.
Where to fish
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Water of Leith
river3.4 km from the city centre
Fished for: brown trout, grayling, flounder (lower stretches).
Permit covers about 12 miles from Balerno to Leith.
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River Tweed at Peebles
river
Fished for: Atlantic salmon, sea trout, brown trout, grayling.
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Lyne Water
stream34 km from the city centre
Fished for: brown trout, grayling.
Tweed tributary joining above Peebles; 5 miles on the Peeblesshire association permit.
Getting there: Peebles is 34 km (21 mi) from Edinburgh (Wikipedia).
What you can catch, and when
| Species | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brown trout | Water of Leith and Peeblesshire association: 1 April–30 September. Scotland's annual close time: 7 October–14 March | Water of Leith is not stocked — catch-and-release only, barbless hooks. |
| Grayling | Water of Leith: 1 April–30 September. Peeblesshire association: 1 January–30 September (some stretches closed January–March) | Scotland has no statutory closed season for grayling. |
| Atlantic salmon | Tweed: 1 February–30 November | Early spring fish highly prized; autumn most productive. No salmon fishing on Sundays in Scotland. Illegal to fish for on the Water of Leith. |
| Sea trout | Tweed: within the salmon season | Summer brings a steady run of salmon and sea trout. No Sunday fishing. Illegal on the Water of Leith. |
Best time: Autumn (Tweed salmon, most productive) · Early spring (prized Tweed spring salmon) · April–September (trout)
Do you need a permit?
Scotland has no recreational fishing licences; you need a permit or written permission from the owner of the fishing rights. Water of Leith: free City of Edinburgh Council permit (download online or collect at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre). Tweed: beat permits for salmon; Peeblesshire Trout Angling Association permit for trout and grayling (23 miles of Tweed, 5 of Lyne Water).
Cost: Water of Leith permit: free (City of Edinburgh Council, 2025 permit).
Authority: Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh Council; River Tweed Commission — gov.scot
Good to know
- No salmon or sea trout fishing on Sundays anywhere in Scotland.
- Water of Leith: spinning and fixed line prohibited; fly only from Balerno to Bogs Bridge; bait only from Slateford down to West Bowling Green Street; catch return required for every visit; private stretches need landowner consent.
- Protection Orders cover the Tweed: fishing for grayling or trout without a permit is a criminal offence.
Places to stay around Edinburgh
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Frequently asked
Do you need a fishing permit near Edinburgh?
Scotland has no recreational fishing licences; you need a permit or written permission from the owner of the fishing rights. Water of Leith: free City of Edinburgh Council permit (download online or collect at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre). Tweed: beat permits for salmon; Peeblesshire Trout Angling Association permit for trout and grayling (23 miles of Tweed, 5 of Lyne Water).
What can you catch near Edinburgh?
Brown trout, Grayling, Atlantic salmon, Sea trout. Seasons and limits differ by species — see the table on this page.
When is the best time for fishing near Edinburgh?
Autumn (Tweed salmon, most productive); Early spring (prized Tweed spring salmon); April–September (trout).
How far are the waters from Edinburgh?
Water of Leith: 3.4 km; Lyne Water: 34 km (straight-line distance from the city centre).
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh city guide Every neighbourhood compared — distances, stations, who each area suits. Hunting near Edinburgh Driven red grouse is shot on the Lammermuir Hills about 33 km (straight line) from Edinburgh; the Scottish grouse season runs 12 Aug - 10 Dec. Fishing across Europe All 14 cities with a researched fishing guide. Sources
- Scottish Government — No licences; permission required; Sunday salmon ban; trout close time 7 Oct–14 Mar; protection orders
- Fisheries Management Scotland — Tweed rod season 1 Feb–30 Nov; no Sunday salmon/sea trout
- City of Edinburgh Council — Free permit, 1 Apr–30 Sep, coverage, species, protected species
- Water of Leith Conservation Trust — Catch-and-release, barbless, method rules by section, not stocked
- River Tweed Commission — Salmon season 1 Feb–30 Nov
- River Tweed Commission — Peeblesshire TAA water and trout/grayling seasons
- Scotland Starts Here (VisitScotland/South of Scotland) — Spring and autumn runs; beats; no rod licence
- Grayling Society — No grayling close season; Tweed protection order
- Wikipedia — Peebles 34 km from Edinburgh
- Wikipedia — Water of Leith mouth coordinates
- ReasonStay methodology — how facts are researched and checked