Forest bathing at Corstorphine Hill

Corstorphine Hill is the most westerly of Edinburgh's seven hills, a low ridge of 161 metres covered in about 56 hectares of mature broadleaved woodland. It is a Local Nature Reserve run by the council, with outcrops of rock poking through the trees and a walled garden among its features. At the top stands the Clermiston Tower, built as a memorial to Sir Walter Scott.

There is a car park on Clermiston Road North, and a pedestrian entrance on Queensferry Road for anyone arriving by bus. The woodland is criss-crossed with paths, so it is easy to find a quiet spot off the main routes, and gaps in the trees give long views over the city and across the Firth of Forth. Expect steps and short, steep climbs; beyond the tower the paths get rougher and can be slippery in wet weather. A permanent orienteering course runs through the wood, so you may meet the odd runner with a map.