📌 Ratho, City of Edinburgh
★★
A peaceful wooded grove atop a low hill just outside Ratho conceals some fine examples of prehistoric rock art. Dozens of cup marks can be made out – many surrounded by concentric rings – as well as a larger arrow which sources suggest was carved by the Ordnance Survey in the mid 19th century (usefully, the arrow happens to point towards the main outcrop). Eight historically significant rock outcrops have been recorded, though vegetation now conceals about half of these. These rock carvings are reason enough to visit Tormain Hill, but they are complemented by surprisingly extensive views both east across fields towards the capital and west into West Lothian. The unspoiled nature of the site is all the more remarkable given that it’s within just a few miles of two motorways, an international airport and multiple major railway lines – and well under 10 miles from Edinburgh city centre.
🌍 Location
📌 Off Wilkieston Road, 0.5 mi southwest of Ratho
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 129697
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.912179,-3.394897
🚌 Bus to Ratho or Bonnington Mains (0.5 mi)
🚗 Street parking at the entrance to Ratho village, 🧭 NT 130704 / 🛰️ 55.918931,-3.393331
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 From the entrance to Ratho village it’s a 15-min walk (each way) to the rock carvings (⬤ Easy). Take the signposted footpath on the east side of the road, immediately turning right to stay parallel to the road out of the village. The clear path – which is narrow and muddy in a few spots – gradually curves away from the road while ascending, with the rock carvings very close to the summit. The immediate area is worth exploring to soak in the views from the edges of the woodland.
