This delightful walk combines the wooded nature reserve of the Hermitage of Braid with an ascent of Blackford Hill, giving superb views over Edinburgh.
Woodland and grassy paths; can be muddy in places.
Bus to Comiston Road (nos. 11, 15 or 15A).
Braid Road.
Although there is limited parking on Braid Road, the walk is best reached by public transport. Take a bus to Comiston Road and alight near the junction with Braidburn Terrace (by a church). Head along Braidburn Terrace and then turn right onto Braid Road. The walk itself then begins on a path on the left into the wooded glen of the Hermitage of Braid. Turn left by the map board to follow the narrower path that heads very pleasantly through the trees along the left side of the Braid Burn. Look out for the doocot uphill on the left - it is thought to date to the late 17th century and has 1,965 nest-holes. Eventually the path reaches some toilets and rejoins the main route on the other side of the burn.
Hermitage House - a splendid piece of eighteenth century architecture - is soon reached. Once the home of Charles Gordon of Cluny, the house today houses a visitor centre for the glen. Immediately after the house the path forks; take the left branch that runs beneath the right side of the building and then climbs steeply amongst the trees. At a t-junction turn right but then immediately left via a stile to reach an open grassy area. Cross this, heading directly towards the mast on Blackford Hill to reach a gap in a stone wall.
Through the gap turn left, but soon fork right onto a narrower path. This cuts around the flank of the hill with a steep unprotected drop on the left and an aerial view of the allotments. Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town are soon visible, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags rising prominently to the right. At a more open grassy area with a bench fork right to climb more steeply towards the domes of the Royal Observatory complex.
Bear right to continue up and reach the trig point and view indicator on the summit of the hill. Blackford is one of the seven hills on which Edinburgh is famously built and its view is a match for any of its cousins. After enjoying the panorama, head back towards the Observatory but before reaching it cut right, crossing a tarred path and a grassy one as you aim towards the left edge of the prominent Corbie's Crag - a miniature crag and tail.
The path descends through gorse and then bears right, heading into the woods. Fork left to descend amongst the trees to reach the bridge at the foot of the glen (a path heading up the other side here between railings makes possible a link with the Braid Hills walk). Our route however turns right to follow the main path upstream back to the Hermitage of Braid. As you reach the house once more, look out for some steps on the left that lead up to its old ice house. Finally, stay on the main path to return to the start of the walk on Braid Road.
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