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Hermitage of Braid / Blackford Hill

58 ha

📷 kim traynor · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

PicnicWildlifeBirds
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome58 ha

Getting here

55.92170, -3.19449

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • ☀️June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit
  • 🧺Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Bike parkingParking· FreePicnic spot

Best for

9 activities

Picnic day out

picnic area, car park; Nature reserve — public outdoor space

Free

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Nature reserve; Birds — Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Robin +15 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — nature reserve

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Red-legged Shieldbug, Eyed Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird +34 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Red-legged Shieldbug, Eyed Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird +34 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

17 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
The Royal MileWalking route
Named route
Innocent RailwayWalking route
Named routeRef CEC5
Forth & Clyde/Union Canal TowpathWalking route106 km
Named routeLength 106 kmNational walking route
Pentland Way (Glencorse Reservoir to Swanston)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Water of Leith Walkway (Slateford to Leith)Walking route
Named routeRef CEC18Local walking route
🚴

Cycling

154 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route RRCycling route
Named routeRef RRLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 754Cycling route
Named routeRef 754National Cycle Network
Quiet Route 10Cycling route
Named routeRef 10Local cycle route
Quiet Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6Local cycle route
Quiet Route 9Cycling route
Named routeRef 9Local cycle route
Quiet Route 11Cycling route
Named routeRef 11Local cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Dreghorn-CastlelawMountain bike route
Named route
Bonaly - Glencorse off road cycle routeMountain bike route
Named route
Great North Trail (Central Belt)Mountain bike route83.7 km
Named routeLength 83.7 kmNational Cycle Network
Pentland Reservoirs MTBMountain bike route
Named route
Capital TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Great North Trail (Scottish Borders)Mountain bike route154.8 km
Named routeLength 154.8 kmNational Cycle Network

About this nature reserve

Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill is a Local Nature Reserve spanning 58 hectares in the City of Edinburgh, Edinburgh and Lothians. The site offers a mix of ancient woodlands and heathlands, popular for walking and observing bird species like the sparrowhawk.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Crag on Blackford Hill

📷 kim traynor · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Crag on Blackford Hill

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Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱The MeadowsUrban park2.2 km→🌱West Princes Street GardensUrban park3.2 km→🌱Saughton ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Craigmillar Castle ParkUrban park3.2 km→🌱Saughton Park GardensUrban park3.6 km→🌱The FieldUrban park3.8 km→

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