Walk: Blackford Hill – suburban diversion

📌 Morningside, City of Edinburgh
★★★

Blackford Hill is one of the Seven Hills said to provide the foundations for the city of Edinburgh. Despite its lowly height, the ancient hill fort summit commands excellent views over a large swathe of the city, its castle and into Fife beyond. At its foot lies the Hermitage of Braid and the Braid Burn: a local nature reserve rich in birdlife. Our most recent visit took place during the middle of the day, but views reach their best sunset – when you might also catch a glimpse of bats hunting for insects. For a longer circuit, consider adding on a jaunt over the neighbouring Braid Hills.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on Hermitage Drive, Morningside, 2 mi south of Edinburgh Waverley station

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 245703

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.920021,-3.209516

🚌 Comiston Road (A702)

🚗 Street parking

📝 Key info

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 160 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr

Features: 💧 Hermitage of Braid (doocot, ice house & visitor centre); Blackford Pond; △ Blackford Hill (164 m)

⬤ Moderate | Tarmac, dirt and turf paths with some mud; steep on ascent of Blackford Hill.

➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – entrance to Hermitage of Braid off Braid Road – Hermitage House visitor centre via north side of burn – Blackford Pond – Blackford Hill – Royal Observatory – Blackford Glen to south – ice house – Hermitage House visitor centre – start via south side of burn

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Little grebes, mallards, moorhens and swans on Blackford Pond (teals on a part winter visit); small woodland birds.

Weather: Sunny with light winds and a few small clouds, temperature in low teens.

April 2020