Routes ScotlandCity of Edinburgh
Stepping On top of the City

City of Edinburgh, Scotland

Stepping On top of the City

Length6 mi
Elev. Gain393.6 ft
Est. Steps14000

Lake

Scenic views

Wild flowers

Mountain

City walk

Historic site

Quiet place

Wild life

Grassland

Playground

Off trail

Muddy

Rocky

No shade

Steep slope

Wading

Created by Walk With Me
Introduction
Stepping On top of the City is a 6.1 mile (14,000-step) route located near Edinburgh, Scotland. This route has an elevation gain of about 393.6 ft and is rated as medium. Find the best walking trails near you in Pacer App.
Wow! What ecstatic reward for my venture outdoors on this chilly day. I started off on a fairly level paved suburban pathway following from my memory of a bus journey towards Blackford way. It was nearer than I anticipated and certainly much quicker on my feet than on bus as within 30 minutes of slow walking, I saw the gated children’s play area on the other side of the road. I walked along the picturesque duck / swan pond and inquired from other returning walkers whether the gate gets shut, but I was assured that it is not with the exception of the Observatory. I enjoyed the calm Liberty of the ducks & swans gliding gracefully in their natural habitat, while others relaxed on a designated island sanctuary; beautiful sight. There were isolated walkers, a few with their exuberant but well behaved canine pets, some hardy trail runners and seasoned hikers as I ventured further up the steep slope of the hill, where the cold wind almost knocked my breath out of me. I felt a rush of excited adrenaline hit me as my eyes feasted on the view from atop the hill; majestically sexy! Humbling & awesome! I just stood there soaking up the wonder out scene in dazed wonder. At the observatory and visitor centre, there were a few cars and scattered dog walkers, and a road network leading into the houses below and into the main road. I avoided taking the road as there didn’t seem to be much room for pedestrian and went back up past the observatory and headed downhill. There are other routes up the hill that I will explore on my next visit.

Merchiston Tower

Historical
Merchiston Tower, also known as Merchiston Castle, was probably built by Alexander Napier, the second Laird of Merchiston around 1454. It serves as the seat for Clan Napier. It was the home of John Napier, the 8th Laird of Merchiston and the inventor of logarithms, who was born there in 1550.The tower stands at the centre of Edinburgh Napier University's Merchiston campus.

Hermitage of Braid

Landform
The Hermitage of Braid is an area between the Braid Hills and Blackford Hill. The Braid Burn runs through it. It comprises part of the 60.3-hectare (149-acre) Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve.

Jordan Burn

Water
The Jordan Burn, is the name of a stream, now culverted for much of its course, that runs through the Victorian suburb of Morningside in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was until 1856 the southern boundary of the city and county. It is a tributary of the Braid Burn.The Jordan first appears so named on the Roy map of Edinburgh (1753) "in obvious allusion to its position between 'Egypt' and 'Canaan'" (see below).

Blackford Pond

Water
Blackford Pond is a small, artificial pond in the Blackford region of Edinburgh.

George Watson's College

School
George Watson's College is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871, and was merged with its sister school George Watson's Ladies College in 1974.

Morningside, Edinburgh

Place
Morningside is a district in the south west of Edinburgh, Scotland, which centres on Morningside Road, an ancient route from the city to the south west of Scotland and Carlisle. It lies south of Bruntsfield, Burghmuirhead (including Holy Corner, Church Hill, and Greenhill); south-west of Marchmont, and south-east of Merchiston; and to the north of Comiston and the Braid Hills.

Dominion Cinema

Building
The Dominion Cinema is an independent Streamline Moderne cinema located in the Edinburgh suburb of Morningside. It was opened on 31 January 1938. It was designed by architect Thomas Bowhill Gibson in an Art Deco style.Since then the cinema has been closed three times; in 1972, 1980 and 1998, each time to add more seats and screens.

Morningside Road railway station

Place
Morningside Road railway station is a former railway station in the Morningside area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was opened by the Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway (ESSJR) on 1 December 1884 as Morningside Station. After the ESSJR was incorporated into the North British Railway on 1 March 1885, the station was renamed Morningside Road in October 1886.

Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh

Place
Morningside Cemetery was established in Edinburgh in 1878 by the Metropolitan Cemetery Company, originally just outwith the then city boundary, the nearest suburb then being Morningside. It extends to just over 13 acres in area. The cemetery contains 80 war graves. Although arguably visually uninspiring the cemetery contains the graves of several important female figures; including a female air commandant, Scotland's first female surgeon, the first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, a Nobel Prize winner and many church missionaries.

Blackford, Edinburgh

Place
Blackford is an area in the south of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It is located near Morningside, and The Grange. Blackford Hill dominates the view to the south. The majority of the Blackford is now housing, mostly dating from the Victorian or Edwardian eras.The local parish church of the Church of Scotland is the Reid Memorial Church, which was opened in 1935.
Route Details

Length

6 mi

Elev. Gain

393.6 ft

Est. Steps

14000
Created by
Walk With Me
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