City of Edinburgh | Comiston | Half day walk | ★★★
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[View towards Edinburgh from the Braid Hills] |
The Braid Hills are a belt of high ground rising out of the southern suburbs of
Edinburgh. This is the southernmost of the city's "Seven Hills", and there's a superb panorama of the other 6 (
Arthur's Seat,
Castle Rock,
Calton Hill,
Corstorphine Hill,
Craiglockhart Hill and
Blackford Hill) from the summit. The latter of these is also included in the varied, 5 mile route featured here, which feels surprisingly rural despite its situation amidst residential streets. You won't be alone - the number of dogs taking their owners for walks along the Hermitage of Braid puts paid to that - but it's a great way to escape the crowds of the Royal Mile.
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[Path out to Braid Road] |
📌 Walk: Braid Hills - surveying the seven summits
★★★
Start / finish at street parking on Riselaw Crescent, Comiston, 3 mi south of Edinburgh Waverley station, G.R.: NT 244696 ///nest.songs.dirt. Alternative start point at the entrance to Hermitage of Braid.
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 320 m | ⌚ Half a day |
⬤ Moderate
Features: Braidburn Valley; Hermitage of Braid (doocot & visitor centre); Blackford Pond; △ Blackford Hill (164 m); △ Buckstone Snab / Braid Hills (208 m)
Terrain: Varied tarmac, dirt, grassy and muddy paths, short pavement sections. Some steep sections, especially on ascent of Blackford Hill.
Route & map
Start - Braidburn Valley (south to north) - Hermitage of Braid (doocot & visitor centre) - Blackford Pond - Blackford Hill - path junction at G.R.: NT 261702 ///gear.foods.diary - Buckstone Snab / Braid Hills - start
Route credit: Scotland Off the Beaten Track
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On our visit
Wildlife: Small birds, grey squirrels; little grebes, mallards, moorhens and swans on Blackford Pond (teals on a previous winter visit).
Weather: Sunny with scattered clouds, temperature in low teens, light winds.
Chronological photo guide
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[Braidburn Valley] |
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[Hermitage of Braid] |
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[Hermitage of Braid] |
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[Hermitage of Braid] |
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[Hermitage of Braid] |
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[Hermitage of Braid] |
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[Approach to Blackford Hill] |
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[Midmar Paddock] |
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[Blackford Pond] |
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[Toad at Blackford Pond] |
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[Little Grebe at Blackford Pond] |
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[Ascent of Blackford Hill] |
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[Arthur's Seat from Blackford Hill] |
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[View towards the city from Blackford Hill summit] |
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[View towards the Braid & Pentland Hills from Blackford Hill summit] |
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[Descent from Blackford Hill] |
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[Descent from Blackford Hill] |
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[Chaffinch] |
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[Blackford Glen] |
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[Ascent onto the Braid Hills] |
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[Ascent onto the Braid Hills] |
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[Blackford Hill from the climb onto the Braid Hills] |
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[Carrion Crow] |
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[View towards Edinburgh from the Braid Hills] |
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[Edinburgh Castle from Blackford Hill summit] |
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[Braid Hills summit, Pentland Hills beyond] |
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[Cave on descent from the Braid Hills] |
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[Visiting the cave] |
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[Path out to Braid Road] |
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[Suburban life] |
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