Blackford Hill

An easy climb and fab views of the Capital.

So I went up Blackford Hill for the first time there the other day; it was awesome!

It’s really not too strenuous a trek to get up to the very top, and when you get there you have access to some truly spectacular views of the city and of Arthur’s Seat, the castle in the distance…

I wholeheartedly r

Blackford Hill is a large hill and part of a park on the south side of Edinburgh. It is a very popular place for dog walkers although you don’t need to have a dog to enjoy the walk. There is a car park that you can drive up to and park and then walk up to the viewpoint on the hill. Here you can get amazing panoramic views around Edinburgh.

Blackford Hill is a lovely park in the south of the city, with great views adjacent to the Hermitage and containing the Observatory. At the foot of Blackford Hill is Blackford Pond, a favourite place to take the kids to feed the ducks. The ducks are very used to being fed, and on weekends you’ll need to get there early or they wont be at all interested in your food! The pond also has a mini park adjacent with toddler size swing and climbing frame, as well as a bandstand to shelter from the unpredictable elements. On the hill itself you’ll find a lovely park to walk the kids and dogs, in the autumn there’s a profusion of blackberries to enjoy.

I love Blackford Hill. It’s a fantastic place for an afternoon walk in Edinburgh and I think it offers the best view of Edinburgh. It is a very steep walk up but worth it when you get to the top.

I also really enjoy cycling up the hill, its a good spot for a hill climb if that’s the sort of thing you’re after. It’s great for an hours mountain biking if you’re in the city and don’t want to go out as far as the Pentlands and just want to blow some cobwebs away.

Lovely place to go for a walk with your partner, the kids or your dog(s). From the city centre take bus 15 or 11 and get off where Comiston Rd meets Braid Rd. Then walk up Braid Rd (heading north); after crossing a stone bridge you’ll find the entrance to the park on your right. First you’ll pass through beautiful woodland. Pay a visit to the visitor centre - it’s worth it. It has toilets and a wonderful display of all the animals living in this park. Also lots of stuff for kids. Then continue on your walk. When you get out of the woodlands take the stone steps to your left and follow the path. Eventually you’ll see steps to your right taking you to the summit of Blackford Hill. Great views. Lots of benches to sit down and take in the scenery!

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Located just a 40 minute walk from the center of old town, Blackford Park, containing both the picturesque Hill, and the rather boring, albeit pleasant pond is a hidden gem, even among Edinburgh’s extensive catalogue of green areas.

Located in the south, just down the road from the atrociously ugly King’s Buildings (part of the University of Edinburgh), the Hill has multiple routes to the top.

Easily the most pleasant way to climb one of the seven hills of Edinburgh is to follow W. Mains Road away from the Kings Buildings, past the golf course, to go with it as it becomes Blackford Avenue, and then to take a left through the gates and into the park.

One can now stroll through the lush greenery, casually heading up the sloping hillside (don’t forget to look at the little Craig as you come in), until one reaches the top, on which stands the Royal Observatory, and from where a beautiful view opens onto the City of Edinburgh, with the Pentlands in the South, suggesting the next trip’s destination, and the town itself opening up in front of you.

Like Rome, Edinburgh is built on 7 hills. Each offers a unique perspective on Scotland’s capital city but my favourite is Blackford Hill. Three short kilometres south of the city centre, it rises to 164 metres (539 feet), is home to the Royal Observatory (built in 1896) and offers outstanding panoramic views. You can park minutes from the summit, although the more fitness-conscious visitor can tackle one of the many walks converging on the hill. Whichever way you arrive at the top, your reward is a breathtaking outlook. Whenever I’m at the peak, marked by a plinth naming and indicating the main landmarks, I absorb the scenery in one continuous sweep, before returning to dwell on individual points. Immediately below me, the city’s picturesque south side is populated by so many trees and expansive gardens it’s difficult to recognise there’s a city down there at all. These suburbs march towards the Meadows, the large park where golf was first played in Scotland. In the distance the River Forth shimmers, lapping around Leith, the former docks bristling with urban development. The cluttered centre of this picture contains Edinburgh’s world-famous castle, and you can trace the route of the famed Royal Mile, down past St Giles crown-like spire, to Holyrood Palace, still used as a royal residence when the odd Windsor is dropping by. The view is obviously dominated by the other 6 hills, and you can spot each one in turn, with the tallest, Arthur’s Seat, the dormant volcano rising to your right. Once you’ve managed to tear yourself away from this spectacle, there are several interesting walks to explore. Following the paths down to the south-west, you’ll clearly see where this whole area was carved from Scotland’s ancient landscape by a glacier. Eventually you’ll arrive at the Hermitage, a large wooded area with a central path offering a secluded stroll through trees abundant with birdlife. Follow the paths around to the north, you’ll arrive at Blackford Pond, hosting a thriving population of ducks, swans and coots who’ll swarm towards any passers-by who might be concealing bread. If you stick to the top of the hill and head back towards the car park, you’ll pass the observatory, an impressive Victorian building that remains at the forefront of UK and world astronomy. This is why I love Blackford Hill. Whether it is offering unparalleled views over Scotland’s capital city - or into the depths of the universe - it makes you feel as if you’re at the top of the world.