Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill LNR

The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill lie under the Braid Hills between Morningside and Liberton. This Local Nature Reserve (LNR) was the first to be designated in Edinburgh in 1993 and offers a wide range of walks from a leisurely stroll along the Braid Burn to a steep climb on the slopes of Blackford Hill.  

The area is steeped in History, some is told in the old Hermitage House where the Headquarter of the City of Edinburgh Countryside Ranger Service provides a charming Visitor Centre full of displays, activities and information about all the different sites the Countryside Rangers manage in Edinburgh.  You can also explore the surroundings to discover the Ice House, the Doocot in the Walled Garden and even a clever water pump system along the burn that provided running water to the Hermitage House in the past!

The range of habitats includes 160 acres of mixed mature woodland, scrubland, grassland, The Braid Burn and wetland which all provide a haven for wildlife.  Listen for green woodpecker calling from the top of the tall Beech trees. If you are lucky, you could startle a fox hunting rabbits or even an otter swimming in the burn! Don’t forget your binoculars as you might be surprised by the amazing birdlife you will encounter; herons, kestrels, kingfishers, song thrush and even tawny owls can be regularly seen around the Nature Reserve!

Blackford Hill is a contrast to the deep gorge of the Hermitage Wood. The Hill was formed from the oldest rock in Edinburgh and offers impressive panoramic views of the city, the Pentland Hills and Firth of Forth. Enthusiastic geologists love this place as it is full of significant hotspots to study rock formation. Your walk through blossoming Gorse will remind you of the scent of coconut and you might even hear a yellow hammer or a linnet!

Finally a visit to Blackford Pond will give you a chance to get close to swans, mallards, geese, coots and more depending on the time of year.

The Friends of the Hermitage Braid and Blackford Hill: Their quarterly newsletter is available at the Hermitage Visitor Centre and from the local libraries.

Find out how to get here contact Lothian Buses.

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