We are the Carlisle Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
An exhilarating mix of suburban, parkland and surprisingly green hill walking, this adaptation of an Edinburgh hill race takes in six of the seven hills surrounding the city. (The complete route extends to Corstorphine Hill which we won’t do on this walk.) Starting from Waverley station, we are very soon on the first top of Calton Hill. We pass Holyrood and the Parliament building en route to Arthur’s Seat (a popular but strenuous climb, with a very steep, stepped descent). Onwards to Blackford Hill, through the Hermitage of Braid Nature Reserve to Braid Hill, and after some street walking, the final two summits, the Wester and Easter Craiglockhart Hills. About four miles of pleasant town walking brings us back onto the Royal Mile and a triumphant finish at Edinburgh Castle – our final and 7th hill from which all our summits can be seen and our endeavours fully appreciated!
This is a full day out – the route is 16ml and has about 2600ft of ascent, the highest and most strenuous is Arthur’s Seat at 825ft, which is early in the walk. Walking boots required - Arthur’s Seat summit is exposed rock and can be slippery, the start of the descent is awkward over rocky terrain for a short stretch, then we join a good path but that is very steep. All hills are grassy and could be wet or muddy. Please bring water and food for a full day - although there are some cafes/snack huts en route, these cannot be guaranteed, and away from the city centre, we pass little in the way of shops. We will make a stop at the Commonwealth Swimming Pool at 4 ml (café/toilets) and at about 12 ml after the sixth hill, we should have time for a quick café stop in Morningside (Starbucks and some independents). We will aim to keep to a 2mph average pace throughout the walk to allow time to catch a return train at 1852.
Train tickets are now on sale. Current train ticket costs (no railcard) - Advance Single outward £10. Advance Single return £12. With a railcard the cost is £14.60.
08:00 Carlisle Railway station to catch 0816 service to Edinburgh, arrive 0940.
Walk starts from Waverley station Prince’s Street exit, Edinburgh at approx 10am (train arrives 0940 from Carlisle)
