Blackford Hill and its Picturesque Surroundings

What to Expect

• 164 meters above sea level, magnificent views of Edinburgh and its surroundings, changing landscapes and scenery, comfortable descents and ascents.
• Bourgeois and rural, central and peripheral Edinburgh.
• Traditional Scottish pubs, stables, the former estate of a famous merchant, arboretum, 19th-century golf course.
• Tales of Scotland and Scots, Edinburgh and other important cities. Legends and myths, historical anecdotes, and stories about modern Edinburgh residents.

Excursion Route

Morningside. Our journey will start from this lively area of Edinburgh with a rich history, famous residents, a private cinema, and the most delicious ice cream in the city.

Blackford Pond. Enjoy the artificial lake created in the Victorian era in a glacial valley. In the mid-19th century, it was used for curling in winter. In summer, it is inhabited by swans, ducks, and other birds.

Blackford Hill and Valley. I will show you traces of a Bronze Age settlement, the Royal Observatory, and a weather station. From the top of the hill, we will have amazing views of Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat, Salisbury Crags, the Pentland Hills, the North Sea, and the Kingdom of Fife.

Mortonhall. People settled the land south of Blackford Hill as early as the 1st century AD. In the Middle Ages, this was the safest and most peaceful place to live outside the city walls. Today you will see a farm, stables, an arboretum, the house, and the former mansion of the Trotters – well-known Edinburgh traders from the 18th-19th centuries.

At the end of the tour, we can optionally visit a Scottish pub located in a former stableyard. Here, you can try traditional dishes and drinks at affordable prices.