10 Best Outdoor Adventures in and Around Edinburgh

Holyrood Park is probably the single most famous urban garden in the Scottish capital. As a place for among the best outdoor adventures in Edinburgh, it begins less than 15 minutes' walk from the taverns and Gothic churches of the Old Town. Laid out way back in 1541, it was created by King James V but contains even older ruins, like the haunting shell of St Anthony's Chapel and the remains of prehistoric hill forts.

These days, Holyrood Park keeps watch over the parliament buildings. It's a fitting job because the reserve is like Scotland writ small. There are valleys, crags, and even bijou lochs to explore here. The greatest draw is surely the extinct volcanic peak of Arthur's Seat, which hits 250 metres above sea level to reward hikers with sweeping panoramas of the city.

Jupiter Artland is an excellent place for those looking to combine cultural pursuits with a taste of the Scottish outdoors. Spreading through the leafy grounds of Bonnington House about 30 minutes' drive west from the Old Town core of Edinburgh, it's a patchwork of strange and intriguing landscape art and installations.

Some seriously big names are represented in the Artland. There are works by Antony Gormley of Angel of the North fame. It's possible to spy out rusting metalwork pieces by Anish Kapoor hidden in the woods. The whole place has been curated to mingle organic forms and the outdoors with cutting-edge creativity. Bookings can be made online before you arrive.

The Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh covers a vast 72 acres of land with its array of horticultural exhibits, flowerbeds, and scientific research facilities. Look for them on the hillsides above the New Town area, just over a mile to the north of Edinburgh Castle – that's about 30 minutes' walking and a great outdoor adventure in Edinburgh.

There's so much to see and explore within the botanic garden that you might need to set aside a whole day for it. From the 10 gorgeous glasshouses and their desert habitats to the soaring giant redwoods that would fit right in on the Californian coast, it's a wonderland for any budding botanist. Spring is probably the best time to visit, to catch the vibrant April and May flower blooms.

A part of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve, this leafy valley and river park is one of the outdoorsy joys of south Edinburgh. It's not hard to get to – a 15-minute cruise down the A702 from Edinburgh Castle can bring you to the parking on Midmar Drive.

Once the estate grounds of the de Brad family, the place centres on a Gothic-style Hermitage House that dates back to 1785. Around that swirls a web of walking paths, which hit a zenith with the creek-side trail and its river boardwalks. You can head east to enter the Blackford Hills, which also boast lookout points that gaze north to the Edinburgh Old Town.

The Edinburgh Innertube is essentially a web of connected off-road routes maintained solely for cyclists and walkers. It's helped the Scottish capital become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the whole of the UK and is a great place for an outdoor adventure in Edinburgh. You'll be able to join it at multiple points in the town – just look for the multicoloured bike markings.

Crisscrossing the whole town from north to south, east to west, the Innertube makes hopping from A to B in Edinburgh an experience in itself. You'll be cruising around on repurposed railway lines, on contraflow lanes through bustling shopping streets, and along leafy towpaths by the canal side. Just don't forget to pick up a copy of the Innertube map before setting off.

The Union Canal links up much of the River Forth's southern banks and offers one of the best outdoor adventures in Edinburgh. It goes from the heart of Edinburgh all the way to Falkirk, deep in the Lowlands out west. It's a real playground for outdoorsy travellers with cycling tracks, running paths, and picnic spots – there's oodles along its 35-mile-plus length.

Of course, the best way to get a feel for the joys of the Union Canal is by hopping on the water itself. There are now oodles of barge cruises that will take you out on the meandering channels through the green and bucolic surroundings of West Lothian. Some even include onboard afternoon teas or gin tasting.

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is that big splodge of greenery on the map to the south-west of Edinburgh. It's close – 30 minutes is all it takes to arrive in the car from Old Town. What's more, it might just be the closest thing you'll get to the Scottish Highlands while staying near the capital.

The summits here rise to a cloud-hugging 579 metres, ranging from loch-filled valley bottoms to wild, windblown ridges covered in heath and heather. There's tramping aplenty and it's one of the best places for an outdoor adventure in Edinburgh. The best of the hikes take walkers up Scald Law or Allermuir Hill for sweeping views of the range. Raining? Stick to the Harlaw Visitor Centre to learn all about the local history and ecology.

Cramond Island is a tidal island set in the Firth of Forth which offers one of the best outdoor adventures in Edinburgh. In all, it's a little under a mile from the mainland coast but is linked by a shallow causeway. There's parking on-site, which takes about 25 minutes to reach by car from the heart of Edinburgh.

The key thing here is that you time your adventure to perfection. Not only is the causeway inaccessible at high tide; it's positively dangerous to cross at certain times. Thankfully, there are warning signs at the trailhead to remind you of that. Once across, you can explore a barren rock where WWII bunkers clutch the coastline and a few ruined farmhouses haunt the interior.

Portobello Beach is one of Edinburgh's summer hot spots where you can enjoy fun in the sun and the great outdoors. Head to this charming suburb of the city to soak up the rays and splash in the North Sea when the mercury is high. It won't take long to get to – there's even a direct bus from the Old Town that takes only a little over 40 minutes.

The whole town underwent big developments in the Victorian era and then again in the 20^th century. That's given it a vibrant promenade filled with chip shops, pubs and drinking holes. There are some popular swimming spots around the Portobello Swim Centre.

The Water of Leith Walkway runs for 13 miles as it bisects the very heart of Edinburgh. Offering a great outdoor adventure in Edinburgh, the walkway has multiple points where you can join from in the town, as it meanders through the Royal Botanic Gardens and past the rugby terraces of Murrayfield Stadium.

It's possible to complete the whole route in a day, going from the centre out to the lively seaside and sailing town of Leith. There are even buses back if you decide to settle in the yacht clubs for a few Scottish drams. Highlights along the way include the romantic sight of Dean Village, looking like something out of a postcard, and art installation works by the likes of Anthony Gormley and others.