Edinburgh Locals Reveal 5 Secret Nature Walks Tourists Never Find

Edinburgh locals have shifted their outdoor routines toward lesser-used paths in the Hermitage of Braid and along Colinton Dell this July.

Wellness interest has grown locally after City of Edinburgh Council data from March 2026 recorded a 28 percent rise in residents logging regular park visits compared with the prior year. The increase comes as more people seek low-cost ways to stay active during longer daylight hours without joining commercial gyms.

Quiet routes through established reserves

The Hermitage of Braid Local Nature Reserve sits between the Braid Hills and Blackford Hill, reached via a short entry off Braidburn Terrace. Walkers follow the Braid Burn upstream on a 2.8-kilometre loop that stays inside tree cover and avoids the main hill paths used by tour groups. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust maintains the parallel route through Colinton Dell, entered from the footbridge at Colinton Village, where the path runs 3.1 kilometres through mixed woodland to the old mill pond at Slateford.

Both sites fall under the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust programme, which lists free self-guided maps updated each spring. The trust also runs a monthly maintenance session on the second Saturday, with the next one set for 11 July at the Hermitage entrance.

Usage figures and access details

A 2025 City of Edinburgh Council survey counted 1.4 million visits across its 130 parks and reserves, yet only 12 percent of those visits occurred on the Braid and Colinton routes. Parking at the Hermitage costs nothing before 8 a.m. on weekdays, while the nearest bus stop for Colinton Dell is served by the number 10 service every 15 minutes from the city centre.

Walkers can start at either location with standard outdoor clothing and a charged phone for the offline maps supplied by the trust. Anyone new to the routes is advised to check current path conditions on the council website before setting out and to speak with a GP about personal fitness levels.