Blackford Hill and The HermitageAnytime Orienteering

Course Type: Permanent & Virtual

Terrain type: Parkland & Woodland

Location Info

Near: Morningside
Lat,Lng: 55.9198,-3.2011
OS Grid Ref: NT250703
Postcode: EH10 6DA
What3Words: ///tonic.wires.grab

Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap

Directions / Parking

The "official" Start and Finish are adjacent main track to the Hermitage Visitor centre accessed from Braid Road EH10 6ET.

See below for alternative access points

Overview

New maps for 2026

Managed by the City of Edinburgh Council, this area offers a surprising variety very close to the city centre. The Royal Observatory is situated on the hill and there are panoramic views in all directions. The whole area is a Local Nature Reserve and has a good network of paths. The map has now been extended to the south to include part of the old golf course.

More information can be found here
https://www.edinburghoutdoors....

Map / Terrain Details

Blackford Hill itself has open grassland on the top, with steep craggy slopes to the north, west and south, mostly gorse-covered but with some ways through.

The Hermitage of Braid, by contrast, is a wooded river valley, damp in places.

MapRun Directory Path

In the MapRun app, click on Select Event then navigate to:
UK->Scotland->Edinburgh->Blackford Hill
Then select the Course you want (See below). Click on Go to Start to see map on your phone

Course Information

A 2025 maintenance programme has now been competed, including replacing missing posts and plaques and moving a couple of posts away from dense undergrowth. Updated maps are available for download using links below

There are 5 different courses available

• 4 colour-coded courses plus an All controls Scatter Map using the Permanent Orienteering Course (POC) posts. All these courses start from a location close to Braid Road (EH10 6ET). These courses are also available as Virtual Orienteering Courses (VOCs), using the MapRun app on a smartphone.
• One course using only virtual controls (not the physical posts) that starts close to the Blackford Pond

Explanation of colour coded levels here

NB

• The Start/Finish point for the 4 colour-coded courses using the POC posts is Braid Road (EH10 6ET) but you can start and finish at any point on any course. On the reverse of each course map is a map showing all the access points onto the hill
• In the summer it is possible that some of the shorter posts will become obscured by undergrowth, you can use the MapRun app to confirm the location of such controls.

A. Courses using POC posts and Maprun (starting from Braid Road)

1. Blackford Hill POC Yellow

1.1km long, 10m climb, 5 controls.
A simple course for beginners and families with young children.
 

Download Yellow Course map

2. Blackford Hill POC Orange

2.5km long, 80m climb, 12 controls.
Almost twice as long as course 1 with some steep paths that can be muddy. Not all controls are on paths but adjacent.

Download Orange Course map
 

3. Blackford Hill POC Long Orange

4.0km long, 165m climb, 15 controls.
This course needs more careful navigation and map reading, as the straight line between controls may not always be the quickest route.

Download Long Orange Course map
 

4. Blackford Hill POC Light Green

3.9km long, 220m climb, 13 controls.
This course has been planned to present a demanding physical and navigational challenge for more experienced orienteers.

Download Light Green course map
 

5. Blackford Hill POC Scatter

26 controls, any order Make up your own course!

Download Scatter map

B. Course using virtual Maprun controls only (starting from Blackford Pond (EH10 6BP)

Blackford MAPRUN Orange

2.7km long, 220m climb, 17 controls.

Download map

Maps packs (paper or digital) can be obtained by emailing ESOC. Donations will be welcome via online banking (details on request).

Safety Notes

Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety whilst using the course.

The Braid Burn runs through the area. It can become very dangerous when in spate and should only be crossed at the bridges.

Avoid the steep slopes above the burn on both sides.

Courses are planned to avoid dangerous crags, but take great care at all times.

The area is very popular with dog walkers so you can expect to meet some of these.

Nearest A&E Hospital

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (A&E), 51 Little France Crescent EH16 4SA
NHS Urgent care search