Scotland Off the Beaten Track

City of Edinburgh | Holyrood | Half day walk | ★★★★★ [Arthur's Seat from Salisbury Crags] Amidst a capital city already extraordinary for its history and man made tourist attractions, Arthur's Seat is Edinburgh 's crowning glory. The summit is the highest of the city's Seven Hills and dominates the skyline however you arrive in the capital, be it by air, road or rail. The rocky summit and neighbouring Salisbury Crags are, like the hill on which Edinburgh Castle stands, the remains of an ancient volcano. The whole area is within the boundaries of Holyrood Park: former royal pleasure ground and now under the care of Historic Environment Scotland. This circular route takes in the crags and summit, the park's northernmost loch and the remains of a 14th century chapel, with world class views throughout. But although technically a walk in the park, it's certainly not your average one. Stout footwear is advised: this is a proper hill climb, so allow a few hour

City of Edinburgh | Morningside | Short walk | ★★★ [Hermitage of Braid] Blackford Hill is one of the Seven Hills said to provide the foundations for the city of Edinburgh . Despite its lowly height, the ancient hill fort summit commands excellent views over a large swathe of the city, its castle and into Fife beyond. At its foot lies the Hermitage of Braid and the Braid Burn: a local nature reserve rich in birdlife. Our most recent visit took place during the middle of the day, but views reach their best sunset - when you might also catch a glimpse of bats hunting for insects. For a longer circuit, consider adding on a jaunt over the neighbouring Braid Hills . [Edinburgh & Arthur's Seat from Blackford Hill] 📌 Walk: Beautiful Blackford Hill - suburban diversion ★★★ Start & finish at street parking on Braid Road, Morningside, 2 mi south of Edinburgh Waverley station, G.R.: NT 245703 ///lonely.land.wasp ▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 160 m | ⌚ Short | ⬤ Moderate Fea