Most cities ask you to leave them behind to find a good hike but Edinburgh, one of the few capital cities in the world built upon the remains of extinct volcanoes, simply asks you to look up. Long before castles became giant attractions, and Georgian crescents and festival crowds defined the city, volcanic activity shaped the dramatic landscape that still characterises Edinburgh today. Ancient crags, rugged ridgelines and elevated viewpoints rise unexpectedly from the urban landscape, creating some of the most memorable walking routes in Edinburgh that feel remarkably wild for a capital city. Better still, many of them offer front-row seats to some of the best sunset in Edinburgh experiences.
From Edinburgh’s most iconic summit, a peaceful evening walk or simply wondering which hill has the best views in Edinburgh, each of Edinburgh’s seven hills tell a different story.
1. Arthur’s Seat: Best for First-Time Visitors and Panoramic Sunsets
For many visitors, Arthur’s Seat is the walk that defines Edinburgh. Formed more than 300 million years ago, this ancient volcano rises dramatically from Holyrood Park and remains one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city. The climb can be steep in sections, but the reward is a sweeping panorama encompassing Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town, the New Town, the Firth of Forth and, on particularly clear days, distant Highland horizons.
If you are asking, “Is Arthur’s Seat worth climbing?”, the answer is undoubtedly yes. Few viewpoints capture Edinburgh quite so completely and the famous Arthur’s Seat hike is also frequently considered one of the best hiking spots in Edinburgh because of the dramatic scenery all along the route and accessibility from the city centre.
Choose Arthur’s Seat if: you want Edinburgh’s most famous hike, its broadest city views and one of the best sunset panoramas in Scotland.
2. Calton Hill: Best for an Easy Sunset Walk
Just a short walk from Princes Street, Calton Hill offers one of the most accessible viewpoints in Edinburgh. Crowned by landmarks including the National Monument and Nelson Monument, it provides an instantly recognisable perspective of the city’s skyline. As evening approaches, the hill becomes one of the most popular places to watch the city transition from day to night. The soft glow of sunset against Edinburgh’s spires, rooftops and historic stone buildings makes this one of the easiest,and most rewarding,sunset walks in Edinburgh.
For travellers asking, “Which Edinburgh viewpoint is best for photography?”, Calton Hill is often one of the first recommendations thanks to its combination of city views, historic monuments and easy accessibility.
Choose Calton Hill if: you’re looking for Edinburgh’s easiest sunset viewpoint with minimal effort and maximum reward. Not every memorable view requires a demanding climb.
3. Blackford Hill: Best for a Quieter Alternative to Arthur’s Seat
Home to the Royal Observatory and surrounded by a designated nature reserve, Blackford Hill offers a noticeably quieter experience than some of Edinburgh’s better-known summits. The routes weave through breathtaking woodland and open grassland before reaching a viewpoint that stretches across the city towards the Pentland Hills and the Firth of Forth. While Arthur’s Seat often attracts the crowds, Blackford Hill offers many of the same rewards in a more peaceful setting. In the late afternoon, as the sunlight begins to soften across the landscape, it becomes one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric viewpoints.
Choose Blackford Hill if: you want panoramic views, fewer crowds and a more relaxed hiking experience.
4. Craiglockhart Hill: Best for Countryside Views Close to the City
Less familiar to visitors but well known to residents, Craiglockhart Hill reveals a side of Edinburgh that often escapes guidebooks. The twin hills rise above the south-west of the city, creating a natural lookout towards the Pentland Hills and surrounding countryside. Despite their proximity to the city centre, the routes feel remarkably peaceful, making them ideal for travellers looking to step beyond Edinburgh’s most visited attractions. As sunset approaches, the landscape takes on an almost rural character, offering a very different perspective from the dramatic volcanic peaks elsewhere in the city.
Choose Craiglockhart Hill if: you enjoy quieter walks, local discoveries and views towards the Pentlands.
5. Braid Hills: Best for Open Landscapes and Expansive Views
Rather than steep ascents or dramatic crags, visitors are rewarded with wide-open terrain and uninterrupted views that stretch across Edinburgh and beyond. Looking north, church spires, Georgian terraces and volcanic peaks punctuate the skyline, while the Pentland Hills dominate the southern horizon. The openness of the landscape makes this one of the best places in Edinburgh to watch changing weather systems, dramatic skies and the shifting colours of sunset.
Choose Braid Hills if: you enjoy longer walks, open scenery and some of the widest views in Edinburgh.
6. Castle Rock: Best for Understanding Edinburgh’s Landscape
While not a traditional hiking destination, Castle Rock still deserves its place among Edinburgh’s most important natural landmarks.
The volcanic plug upon which Edinburgh Castle stands was formed when magma solidified underground millions of years ago. Over time, the softer surrounding rock eroded away, leaving behind the dramatic crag that continues to dominate the city’s skyline.
More than simply a viewpoint, Castle Rock helps explain why Edinburgh looks and feels the way it does today.
Choose Castle Rock if: you’re interested in the fascinating relationship between geology, history and architecture.
7. Corstorphine Hill: Best for Woodland Walks and Edinburgh’s Quieter Side
While visitors often gravitate east towards Arthur’s Seat, Corstorphine Hill reveals a quieter side of Edinburgh, one defined by woodland trails, birdsong and unexpected viewpoints. Located to the west of the city centre, this extensive nature reserve feels surprisingly removed from Edinburgh’s busiest streets. Mature woodland, abundant wildlife and peaceful paths encourage slower exploration, while the historic Clermiston Tower offers occasional glimpses across the city and beyond.
Unlike Edinburgh’s more dramatic summits, Corstorphine Hill is less about reaching a peak and more about appreciating the journey. It is a place to wander rather than conquer. For visitors seeking unique outdoor experiences in Edinburgh, Corstorphine Hill offers a refreshing contrast to the city’s more famous attractions.
Choose Corstorphine Hill if: you prefer woodland walks, wildlife and a gentler connection with Edinburgh’s natural landscape.
Can You Climb All Seven Hills of Edinburgh?
For experienced walkers seeking a challenge, the answer is a resounding yes.
The Seven Hills of Edinburgh route links the city’s principal peaks into a single day-long adventure, connecting volcanic summits, woodland trails and panoramic viewpoints. Completing the challenge offers a unique perspective on how Edinburgh’s extraordinary landscape has influenced its development for centuries.
Demanding but deeply rewarding, it remains one of the most memorable ways to experience the city and explore some of the best hiking spots in Edinburgh in a single journey.
Discover Edinburgh Through Its Landscape
For guests of The Roseate Edinburgh, these landscapes form part of a wider experience of discovering the city beyond its most familiar landmarks. Located in Edinburgh’s West End, the hotel sits well for exploring the quieter western side of the capital, including Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill and the Braid Hills, where visitors often find a more local, less crowded perspective on Edinburgh.
A particularly rewarding way to spend an afternoon is to venture out to one of these western viewpoints before returning to the hotel as the city begins to settle into the evening. The new sense of place can continue graciously at the newly opened in-house restaurant KIN by Gary Maclean, where Scotland’s landscapes and seasons are reflected through contemporary Scottish cooking rooted in local produce and regional traditions. Much like Edinburgh’s hills themselves, the experience is shaped by a strong connection to the land, offering visitors another way to engage with the character of the city beyond its skyline.
It is said that the best views of Edinburgh emerge gradually and quite suddenly at the end of a woodland trail, from the summit of an ancient volcano or during those fleeting moments when the setting sun casts a golden glow across rooftops, church spires and castle walls. You too can discover this side of the capital that many visitors overlook- one shaped by the extraordinary landscape on which it was built, and through some of the most memorable unique outdoor experiences in Edinburgh.