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Hill
Blackford Hill
Hill of 538 feet (164 meters) with an ancient hill fort on the summit, wide views over Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills, and paths for walkers.
A mini guide to
Bruntsfield & Morningside: things to do
Places worth your time in Bruntsfield & Morningside
Top places
Things to do in Bruntsfield & Morningside
Landmarks, museums, parks and viewpoints in and around the area.
Observatory
Royal Observatory Edinburgh
Astronomical institution near the summit of Blackford Hill, with a research center and a visitor center. Check its site before visiting.
Directions Website Report a problem with Royal Observatory Edinburgh
Park
Hermitage of Braid
Wooded valley of the Braid Burn, with paths and a castellated house of 1785 that became a public park in 1938.
Pond
Blackford Pond
Small Victorian pond below Blackford Hill, home to swans and ducks.
Geological site
Agassiz Rock
Quarry-like rock face near Blackford Hill where glacial action was first recognized in Scotland. A Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Hills and golf
Braid Hills
Open hills in south Edinburgh known for views of the city and a golf course.
Park
Braidburn Valley Park
Park along the Braid Burn in Greenbank.
Tower house
Merchiston Tower
Tower house built around 1454 and birthplace of the mathematician John Napier. Now at the center of a university campus.
Church
Barclay Viewforth Church
Church designed by F. T. Pilkington and completed in 1864, on the Bruntsfield and Tollcross border.
Edinburgh
More areas to explore
9 sights · 14 places to eat
Portobello & the Coast
A sandy beach and Victorian promenade on the Firth of Forth, about 3.1 miles (5 km) east of the center
Open the mini guide →
16 sights · 22 places to eat
Old Town & Royal Mile
The Castle, the Royal Mile and a maze of medieval closes
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15 sights · 30 places to eat
New Town
Georgian squares, grand galleries and Princes Street Gardens
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Bruntsfield & Morningside (area photo): Macumba, Public domain, source
- Blackford Hill: Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Royal Observatory Edinburgh: Macumba, Public domain, source
- Hermitage of Braid: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Blackford Pond: Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Agassiz Rock: Magnus Hagdorn from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Braid Hills: Jim Barton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Braidburn Valley Park: Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Merchiston Tower: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Barclay Viewforth Church: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Portobello & the Coast: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Old Town & Royal Mile: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- New Town: Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Holyrood, Arthur's Seat & Calton Hill: Peulle, CC BY 4.0, source
- Stockbridge & Dean Village: Mike Shaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Leith & the Waterfront: Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Grassmarket & Southside: rboed*, CC BY 2.0, source
- Haymarket & Murrayfield: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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