Seven Hills Tour in Edinburgh.

Seeing Edinburgh from above is my top recommendation for visitors to Edinburgh, and now you can easily ascend all seven of the city’s hills in just one morning with 7 Hills Tours. If you’d like to combine bonnie vistas and local facts with wee bursts of physical exertion, this is the tour for you.

You know you’ve successfully strayed away from Edinburgh’s classic tourist trail when you’re boldly going where many locals haven’t even been before. Of course, many of us have summited at least one of the most popular hills – or whichever is closest to where we live – but all seven?

Don’t think so.

(Unless you’re one of those inspirational fitness buffs who take part in the annual Seven Hills of Edinburgh Race, and complete the full circuit in a ridiculously fast time).

Admittedly, I had only ticked-off four out of seven hills prior to my experience on the Seven Hills of Edinburgh Tour. I’ve spent many a summer’s eve ascending Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill in a bid to work off my excessive food consumption. Either that, or I’ll contribute even more to my calorie intake by taking a bottle of wine or a picnic with me!

The views from the top of these hills are something special. The 360-degree panorama stretches from city to coast, with plenty wee peaks and architectural eye candy in-between. These stunning and satisfying scenes are more than enough incentive to stretch your legs on all seven hills. Let’s go!

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What are Edinburgh’s seven hills?

Arthur’s Seat – in my opinion, the most striking and dominant feature on the Edinburgh cityscape.

Calton Hill – home to the iconic National Monument and Nelson’s Monument, and boasts the best views down the length of Princes Street.

Castle Rock – I’m sure you can guess which historic stronghold sits atop this rock!

Corstorphine Hill – accessed through a woodland walk in a residential area of Edinburgh. Lots of cute dog encounters are guaranteed.

Craiglockhart Hill – right next to the university where I studied, this hill has connections to health and wellbeing.

Blackford Hill – sits in a local Nature Reserve along with The Braids, and is home to the Royal Observatory.

The Braid Hills – offers the best perspective of all the other surrounding hills.

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The Story Behind 7 Hills Tours.

Founder and Chief Tour Guide Moray Grigor (pronounced Murray) is a trained doctor, who has worked all over the Scottish Highlands and Islands, as well as overseas. He has always been something of an undercover entrepreneur however, and after experiencing a resurgence of business ideas every few years, he finally decided to set up his own tour company in 2018.

7 Hills Tours does exactly as it says on the tin, but that’s not all. Moray’s mission is to open a “secret door” to the city, by showing visitors a different side to Edinburgh, from the hilltops to the seaside suburbs. He has created a handful of themed tour itineraries which delve deeper into Edinburgh’s history and heritage. He also puts his own spin on walking tours of the Old Town, revealing some of Edinburgh’s unusual history and cultural quirks.

Check out The Storie & The Sang, In Search of Robert Louis Stevenson, Art Deco Buildings of Edinburgh and Historic Edinburgh, Newhaven and Leith. I live in Leith, so that tour is high on my list!

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The Seven Hills Tour Experience.

The tour begins in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, where Moray sets the scene for the interesting and energetic morning ahead. Moray is a lovely, softly spoken man who effortlessly puts you at ease and makes you feel welcome. Castle Rock is an easy warm-up, before boarding a small, private vehicle to travel around the city, from hill-to-hill.

During the drives, and on the walks, Moray keeps you entertained with just the right amount of commentary. He mixes snippets of history, geology and local culture with his own memories of roaming the hills as a child; I always appreciate this personal and relatable approach. I’ve lived in Edinburgh all my life, and I’m a Scottish history geek, but I still learned lots of new facts about my home city.

Moray has given each of the hills its own nickname, to reflect their unique attributes and historic connections. They were all formed by volcanic activity and glaciation, however they each have their own defining features. I really enjoyed taking in the new perspective on each hill, including the ones I’d already climbed. I spotted something different in the views from every hill and played my own version of ‘Where’s Wally?’ with familiar landmarks or places I frequent in the city.

All outdoor pursuits should be paired with a wee treat to reward your efforts, and this tour is no different. The Braid’s Hotel is a most pleasant pit-stop for a hot drink and some scones. Refreshments have been served in the hotel since 1886, when it was built as a watering hole/place to stay for golfers playing on the nearby Braid Hills golf course. The hotel is mentioned in Edinburgh’s own Muriel Spark’s ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’. A cool wee claim to fame!

To join this tour, you don’t have to be a hardcore outdoor enthusiast, however good mobility and a reasonable level of fitness is required. Most of the starting points are not at the very bottom of the hills, and some only take around 5 minutes to ascend. Arthur’s Seat is the most challenging of the bunch; it’s quite steep in parts, but still only takes around 15 – 20 minutes to climb.

The fresh air will awaken your senses, and the views are something you won’t forget.

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Important Info:

• The Seven Hills Tour costs £35 per person (including scones!)
• Sensible shoes are an absolute must; ideally waterproof boots or training shoes at the very least.
• A waterproof jacket with a hood is always advisable, as well as some extra layers. The wind and temperature at the top of Arthur’s Seat can feel quite different to that at the bottom.
• The weather doesn’t always allow for a hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat.
• Guests can opt out of Arthur’s Seat, or any of the other hills, and are welcome to relax in the vehicle instead.

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Do you fancy heading for this hills on this tour? 

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If you’re looking for a holiday cottage just outside Edinburgh, which is surrounded by the Pentland Hills, check out my review of Westside Woodshed. For inspiration on things to see and do in inspiration, have a look at my guide to the best views in Edinburgh and free museums in Edinburgh.

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This post is sponsored by 7 Hills Tours. As always, all content, opinions & chaotic behaviour are my own.

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Happy travels!

Kay 💙