Scotland the best
Edinburgh walks
There is no finer way to explore Scotland’s capital than on foot so try these rewarding routes... Water of Leith
The indefatigable wee river that runs from the Pentlands through the city and into the docks at Leith can be walked for most of its length. The longest section is from Balerno, seven miles outside the city, through Colinton Dell to what was the old Blue Goose on Lanark Road (2.4 miles from city centre). The dell itself is a popular glen walk. All in all, a superb urban diversion.
Arthur’s Seat
Edinburgh’s landmark mountain and playground. Of many walks, a good circular one taking in the wilder bits, the lochs and great views starts from St Margaret’s Loch at the far end of the park from Holyrood Palace. Skirt the loch and head for the ruined chapel. After 250m, the buttress of the main summit rears above you on the right. Keeping it to
the right, ascend over a saddle joining the main route from Dunsapie Loch. Crow Hill is the other peak crowned by a triangular cairn – both slippery when wet. From Arthur’s Seat head for and traverse the long, steep incline of Salisbury Crags. Paths parallel to the edge lead back to the chapel. Or just cross the road by Holyrood Palace and head up.
Cramond
The charming village on the Forth at the mouth of the Almond with a variety of great walks. Though it goes through suburbs and seems to be on the flight path of the London shuttle, the Almond is a real river with a charm and ecosystem of its own.
Corstorphine Hill
West of centre, a knobbly, hilly area of birch, beech and oak, criss-crossed by trails. A perfect place for the contemplation of life’s little mysteries and mistakes. Or walking the dog. It has a radio mast, a ruined tower, a boundary with the wild plains of Africa (at the zoo) and a vast redundant nuclear shelter that nobody’s supposed to know about.