Corstorphine Hill and Clermiston Tower

Corstorphine Hill is a wooded hill on the west side of Edinburgh, Scotland, topped by Clermiston Tower. The walk is about 4 km and takes one to 1.5 hours, with a summit of 161 m and about 100 m of climbing. The usual access is the Cairnmuir Road entrance (EH12 6LR), a short stroll from the tower. Lothian Buses services toward Corstorphine and Clermiston run in about 25 minutes from Princes Street, at about £2.20 a single. No permit or fee is needed, and the hill is open at all hours. A network of woodland paths climbs through trees, so shade is generous, and surfaces are dirt, roots and some steps, steep and muddy in places after rain. The hill's landmarks are Clermiston Tower on the summit and the viewpoints looking over the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridges to the north and over the city to the south. The tower is the natural turn-around point, and walkers can loop back by a different woodland path. There are no huts, cafes or water points on the hill, so water should be carried. The wooded setting gives wildlife and birdsong, and the hill is popular with local walkers and runners, so it is quieter than the central city hills. Footwear with grip is advisable because of mud and tree roots. The path network can be confusing in the trees, so an offline map is helpful. The walk suits visitors who want a short, green outing in west Edinburgh with views toward the Forth and the bridges without a long journey from the centre.