The best city hikes and walks around Corstorphine

Corstorphine offers a diverse selection of over two dozen urban hiking trails. These routes cater to various preferences, with 18 easy and 6 moderate options, ensuring there's a suitable path for almost every hiker.

The komoot community highly rates the urban hiking experience in Corstorphine, with an average score of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 2,400 reviews. Hikers frequently praise the area's accessible woodlands, panoramic viewpoints from Corstorphine Hill, and the blend of natural beauty with urban convenience.

Yes, Corstorphine is excellent for beginners, with 18 easy routes available. A great option is the Zoom loop from Corstorphine, which offers a gentle 4.5 km path through the local area, perfect for a relaxed stroll.

Many of the urban hiking trails in Corstorphine are circular, allowing you to start and finish at the same point. For example, the Hilltop at Edinburgh Zoo – St Anne's Church loop is an easy 5.6 km circular route that offers varied scenery.

Corstorphine Hill is renowned for its panoramic viewpoints. The Hilltop at Edinburgh Zoo – St Anne's Church loop provides excellent vistas, especially from the vicinity of Clermiston Tower. From the hill's parapet, you can often see Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, Fife, Ben Lomond, and the Pentland Hills on clear days.

Urban hikes in Corstorphine primarily feature the extensive woodlands of Corstorphine Hill, Edinburgh's largest public woodland. You'll encounter mature broad-leaved trees like oak and beech, along with areas of gorse. The hill also has interesting rocky formations, a result of its geological history as a Regionally Important Geological Site.

Yes, Corstorphine Hill is home to several points of interest. The most prominent is the Clermiston Tower (also known as the Scott Tower), an 1871 gothic folly offering superb views. You can also find ancient "cup and ring" marks on the western slopes, believed to be part of a Neolithic or Bronze Age landscape, and a Cold War bunker.

Many of the easy urban hikes in Corstorphine are suitable for families. The Zoom loop from Corstorphine is a relatively flat and accessible option. While pushchair access might be limited on some hill paths due to rocky sections, many lower-level routes are family-friendly.

Corstorphine Hill is generally dog-friendly, offering plenty of woodland paths for walks. However, it's always recommended to keep dogs under control, especially given the presence of wildlife like badgers, foxes, and deer, and to be mindful of other hikers and local regulations.

While Corstorphine itself is more known for its hill and woodlands, there are several waterfalls in the wider Edinburgh area that you could visit. Notable ones include the Dean Village Waterfall and the Flotterstone Waterfall, which are accessible as separate excursions.

Corstorphine Hill is a Local Nature Reserve and a haven for wildlife. Hikers might spot badgers, foxes, rabbits, bats, and occasionally roe deer. Birdwatchers can look out for around 60 species, including great spotted woodpeckers, tawny owls, kestrels, buzzards, and sparrowhawks.

Yes, the Hilltop at Edinburgh Zoo – St Anne's Church loop passes near Edinburgh Zoo. The zoo is located on the southern face of Corstorphine Hill, and some trails offer glimpses of the zoo grounds or animals from certain vantage points.