Outdoor

Blackford Hill is one of Edinburgh's "seven hills," situated 2 miles to the South of the city centre. Near the top of the 164m (539 ft) hill you can clearly see the green domed Royal Observatory, which houses a university astronomy research group, an establishment of a UK Research Council and a Visitor Centre. The Observatory's star-gazers moved from Calton Hill in 1896 due to light pollution in the city centre spoiling the view of the night sky.

Bawsinch and Duddingston Loch is a nature reserve situated three kilometres from the centre of Edinburgh, at the southern end of Holyrood Park, and South of Duddingston Village.

The Isle of May National Nature Reserve is a long rocky island with sheer cliffs and caves at the mouth of the Firth of Forth. It is home to thousands of grey seals, the fourth largest breeding group in the UK, who feed in the rich kelp forests surrounding the island.

The Mound precinct is a public space by the National Galleries on Princes Street that is frequently used by buskers, street performers and for other outdoor events. You often hear the area referred to simply as "The Galleries".

The Stone of Remembrance is a war memorial at the entrance to City Chambers. It is a light-coloured block, with the words on it "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE."

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), located in Edinburgh's Inverleith area, is often dubbed Scotland's answer to Kew gardens. It is not only a place to learn about trees, ferns, plants, and other flora from around the world, but its lush surroundings make it the perfect place to wile away a sunny afternoon.

Festival Square has been struggling to live up to its name for some time now. It is a Square but not very festive.

The Castle Gardens is on a steep hill directly under Edinburgh Castle to the South of the West Princes Street Garden. It is bounded by the railway line in the North and The Mound to the East.

The Meadows is a large expanse of common, greenspace to the South of Edinburgh Old Town, adjoining the main Edinburgh University area.

Edinburgh's Winter Wonderland is one of the UK's largest open air ice rinks.

Holyrood Park is a windswept, hilly public park, but a few minutes walk from Edinburgh Old Town.

Inverleith Park is a major public park, managed by the City of Edinburgh, a little North from the city centre.

Although fenced off with Edinburgh's characteristic black, wrought iron railings, The Gardens are open to the public and easily accessed at various gates along Princes Street and other points.

West Princes Street Gardens is the larger of the two tracts of green space (the other being East Princes Street Gardens) that run parallel to Princes Street in the heart of the city. The gardens were formerly the Nor' Loch, a body of water that provided added defence on the North face of Edinburgh Castle. The famously stinky loch was drained and ornamental gardens put in their place from 1816 onwards.

Calton Hill is one of Edinburgh's main hills, set right in the city centre. It is unmistakable with its Athenian acropolis poking above the skyline.

This pleasent, leafy green space located at the heart of the historic New Town is an oasis of tranquility.