Open Travel Guide
Hiking in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

Where to walk in Edinburgh — from easy half-days to serious treks, with honest difficulty grades.

By Updated

Edinburgh has 12+ hiking trails covered in this guide, led by Arthur's Seat Summit Walk, Salisbury Crags and St Anthony's Chapel Circuit and Water of Leith Walkway: Dean Village to Leith. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, a compact city of about half a million people built across a chain of extinct volcanic hills. Its Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Edinburgh Castle on its rock at one end of the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other. Visitors come for the medieval closes, the Georgian crescents, free national museums, Arthur's Seat, Scottish seafood and whisky, and the festivals that fill the city every August.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    Arthur's Seat Summit Walk

    5 km (3.1 miles)1.5-2.5 hours returnmoderate251 m summit; roughly 200 m of climbing from the park edge

    Arthur's Seat is the 251 m volcanic peak in Holyrood Park, a short walk from the Royal Mile, with 360-degree views over the Old Town, the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills.
  2. 2

    Salisbury Crags and St Anthony's Chapel Circuit

    4 km (2.5 miles)1-1.5 hourseasyAbout 120 m of ascent

    A short loop across Holyrood Park along the top of Salisbury Crags, with views of the Old Town skyline, then down to the ruined St Anthony's Chapel and St Margaret's Loch.
  3. 3

    Water of Leith Walkway: Dean Village to Leith

    9 km (5.6 miles)2.5-3 hours one way; can be split at StockbridgeeasyMostly flat or gently downhill

    A riverside path through Dean Village, Stockbridge and Inverleith to Leith, passing Telford's Dean Bridge, St Bernard's Well and the Shore.
  4. 4

    Allermuir Hill and Caerketton Hill (Pentlands) from Hillend

    7 km (4.3 miles)3-3.5 hoursmoderateAllermuir Hill 493 m, Caerketton Hill 478 m; about 400 m of climbing

    A ridge walk above the city on grassy hill paths, topping Caerketton and Allermuir with views to the Forth, Fife and the Lammermuir Hills.
  5. 5

    Threipmuir and Harlaw Reservoirs Loop

    8 km (5.0 miles)2-2.5 hourseasyGently undulating, under 100 m total climb

    A low-level circuit of two reservoirs below the Pentland ridge, popular for easy walking and bird watching close to Balerno.
  6. 6

    Blackford Hill and Hermitage of Braid

    4 km (2.5 miles)1.5-2 hourseasy164 m summit; about 100 m of climbing

    A gentle hill and woodland walk at the southern edge of the city with some of the best views of the Edinburgh skyline.
  7. 7

    Cramond Island Causeway

    3 km (1.9 miles)2-3 hours total including time on the island (the crossing itself is about 20-30 minutes each way)easyFlat tidal causeway; the island rises to about 40 m

    A walk across a tidal concrete causeway to an island with Second World War gun batteries and wide Forth views, passable only around low tide.
  8. 8

    Cramond to South Queensferry Coastal Walk

    14 km (8.7 miles)4-5 hours one waymoderateMostly flat; about 150 m total ascent

    A long coastal walk along the south shore of the Firth of Forth past Dalmeny Estate and the three Forth bridges to South Queensferry.
  9. 9

    Union Canal Towpath: Fountainbridge to Ratho

    13 km (8.1 miles)3-4 hours one waymoderateFlat (canal towpath)

    A flat canal-side walk from the city centre out to Ratho, crossing the Slateford Aqueduct, with cafes and pubs along the way.
  10. 10

    North Berwick Law

    5 km (3.1 miles)1.5-2 hours return from the towneasy187 m summit; about 190 m of climbing

    A conical volcanic hill above North Berwick with the best views in East Lothian, reachable by train from Waverley.
  11. 11

    Roslin Glen Country Park

    6 km (3.7 miles)1.5-2.5 hourseasyWooded gorge; about 120 m of climbing

    A wooded gorge walk along the North Esk, passing ruined mills and Roslin Castle, a short walk from Rosslyn Chapel.
  12. 12

    Corstorphine Hill and Clermiston Tower

    4 km (2.5 miles)1-1.5 hourseasy161 m summit; about 100 m of climbing

    A wooded hill on the west side of the city, with views over the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridges.

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.

Moderate

Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.

Hard

Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.

Expert

Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.

When to hike

Seasonal conditions in Edinburgh.

Items

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

Medium

Hazard: The Cramond Island causeway is covered by the incoming tide faster than walkers expect. Cross only within the posted safe window and leave the island well before it closes; call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if cut off.

Medium

Hazard: Salisbury Crags and the Arthur's Seat summit cone have steep drops and loose scree. Stay on marked paths and keep away from edges in wind, mist and ice.

Medium

Hazard: Conditions change quickly on the Pentland ridge: carry a waterproof, hat and extra layer even in summer. Check the Met Office Pentland Hills forecast (metoffice.gov.uk) before setting out.

Medium

Hazard: Ticks live in long grass and bracken in the Pentlands and East Lothian from spring to autumn. Wear long trousers, check skin afterwards and remove ticks with a tick tool; see a doctor if a bullseye rash appears.

Medium

Hazard: Sheep and cattle graze Pentland routes and coastal fields. Keep dogs on a lead near stock and during the bird nesting season (March-July).

Medium

Hazard: Water of Leith and Union Canal paths can flood or turn muddy after heavy rain. Wear waterproof shoes between October and April.

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