Best Running Routes in Edinburgh 2026

Edinburgh offers a genuine volcano to climb and a wildlife-rich river walkway threading the whole city, alongside flat coastal and park runs. Here are the best running routes in Edinburgh for 2026.

Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park

The Queen's Drive loop around Arthur's Seat runs about 5 kilometres of paved road, built for Queen Victoria's carriage, with low traffic, while the summit itself is a roughly 3 mile grassy ascent to 251 metres with panoramic Old Town views. Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano that last erupted around 340 million years ago, a volcanic plug in Holyrood Park behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse and one of the few genuine mountains sitting inside a capital city. For trail runners, the Radical Road along the base of Salisbury Crags adds rugged terrain.

The Water of Leith Walkway

The Water of Leith Walkway runs about 12 to 13 miles point to point from Balerno in the south-west to Leith on the Firth of Forth, on mixed paved and gravel surface, mostly flat and well-signposted, passing Colinton Dell, Murrayfield Stadium, Dean Village, Stockbridge and the Royal Botanic Garden. It is a designated Urban Wildlife Site, home to herons, kingfishers and even otters.

Portobello Beach Promenade

The Portobello promenade offers a flat, roughly 2 mile paved seafront run along the Firth of Forth, with sandy beach alongside and views back to Arthur's Seat, cafes and shops lining the route. It forms part of the Edinburgh Marathon course.

The Meadows and the Union Canal

The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links offer flat, central, tree-lined park paths, with a loop via Middle Meadow Walk of about 1.6 miles or a full perimeter of about 3 kilometres, popular with University of Edinburgh runners. The Union Canal towpath offers flat, mostly gravel running 30 miles from Edinburgh Quay to Falkirk, ideal for long, uninterrupted, traffic-free distance past the Slateford Aqueduct.

Running the Edinburgh Marathon Route

The Edinburgh Marathon, held on 24 May 2026, starts near the University, passes Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood, then runs out along the Portobello promenade and the East Lothian coast to finish at Musselburgh, renowned as one of the UK's flattest, fastest marathons.

Practical Guide to Running in Edinburgh

The Water of Leith Walkway and Portobello promenade are the most reliable choices for a flat run at any time of day; Arthur's Seat is worth the climb for the best views in the city.

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