Life on the water....

The canal this morning. This area is currently being redeveloped for commercial and residential use, starting with Edinburgh Quay.

British Waterways decided in June 2008 to market the area between Edinburgh Quay and Ashley Terrace Bridge as Edinburgh Canal Quarter. With the canal now largely restored for both boating and for walkers and cyclists on the towpath, it is enjoying new life.

Holiday barges are common in the spring and summer, while in areas nearer the city centre there are even year-round residents living on narrowboats.

This was built as the "Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal" between 1812 and 1822. Helping to construct it were two Irish labourers called William Burke and William Hare who, when they got fed up labouring dug up a new line of work...