The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh: Quick Guide And Map
Updated: 10th December 2024 By Lauren | Published: 5th March 2018
Home » Blog » Europe » Scotland »Edinburgh, the “Athens of the North”, is traditionally said to have been built on seven hills, in an allusion to the city of Rome which was also supposedly built on seven hills.
I lived in Edinburgh for nearly 4 years and visited all of the Seven Hills of Edinburgh. I loved hiking all of them in every season.
If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time or call yourself a local, exploring what each of the Seven Hills has to offer is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy nature in the city.
In this post, discover all of Edinburgh’s Seven Hills, where they are located, and the best things to do at each hill including walking trails, monuments and viewpoints.
The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh Guide & Map
Read my Scotland Travel Guide – it is full of useful destination guides and travel tips for amazing destinations in Scotland!
What Are The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh?
The Seven Hills of Edinburgh are:
- Arthur’s Seat
- Blackford Hill
- Braid Hills
- Calton Hill
- Castle Rock
- Corstorphine Hill
- Craiglockhart Hill
There are, in fact, well more than seven hills in Edinburgh which makes for a considerable debate over which hills are included and excluded from the seven.
However, the seven in this guide are widely considered to be the seven hills, as they are all within the main city centre area and have summits at a high prominence.
In addition, these seven are all listed on the sign on the summit of The Braid Hills (no. 3 below!) which marks all The Seven Hills of Edinburgh on a plaque. So, I think it’s pretty safe to say these are the famous seven!
In this guide you can learn more information about each of the seven hills and links to dedicated articles about each of them.
Where Are The 7 Hills Of Edinburgh?: The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh Map
Here is a map I created showing all Seven Hills of Edinburgh and the locations. Save this to your Google Maps with the star symbol.
Guides To Hiking The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh
I’ve climbed them all Seven Hills of Edinburgh (a day at a time) and each one makes a lovely walk for a couple of hours in a morning or afternoon.
Getting to a higher elevation is also a great way to navigate and get orientated with the city and see Edinburgh and the surrounding areas from different perspectives.
Each Hill has it’s own charm, history, nature and surprises. If it’s your first visit to the city, you don’t need to visit all hills in Edinburgh. I give you recommendations below on which ones to visit later on in this guide.
I have written a series of quick guides for all Seven Hills of Edinburgh. These guides will give you an overview of all seven hills, how to get there (including by public transport), what to expect and why they’re so special.
1. Arthur’s Seat – Must Do Short Walk In Edinburgh
Arthur’s Seat is perhaps the most famous and prominent of all the Seven Hills of Edinburgh.
The extinct volcano of Arthur’s Seat is very accessible from Edinburgh city centre. It is located near to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament at the end of the Royal Mile.
A hike up Arthur’s Seat is a short, steep challenge. Those who attempt it will be well rewarded with beautiful views of Edinburgh and beyond!
Arthur’s Seat is very popular with visitors to Edinburgh. If it is your first time to visit Edinburgh and you are up for exercise, then hiking to the top of Arthur’s Seat is a great way experience the Scottish outdoors.
Holyrood Park, a large green space surrounding Arthur’s Seat, is a nice place to go for a walk that is more accessible.
Learn more in the guide to Arthur’s Seat: Arthur’s Seat – Hiking An Extinct Volcano In Edinburgh
2. Blackford Hill – Beautiful Local Nature Reserve
Blackford Hill is a really beautiful place to visit. Between Morningside and The Braid Hills, Blackford Hill together with the Braid Hills and the Hermitage of Braid comprises a 149 acre Local Nature Reserve called the “Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve”.
The volcanic nature of the hill and Agassiz Rock are of geological and historical interest. Other highlights are the Blackford Pond and the Hermitage of Braid which is a lovely place to go for an interesting walk. Visit Hermitage House Visitor Centre to learn more about the area.
The Hermitage of Braid is particularly beautiful place to visit in the autumn and see colourful leaves.
Blackford Hill is also home to the Royal Obervatory of Edinburgh.
There are lots of walking tracks in this area and plenty to do for everyone. It’s well worth checking out!
Discover more in the guide to Blackford Hill: Blackford Hill & The Hermitage Of Braid In Edinburgh – Quick Guide
3. Braid Hills – Gorgeous Loop Walk With Stunning Views
The most beautiful of the Seven Hill of Edinburgh has to be The Braid Hills. The pretty hills are a lovely site when covered with the striking, bright yellow flower gorse.
There is a fantastic loop walk which circles The Braid Hills, making it a great spot for a short walk. From the walk, you’ll have excellent views of Edinburgh and beyond.
At the summit of the Braid Hills you will find the Seven Hills Of Edinburgh outlook. From here you can see all the Seven Hills of Edinburgh.
The Braid Hills are popular with horse riders and golf players with the bridal paths and golf course there too.
Read the guide to the Braid Hills: A Walk Around The Braid Hills In Edinburgh – Your Complete Guide
4. Calton Hill – Famous Hill & View Of Edinburgh
A popular spot for taking the best views of Edinburgh is on the top of Calton Hill.
This short hill is just minutes from Princes Street in Edinburgh’s city centre.
There are several monuments on the top, as well as a new art gallery in the old observatory building.
The view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill is perhaps the most recognised image of Edinburgh.
It is a must do to climb the short walk up Calton Hill and see this for yourself.
If it is your first visit to Edinburgh, then make sure you do not miss this iconic viewpoint!
Learn more in the Guide to Calton Hill: Calton Hill Guide: Easy Walk & Famous View Of Edinburgh
5. Castle Rock – Iconic Landmark & Home To Edinburgh Castle
Castle Rock is perhaps the most famous hill in Edinburgh as it is the home of Edinburgh Castle (view tours/entry on Get Your Guide). However, most may be surprised to learn that this is also one of the seven hills – I certainly was!
The volcanic Castle Rock is actually the plug of an extinct volcano. Much of the sedimentary rock surrounding the volcanic rock has fallen away, leaving the black basalt exposed.
The rock has been a strategic position for a hill fort since the Iron Age. Edinburgh Castle has called Castle Rock home for around 900 years. The castle seems as if it has grown directly out of the rock itself!
Castle Rock is a dominating feature in Edinburgh. It has become an iconic landmark. You surely won’t miss it on your visit to Edinburgh!
Learn more in the Guide to Castle Rock: Castle Rock In Edinburgh – Everything You Need To Know
6. Corstorphine Hill – Hidden Gem With Gorgeous Woodland
One of my favourite hidden gems in Edinburgh is Corstorphine Hill. It is located in the west of Edinburgh near to Murrayfield Stadium (the home of Scottish Rugby) and the Edinburgh Zoo.
The beautiful Corstorphine Local Nature Reserve is largely a forested area. This makes it a great place to go for a walk in autumn.
Related Read: Autumn In Edinburgh: The Best Places To See Colourful Leaves
There are several paths that wander through the woodland on Corstorphine Hill. Among other highlights, you’ll discover the historic Corstorphine Tower, a memorial to Sir Walter Scott.
Robert Louis Stevenson also loved Corstorphine Hill and took inspiration from it to write some of his stories.
Nearby to Corstorphine Hill is the Edinburgh Zoo. So don’t be alarmed if you see a zebra or hear a lion roar while walking on Corstorphine Hill!
Discover why you’ll love Corstoporhine Hill in the guide: 5 Reasons Why I Love Corstorphine Hill In Edinburgh
7. Craiglockhart Hill – Actually Two Hills! With A Pond & Wood
Lastly, we have the Craiglockhart Hills. There are actually two hills that form the Craiglockhart Hills – one of Wester Craiglockhart and one is Easter Craiglockhart.
These hills are perhaps my least favourite of all the Seven Hills of Edinburgh, but they are still a nice place to go for a short walk.
Craiglockhart Pond is a scenic place to spot birds. Craiglockhart woods is a beautiful hide away from city life.
Read the guide to the Craiglockhart Hills: Craiglockhart Hills – Quick Guide To A Short Walk In Edinburgh
The Seven Hills Race In Edinburgh
Annually in June, there is a race called the “Seven Hills” in which participants aim to race up and down all these seven hills as fast as they can, which covers a distance of about 14 miles and 670.5m (2200ft) of ascent/descent.
You can learn more about the Seven Hills Race on the organiser website.
Well, I’m not sure I’d be up for the challenge of racing to the top of them all! But all seven are really awesome to explore and definitely worth a visit if you’re in Edinburgh.
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The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh Guide – Thanks For Reading!
In this post we looked at each of the Seven Hills of Edinburgh. Each hill has its own history, monuments and iconic landmarks. I hope this guide has helped you to understand what the Seven Hills are it inspires you to go for a walk (or run!). You can learn more about each of the Seven Hills in the series of articles about each hill individually:
- Arthur’s Seat – Hiking An Extinct Volcano In Edinburgh
- Calton Hill Guide: Easy Walk & Famous View Of Edinburgh
- Blackford Hill & The Hermitage Of Braid In Edinburgh – Quick Guide
- Castle Rock In Edinburgh – Everything You Need To Know
- 5 Reasons Why I Love Corstorphine Hill In Edinburgh
- Craiglockhart Hills – Quick Guide To A Short Walk In Edinburgh
If you’ve been up or down any or all of them, please share your thoughts/hints/tips – I’d love to hear what you think!
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Lauren | Wild Lovely World
Lauren is a travel writer from the U.K., specialising in travelling on a budget as a solo female and in a couple. She moved to Australia solo at age 19 and has since lived in 7 different countries around the world, including teaching English in Japan, living in a campervan in New Zealand and hiking all across Scotland. Her style is travelling slow and she is an expert on moving abroad and long-term travel. She spends a lot of time working on her blog, WildLovelyWorld.com, and daydreaming about her next trip.
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