☰Blackford Hill

Blackford Hill is a local nature reserve on the edge of Morningside, a volcanic hill with a pond, woodland, and open grassland managed by the City of Edinburgh. The hill is topped by the Royal Observatory, which runs public viewing evenings. The walk to the summit takes about 20 minutes from the main entrance and gives panoramic views of Edinburgh: the castle and Arthur's Seat to the north, the Pentland Hills to the south. The pond at the base has resident ducks and occasional visiting herons. More accessible than Arthur's Seat and less crowded; a good choice for walking with children.