Merchiston is a residential area in Edinburgh, Scotland, characterized by its blend of urban proximity and diverse natural environments. The region offers accessible paths along the Union Canal, expansive green spaces like Bruntsfield Links, and rugged hills such as Arthur's Seat and the nearby Pentland Hills. These varied landscapes provide opportunities for several sports like road cycling, hiking, jogging, mountain biking, and more.
Merchiston offers a wide range of outdoor activities, with more than 100…
116
Routes
4.5
(213)
Average rating
7625
People visited

4.9
(13)
92
riders
51.1km
04:30
750m
750m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(4)
54
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(10)
63
riders
59.5km
03:45
790m
790m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
29
riders
30.7km
01:53
350m
350m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(8)
438
riders
64.2km
02:57
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.8
(24)
511
riders
37.5km
01:41
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.6
(18)
283
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
315
riders
86.4km
03:54
740m
740m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.0
(2)
258
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.8
(4)
254
runners
4.18km
00:26
20m
20m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
321
runners
7.66km
00:50
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
111
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(5)
81
riders
37.2km
02:26
310m
310m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(2)
45
riders
48.7km
03:10
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

31
riders
30.2km
01:57
280m
280m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.0
(1)
32
riders
24.2km
01:24
170m
170m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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53
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
71
hikers
7.38km
01:58
70m
70m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

52
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
48
hikers
8.54km
02:20
130m
130m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(4)
34
riders
13.1km
00:52
150m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
34
riders
5.15km
00:20
70m
70m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

32
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

36
riders
7.34km
00:26
40m
40m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Merchiston offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Road cycling, Hiking, Jogging, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. The region features 127 routes, with more than 55,000 visitors having explored them.
Merchiston provides 56 hiking routes, ranging from easy walks to challenging climbs. Popular areas include Arthur's Seat for panoramic views and the Pentland Hills Regional Park. Explore options with the Hiking around Merchiston guide.
Yes, Merchiston features road cycling routes, including paths along the Union Canal and more demanding terrain in the Pentland Hills. Four specific road cycling tours are available. Find detailed routes in the Road Cycling Routes around Merchiston guide.
Merchiston offers mountain biking opportunities, particularly in the Pentland Hills Regional Park. There are 2 mountain biking routes available. Consult the MTB Trails around Merchiston guide for specific options.
Merchiston offers family-friendly options, such as leisurely strolls along the Union Canal and open spaces like Bruntsfield Links. Several easy hiking routes are also suitable for families. Refer to the Family-friendly hikes around Merchiston guide for more information.
Key natural landmarks include Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano offering panoramic views of Edinburgh, and Blackford Hill, which provides vistas of Edinburgh, the Lothians, and the Firth of Forth. The Pentland Hills Regional Park also features scenic reservoirs and hilltops.
Routes in Merchiston have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on komoot, based on more than 3,000 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users who have explored the area.
Yes, Merchiston provides easy hiking routes suitable for beginners. These include paths along the Union Canal and various trails within the Pentland Hills. The Easy hikes around Merchiston guide offers specific recommendations.
There are 10 komoot guides available for Merchiston, covering various sports and activity types. These include guides for hiking, road cycling, running, mountain biking, touring cycling, and gravel biking.
Merchiston offers 41 running and jogging routes. Flat paths along the Union Canal are popular for joggers, as are the open spaces of Bruntsfield Links. Consult the Running Trails around Merchiston guide for detailed routes.
The official website for Merchiston Castle School, located in the area, is www.merchiston.co.uk. There is no singular official tourism website specifically for the Merchiston region as a whole.
Merchiston features a total of 127 routes across various outdoor sports. These routes have been explored by more than 55,000 visitors.

