Hidden Scotland
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Walks and nature
in Edinburgh.

It’s 20:05 in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh

Volcanoes, lochs and the river.

Nature is never far away in Edinburgh. Climb an old volcano in the royal park and look down on a freshwater loch full of birds. Follow the Water of Leith for twelve miles from the hills to the sea, or walk a wooded ridge on the west side of town. The Pentland Hills rise just beyond the bypass, and the zoo sits on the slopes of Corstorphine Hill. Bring binoculars, and look out for herons on the river.

Allermuir Hill→
Arthur’s Seat→
The Glen, North Berwick→
Cammo Estate→
Blackford Hill and the Braid Hills→
Craiglockhart Hill→
Calton Hill→
Corstorphine Hill→
Johnnie Walker Princes Street→
Duddingston Loch→
Holyrood Park→
Edinburgh Zoo→
From our collectionsA collection19 hours agoEdinburghRoyal Botanic Garden EdinburghEdinburghAshley Terrace BoathouseEdinburghDean GardensEdinburghCraiglockhart HillEdinburghAllermuir HillEdinburghNewhavenEdinburghDuddingston LochEdinburghDean VillageEdinburghCalton HillEdinburghHolyrood Park

Quiet Corners of Edinburgh

A few minutes' walk from the crowds, Edinburgh has gardens, closes and stretches of river it keeps to itself. These are the quiet corners worth finding when the Royal Mile gets too much.

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From our guide17 hours ago

Duddingston Loch.

A natural freshwater loch within walking distance of the Royal Mile? You’d better believe it. Duddingston Loch provides a blast of natural wilderness in the confines of the city. Surrounded by reedbeds and woodland, it serves as a fine habitat for herons and wintering wildfowl, and otters have even been spotted.

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Newly discovered16 hours agoEdinburghSicilian Pastry ShopCafeEdinburghBrewhemiaCafeEdinburghCramond BrigWalkEdinburghBattle of Roslin MonumentAttractionEdinburghWriters’ Museum in Lady Stair’s CloseAttractionEdinburghThe OutsiderRestaurant

Some good places to go, newly added to the site.

The newest places on our pages in Edinburgh.

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Lunch15 hours agoEdinburghRoseleaf Bar Café200 yardsEdinburghHeron400 yardsEdinburghAlby's400 yards

Lunch near Water of Leith.

The three closest tables: Roseleaf Bar Café, Heron and Alby's.

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From our guide14 hours ago

Edinburgh Zoo.

One of the first zoos to use enclosures rather than cages – quite a novel approach when it opened back in 1913 – this large-scale attraction still tries to do things the right way, with a serious commitment to conservation. Stars of the show include lions and giant pandas.

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From our collectionsA collection13 hours agoEdinburghCorstorphine HillEdinburghCammo EstateEdinburghDunbar's Close GardenEdinburghHolyrood Park and Arthur’s SeatEdinburghDr Neil’s GardenEdinburghAllermuir HillEdinburghThe MeadowsEdinburghArthur’s SeatEdinburghDuddingston LochEdinburghHolyrood Park

Green Spaces in Edinburgh Worth Finding

Edinburgh has more green space than most cities, from an extinct volcano in the middle of it to gardens that have been growing for centuries. These are the parks and hillsides worth finding.

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From our guide12 hours ago

Arthur’s Seat.

Towering 251 metres above the city, the iconic volcanic peak of Arthur’s Seat offers a proper hill walk close to the heart of Edinburgh. Urban hikes don’t come much better. One theory is that the name was originally Àrd-na-Said, which loosely translates as ‘Height of Arrows’.

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Stay11 hours agoLothianClermount Cottage4.3 milesEdinburghWest End Muse4.5 milesEdinburghThe Scott Hotel4.5 miles

Stay near Allermuir Hill.

The three good places closest to it: Clermount Cottage, West End Muse and The Scott Hotel.

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From our collectionsA collection10 hours agoEdinburghCalton HillEdinburghAllermuir HillEdinburghCraigmillar CastleEdinburghArthur’s SeatEdinburghBlackford Hill and the Braid HillsEdinburghCorstorphine HillEdinburghHolyrood Park and Arthur’s SeatEdinburghCity ObservatoryEdinburghEdinburgh CastleEdinburghLauriston Castle

The Best Views in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city best seen from above, and there are plenty of places to do it. From hilltops to monuments to an old staircase with the castle framed at the top, these are the views worth the climb.

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From our guide9 hours ago

The Meadows.

Offering a large, welcome expanse of parkland to the south of the Old Town, The Meadows comes into their own over the summer months, when festival events and general sun-frolicking are the order of the day. If you’re here in April or May, meanwhile, you might catch the tree-lined pathways bursting to life with cherry blossom.

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Sunset 18:048 hours ago

Golden hour at Calton Hill.

Any walk to the summit of this UNESCO listed hill is a walk to remember.

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From our guide6 hours ago

Braid Hills.

A rolling belt of open land to the southwest of the city, the Braid Hills are famous not just for the deep views back across to the Firth of Forth but for being home to a historic golf course.

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