Best Running Routes in Edinburgh

This is the one. Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, rising to 251 metres, and running to the summit and back is a proper test. The standard route from St Margaret’s Loch car park (or from the Holyrood Park gates off Holyrood Road) is around 5-6km depending on your exact loop. The ascent to the summit is steep and rocky in the final section – trail shoes recommended, especially after rain when the path becomes genuinely challenging.

The views from the top are outstanding: the full city panorama, the Firth of Forth, Fife beyond. Most people walk it; running it sets you apart. Start early on weekends to avoid tourist traffic. The Salisbury Crags route – following the dramatic cliff face that skirts the volcano – is a spectacular alternative loop that’s mostly runnable and less steep than the summit push.

For a more measured effort, the perimeter road through Holyrood Park (Queen’s Drive) makes a near-perfect 5km loop – surfaced, mostly traffic-free (the road is open to vehicles at certain times, so check), and varied terrain with some gentle climbs. It’s the training run option that gives you the spectacular park setting without the summit scramble. Parkrun has taken place in Holyrood Park – check the Edinburgh Parkrun website for current 5k event locations and Saturday timings.

Edinburgh’s beach run. The promenade at Portobello stretches for about a mile along the Firth of Forth foreshore, then continues east towards Musselburgh on the coast path – you can extend this to a 10k+ run without leaving the waterfront. It’s flat, the sea air is bracing, and the route passes through Joppa, Musselburgh Links (Scotland’s oldest golf course, free to run past), and eventually out to Prestonpans. Good for longer Sunday runs when you want flat volume.

The full Water of Leith Walkway is 12 miles from Balerno to Leith – easily broken into shorter sections. The Dean Village to Stockbridge section (about 2km) is beautiful and mostly flat. From Stockbridge through Canonmills to Leith is another 3-4km. The western sections through Colinton Dell and Slateford are quieter and more wooded. Traffic-free throughout, well-surfaced on most sections, and varied enough to keep it interesting on repeat visits.

The Meadows is Edinburgh’s social running park – the flat green space south of the Old Town where students, club runners, fitness regulars and casual joggers all mix. The perimeter path is around 2.2km; popular for tempo work, intervals and easy miles. The atmosphere is excellent, particularly in spring and summer when the blossom is out and half the university seems to be training. Not a wilderness run – more like a moving social event – but it’s central, busy and good for motivation.

For serious fell runners or those wanting proper Highland-lite terrain within 30 minutes of the city centre, the Pentland Hills Regional Park starts at the edge of Morningside and Colinton. The T-Wood track and paths above Hillend give you heather-covered moorland, proper climbs and stunning views back over Edinburgh. The Pentland 10-miler is a well-known local race. Get a trail map before you go – it’s easy to navigate with one, less so without.