Outdoors
Edinburgh is brilliant for lovers of the outdoors. You don't even need to leave the city to find some beautiful green spaces to blow the cobwebs away. One of the most striking things about the city is not just the enormous number of parks, but the sheer quantity of people enjoying using them. Head to the Meadows on a summer's evening and you're likely to see runners, tennis players, rugby 5s, Frisbee throwers, yoga groups, picnickers and wanderers, to name but a few of the activities taking place. The Hermitage and Cammo Park are other gems worth hunting out.
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Head up any of the city's seven hills (Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Arthur's Seat, Blackford Hill, Corstorphine, Craiglockhart and Braid Hills) to get the blood pumping and be rewarded with fabulous views over the city and surrounding countryside. For the seriously fit and energetic you can even enter the brilliant Seven Hills Race that takes place every June.
If you love beaches, then stroll down to the Dalmeny Estate and Cramond to the North West of the city centre, or Portobello to the East.
A fantastic network of paths thread throughout the city along the now disused railway lines, most of which fed to the port of Leith. They are now properly surfaced and most are lit, providing lovely walks and cycle paths well away from the traffic. They are also great areas for foraging!
The Water of Leith and Union Canal are waterside walks that draw you away from the hustle and bustle, without even leaving the city centre. A little further out, the Almond River is a real treat, meeting the sea at Cramond where a carefully timed walk out to Cramond Island on the causeway is a great expedition for families (but check the tide timetable carefully first!).
Finally, you can't fail but notice the band of hills to the south of the city. These Pentland Hills offer fantastic mountainbiking and walking routes, again with wonderful views from the tops. Whatever else you do in Edinburgh, make sure you find some time to explore our outdoor spaces.
If you love beaches, then stroll down to the Dalmeny Estate and Cramond to the North West of the city centre, or Portobello to the East.
A fantastic network of paths thread throughout the city along the now disused railway lines, most of which fed to the port of Leith. They are now properly surfaced and most are lit, providing lovely walks and cycle paths well away from the traffic. They are also great areas for foraging!
The Water of Leith and Union Canal are waterside walks that draw you away from the hustle and bustle, without even leaving the city centre. A little further out, the Almond River is a real treat, meeting the sea at Cramond where a carefully timed walk out to Cramond Island on the causeway is a great expedition for families (but check the tide timetable carefully first!).
Finally, you can't fail but notice the band of hills to the south of the city. These Pentland Hills offer fantastic mountainbiking and walking routes, again with wonderful views from the tops. Whatever else you do in Edinburgh, make sure you find some time to explore our outdoor spaces.
