corstorphine hill tower
Edinburgh,  Scotland

5 Reasons Why I Love Corstorphine Hill In Edinburgh

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Last Updated On 13th July 2021 By Lauren | Wild Lovely World

 

Corstorphine Hill is a magical gem! I absolutely love exploring this beautiful hill for many reasons. Here are 5 reasons why I love Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh and why you should visit it.

5 Reasons Why Corstorphine Hill Is Awesome

1. It Has One Of The Best Views Of Edinburgh

This is seldom known to most who visit the city. The little spot called “Rest and be Thankful” gives a beautiful view of the city from the west side, looking almost directly at Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat behind it, beautifully framed by the trees. There is a little bench there to relax and enjoy the scenery.

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Rest and be Thankful viewpoint
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View from Rest and be Thankful. Calton Hill visible on the left, Edinburgh Castle on the right.

2. Robert Louis Stevenson Loved It

The hill is thought to have given inspiration to Robert Louis Stevenson for his book ‘Kidnapped’ (there is a statue of two characters from the book near Corstorphine Hill on Corstorphine Road).

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‘Kidnapped’ statue on Corstorphine Road

3. “Was That A Zebra?”

It is right by Edinburgh Zoo, so, bizarrely, you can hear and see animals from over the fence as you explore. Look out for zebras, ostriches and antelopes in the African Plains enclosure of the Zoo.

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Trees in autumn on Corstorphine Hill

4. Old Buildings Hiding In The Woods? Yes, Please!

Corstorphine Hill Tower (also known as Clermiston Tower or the Scott Tower) is a memorial to Sir Walter Scott. It is a cool little discovery as you reach the top and center of the forest.

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Corstorphine Hill Tower, in summer
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Corstorphine Hill Tower, in autumn

5. A Nature Lover’s Paradise

The hill is almost completely covered in trees, so it a beautiful little wood to explore and get lost in. It is also a really perfect place to admire the colours in autumn (my favourite season!).

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Autumn leaves

The ‘Friends of Corstorphine Hill, a group of local volunteers and members, help to look after the area, and they have a great little website full of information about the geology, botany, orienteering, the tower, walled garden and more. Here is a free map of the hill, landmarks and trails.

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Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve map

How To Get To Corstorphine Hill

The hill can be accessed from either Queensferry Road in the north or Corstorphine Road in the south.

A great trail is to take the Lothian Bus service 41 to Queensferry Road. Then walk all the way over the hill and down the other side to Corstorphine. From there, you can take the Lothian Bus service 12, 26 or 31 back to the city centre.

It takes a couple of hours to fully enjoy exploring this hill.

I also recommend wearing good boots as it is in the woods/on trails.

Quick Guide To Corstorphine Hill In Edinburgh

Corstorphine Hill is No. 6 in our Quick Guide to The Seven Hills of Edinburgh series. Check out the full series here: The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh: A Quick Guide

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Looking for more awesome stuff to do in Edinburgh? Check out these posts:

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Lauren is a coffee and cat obsessed travel writer from the U.K., specialising in solo female, couple travel and budget backpacking. She has previously lived in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England and Scotland. Follow her adventures around the world on her blog WildLovelyWorld.com

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