Scroll down for 360º images and video
braid_oxg00
Capelaw Court, Allermuir Court and Caerketton Court stand on the flood plain of the Braid Burn, about 1 Kilometre west of Buckstone Snab, the vantage point for this picture.
Braid Hills Drive
'Rust never sleeps' is the title of an album by Neil Young, and this fence illustrates this effect. The rusty old gate shown here hasn't been in regular use for a while. The gorse alongside the road is still thriving, despite the meadow beyond being turned into a golf course.
Braid Hills Drive
A little further east along the road, past the tree-lined Howe Dean path is this view of south east Edinburgh. At the bottom of the slope to the left is Blackford Glen Road leading to the junction with Liberton Brae. Craigmillar court and Peffermill Court stand to the left of the hill with Craigmillar Castle on top. The white tower in the centre of the Picture is Liberton Fire Station at Kirk Brae. The housing estate beyond is The Inch.
Braid Hills Drive
Looking back to the north west. Beyond the wrecked rusty fence can be seen Blackford Hill and the Royal Observatory. The gorse-free area in front of it is Blackford Hill Quarry (disused), filled in with rubbish and a layer of topsoil then grassed over.
braidhills_drive26
A picture of the 'mad mile'. Craighouse is in the distance.
Braid Hills Drive
Christmas dinners on legs. At least these poor beasts are free range, if slightly muddy. The Royal Observatory is at the other side of Blackford Glen.
LibertonTower
Blackford Glen Road still has farm land on its south side. This is the view up to Liberton Tower.
Liberton Tower
This 15th century building has been recently renovated. You can stay here on holiday or hire the tower for conferences.
Braid_pathIR01
A sunny day at the start of July 2011. This is an infrared view of the path up to Buckstone Snab from Braid Road just south of Braid Mount.
Braid_path_thistles_bees
Small thistles growing beside the Bridle Path which runs from Braid Hills Golf Course clubhouse alongside Braid Hills Drive for most of its length. A honeybee and a bumblebee, I'm reliably informed.
Braid_Meadow_topiary00
Braid Farm Road is at the western end of this meadow. One of its back gardens has several cylindrically shaped shrubs, pictured here.
Braid_Meadow_topiary01
Showing all five cylinders. The one on the right is the odd one out.
Braid_IR_topiary00
The middle three in infrared.
Braid_pathIR09
The view east in infrared. The foliage reflects the IR light but the blue sky appears dark. Compare this with the next view in normal colour.
Braid_path-09
Behind the trees the land drops away steeply down to Blackford Glen and the Hermitage of Braid. Same viewpoint as the previous infrared picture.
Hermitage_IR05
The footpath runs beside the Braid Burn and crosses it once or twice on the way upstream towards the Hermitage building.
Hermitage_IR08
The Hermitage of Braid photographed in infrared from the footpath. A great deal of invasive rhododendrons have been cleared from this area giving new views.
BraidHillsRoad07
A recently renovated (2014) entrance to the Braid Hills from Braid Hills Road not far from the east end of Braid Farm Road.
howe-dean_ir09
Further east along the road is Howe Dean, the footpath leading down into Blackford Glen. Blackford Hill's summit appears white, not because of snow but because the picture is infrared.
howe-dean_ir12
Wooden steps lead down into the glen.
howe-dean_ir17
Garlic carpets the ground beside the footpath.
howe-dean_ir04
Near the bottom of Howe Dean a tree stump is being recycled by fungus.
blackford-glen16beech
November 2008 in Blackford Glen. The beech trees are characterised by their smooth grey bark and small oval leaves, now in their autumn colours.
BraidHillsRoad_ir01
Two infrared views taken in August 2012.
BraidHills_rd_ir02
Looking directly down the path toward Blackford Hill.
Braid_Meadow_topiary03ir
I gave the topiary the infrared treatment using a modified Pentax *ist DSLR.
Signpost
Beside the new foot bridge over the burn is this fine wooden sign.
Blackford-Glen-logs
Gales in January 2012 and heavy rain in June have taken their toll on many mature trees. Nature, of course, doesn't waste organic material and the logs are being recycled by moss and fungi, as well as burrowing insects.
Hermitage_loo
If you're near the Hermitage of Braid there are public toilets here.
Braid_Meadow_spoilt
Braid_Meadow_spoilt02
Is this the beginning of the urbanisation of this area? What's next - more tarmac and concrete? Perhaps barbed wire and security guards...
crow02
It wasn't too bothered by our presence as we moved slowly and kept our distance. In this picture I seem to have captured it blinking as there seems to be a bluish membrane over its eye.
crow03
No blink here; its eye appears black and shiny.
crow04
After a few minutes the crow took off, flying past the observatory.
blackford_hill_bench
Near the top of the hill this bench is an ideal spot to rest and take in the stupendous view.
crow05ir
Whilst we were sitting on the bench a crow came and checked us out.
viewfinder
Blackford Hill Viewfinder provided by Friends of The Hermitage.
hermitage_brickwork02
Down near The Hermitage is this old brickwork beside the Braid Burn.
hermitage_brickwork03
It would appear to be some sort of cistern which originally served the building downstream.
BraidHillsDrive
Contrasting colours and textures.
blackford_glen31
At the Hermitage of Braid there's a path at the back of the building which leads up to Midmar Paddock. Beside the path, not far from the Hermitage building is a musical instrument of sorts, made from found materials (branches) and suspended from the tree's wavy branch.
blackford_glen32
This is the view of the musical tree from the slope behind it. (5th November 2014)
howe-dean1411fungus
HD picture of some strange fungus growing on dead wood at the bottom of Howe Dean.
howe-dean1411fungus2
A wider view of the scene. The fungus resembles black fingers.
howe-dean1411fungus4
Photographed at the same location. At first glance this fungus looks like apricots.
HermitageBraidBurn03
The wee weir between Braid Road and the Hermitage of Braid.
HermitageBraidBurn05
Looking down on the weir.
HermitageBraidBurn06
A few metres downstream fron the weir looking upstream.
HermitageBraidBurn07
Further downstream. The last 4 photos were not taken using a long exposure. The app in the Sony RX100M4 camera instead takes multiple exposures and combines them.
morningside_rd_57
The view to the top of Morningside Road from Braid Hill.
buckstone_snab_view05craiglockhart
Wester Craiglockhart Hill is more south of Easter Craiglockhart Hill than west. It's awkward to get to, largely due to landgrabbing golfers. In the distance are the shale bings near Broxburn and Winchburgh in West Lothian. The former City Hospital in the foreground is the Steils housing project.
buckstone-snab_IR_viewTwoods
The A702 Comiston Road runs south through the picture starting at the bottom right. Green foliage reflects infrared light most, making it appear white in monochrome.
braid_view_s03ir
A later picture taken after my Pentax *ist camera was modified for infrared only.
braid_view_sw02ir
The wooded hill that overlooks Bonaly, though from this viewpoint it's the Oxgangs area in the foreground.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Photographed from Braid Hills Drive. The Observatory dome is 700 metres away; Salisbury Crags are 3.4Km away.
braidhills_drive18view
Blackford Hill and the observatory, October 2009.
braidhills_drive21view
Blackford Hill on the right, Corstorphine Hill in the distance on the left.
BraidHillsRoad_ir03
Braid Hills Road and Braid Hills Drive are the same road. West of Braid Farm Road it's called Road rather than Drive. There's a slow battle between the rusting railings and the gorse bushes.
BraidHillsRoad_ir04
In some places rust appears to have eroded the iron railings completely leaving only traces under the thriving gorse bushes beside the footpath.
BraidHillsRoad_ir07
Looking east towards Liberton. Most of the north side of this road is lined with rusty railings and gorse bushes.
BraidHillsRoad_ir12
This picture taken in August 2013, one year later than the first batch above.
Oxgangs copper rooves
blackford_view_n03
This is a view of Esdaile Court, built in the Scottish Baronial style of architecture and subdivided into individual houses.
blackford_view_nw5
Holy Corner is on the left and to its right stand the tenements of Bruntsfield Place. The green domed turrets are at the former Donaldson's Hospital / Donaldson's College near Haymarket. The multistorey block of flats is Martello Court at Muirhouse.
kestrel03
Kestrel 4th April 2017 Braid Hills
View-CragsBurnt
It wasn't especially hot or dry but because of the steep slopes, gorse fires spread rapidly upwards. August 2010.
view2hillendfrom_b-snab2
Appropriately named, Hillend is indeed at the end of the hills. The dry ski slope extends about halfway up the east end of Caerketton hill.
blackford_hill06
Near the summit stands the radio tower, doubtless sending and receiving data to and from Hawaii and the universe in general. The rough path in the foreground leads down to wooden steps.
blackford_view_w00
The two hills are Easter Craiglockhart Hill on the left and Wester Craiglockhart Hill on the right upon which stands Napier University's Craighouse Campus. When this was a psychiatric hospital I used to visit quite often to service TVs in different wards.
blackford_view_w02
I zoomed in here on the Craighouse Campus. Its future use may be uncertain at the end of 2011.
blackford_view_eIR02-1920
A large, desktop wallpaper sized image showing the Bass Rock and North Berwick Law as seen from Braid Hills Road.
blackford_hill10
Because the foreground is the golf course's ugly fenced compound I've cropped it out and made a letterbox shaped picture of the view. Arthur's Seat and the observatory are at the right.
BraidHills
Looking south from Blackford Hill across to Braid Hills Road. Hillend is visible at far right.
View-Torphin
Torphin is the distant Hill at the north west corner of the Pentlands. Nearer to the camera is what remains of Braid Meadow and the cylindrical topiary I've photographed from closer up.
View-Craighouse02
Zoomed in more. This shows the green area at Craighouse where a developer wants to build.
View-ShaleBings
Zooming in on the spire of the Cluny Centre also shows the background of red shale bings between Broxburn and Winchburgh.
view2Twoods2010
Referred to as the T Woods but the shape is more like a St George's cross as seen from above. Caerketton hill overlooks the scene. Swanston village is in front of the woods on the right. (Jan 2010)
viewNfrom_brd07
Two little birds perch on the branches in the foreground. Beyond the local mist a few buildings dominate, the highest of which is Martello Court at Muirhouse. A fog bank lies along the Firth of Forth.
viewNfrom_brd08
Morningside's Maxwell Street as at bottom right. Chimneys add to the foggy haze obscuring George Watson's school on Colinton Road. The snowy hills of Fife can be seen over the fog on the Forth.
viewNfrom_brd09
Panning a little to the west gives this view of Napier University Craighouse Campus on the left with Corstorphine Hill and the Ochil Hills in the distance. A plane is flying west to land at Edinburgh Airport.
viewNfrom_brd10
Edinburgh Castle stands out in front of the fog bank lying along the Firth of Forth. Scottish Widows Headquarters U-shaped Morrison Street building as at the left. Twin rows of tenement flats are at Morningside's Woodburn Terrace. Barclay church (beside Bruntsfield Links) is dead centre .
viewNfrom_brd11
Morningside Road runs diagonally through the picture. Morningside Station is at bottom left behind Cluny Parish Church. St Mary's Cathedral's 3 spires poke through the mist. Fife hills are clearly visible over the fog.
viewNfrom_brd13
The rear of George Watson's school on Colinton Road is now visible as the mist clears in the morning sunshine..
viewNfrom_brd18
Edinburgh Castle again. On the right of the picture stand the white buildings of Ramsay Gardens. Further away the new multi-storey flats at Leith's Western Harbour can be seen beyond the castle esplanade.
viewNWfrom_brd00
Morningside in the foreground with Corstorphine Hill and Fife beyond. The half timbered building on the right is beside Myreside Road. Playing fields are nearby.
viewNfrom_brd23
The Firth of Forth, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat are just visible at the top of the picture. A few footprints can be seen on the abandoned golf course.
view2ochils-from_brd00
HerbGarden01
Entering the Herb Garden fromthe top path.
HerbGarden02
Steps leading down to the Braid Burn
HerbGarden03
Informative slate plaque about thyme
HerbGarden04
All about St John's Wort
HerbGarden05
Wild Strawberry
HerbGarden06
Thrift
HerbGarden09
Beautifully buit stone bench
HerbGarden10
An overall view of the Herb Garden with the doocot at the back
buckstone_snab2016
Buckstone Snab as seen from the summit of Braid Hill.
buckstone_snab2016c
Craighouse from Braid Hill
buckstone_snab2016e
Morningside Road from Braid Hill. The roof carpark at Waitrose is on the right.
braidhillsummit2016b
Woodburn Terrace from Braid Hill
buckstone_snab2016g
Buckstone Snab with Dalmahoy Hill in the distance.
buckstone_snab2016h
Morningside Road from Buckstone Snab.
buckstone_snab2016i
George Watson's School dominates the foreground.
buckstone_snab2016l
Morningside Road from further west on Buckstone Snab.
braidhill2016
Overlooking the golf building towards Woodburn Terrace
braidhillsapproach
The police box at Braid Hills Approach
braidhillsapproach_a
Read all about the SwimEasys, a family who live in this magical box.
braidhillsapproach_b
Information about the Police Box Museum
HermitageXmas2016_00
HermitageXmas2016_04
HermitageXmas2016_05
HermitageXmas2016_06
HermitageXmas2016_07
HermitageXmas2016_08
HermitageXmas2016_09
HermitageXmas2016_10
HermitageXmas2016_11
HermitageXmas2016_12
HermitageXmas2016_14
HermitageXmas2016_15
HermitageXmas2016_16
HermitageXmas2016_18
HermitageXmas2016_19
HermitageXmas2016_20
HermitageXmas2016_21
HermitageXmas2016_22
HermitageXmas2016_23
BraidBurnFalls2
The little waterfall between the Braid Road entrance and the Hermitage
blackford_glen67
The end of April sees the trees coming into leaf.
kestrel05
A kestrel near Braid Hills Drive
kestrel06
A kestrel near Braid Hills Drive
OswaldRdRail01ir
On the way to Blackford Pond from the Grange, crossing the suburban railway. InfraRed photo.
blackford_pond07ir
Blackford Pond, InfraRed photo.
blackford_hill_ir15
MidmarPaddock23allotments_ir
Allotments at Midmar Drive. IR photo.
blackford_hill_ir19
For comparison the next photo is the same but in normal colour.
blackford_hill_19
Gorse making it a tight squeeze on this path.
MidmarPaddock24allotments_ir
A wider view of the Midmar allotments. IR photo.
MidmarPaddock25_ir
Looking down the steep steps towards Midmar Paddock. IR photo.
blackford_hill_ir26
The view up the steps to the radio mast. Note how dark the blue sky is in this IR photo.
MidmarPaddock27_ir
HerbGarden12_ir
Approaching the herb garden from high up on the north side of the valley.
HerbGarden14_ir
The doocot is at the top of the herb garden.
HerbGarden16_ir
Another view of the herb garden.
BraidBurnFalls4
The little weir near the Hermitage was in full flow after a day of rain.
howe-dean120607a
Most visitors (myself included) rarely see any water flowing down Howe Dean.
howe-dean120607b
A closer view of the water flowing down Howe Dean.
howe-dean120607c
A wider view of Howe Dean.
GolfCourseFail08
The so-called 'Hermitage Golf Course' has been a failure and is returning to nature.
GolfCourseFail09
A few days earlier this golfers' water hazard was virtually empty.
HermitageOct2017_06
A sunny day at the end of October on the northern slopes of Blackford Glen
HermitageOct2017_12
October fungus
Braidhills_Road-Drive
Where Braid Hills Road and Braid Hills Drive join
blackford_glen97
From the pavement at the west end of Braid Hills Drive you can step onto this path. Threre is a glimpse of Craigmillar Castle and Kings Buildings in the distance.
blackford_hill49
Some views from the abandoned Hermitage golf course. Blackford Hill behind Blackford Glen.
AgassizRock5
blackford_hill50
HoweDean1711(b)
Looking east towards Howe Dean
blackford_glen20171109(b)
Facing west
blackford_glen20171109(c)
The next picture shows the gap in the fence from the other side.
blackford_glen20171109(e)
The main path descends to a wooden bridge over the Braid Burn.
HoweDean1711(d)
Hermitage_IR27
blackford_hill_ir27
blackford_hill_ir29
Black headed gulls
Black headed gulls perched on branches at Blackford Pond
Black headed gulls 02
Black headed gulls 03
Black headed gulls 04
Black headed gulls 05
Braid_ForthBridges02
July 25th 2018
Braid_Forth03
SwimEasys2018(a)
These 3 photos are different edits from the same original insta 360 one x image.
SwimEasys2018(b)Theta
These 3 photos are different edits from the same original insta 360 one x image.
SwimEasys2018(c)Theta
These 3 photos are different edits from the same original insta 360 one x image.
blackford_glen20181113(a)
A video of the walk up to this location is after this gallery.
blackford_glen20181113(b)
A video of the walk up to this location is after this gallery.
lang-linn09
Lang Linn footpath from Braid Hills Drive to Blackford Glen
Braid_view2019(a)
The view to the city January 2019
View-ArthursSeat 20191209a
View-ArthursSeat 20191209b
View-ArthursSeat 20191209c
view-CityCentre
view-CityCentre02
view-CityCentre03
blackford_hill56
blackford_hill57
blackford_hill58
blackford_hill59
View-HolyCorner(b)Forth
MidmarPaddock34
MidmarPaddock36
MidmarPaddock37
Hermitage 20191209
Hermitage 20191209c
Allotments 20191209a
Allotments 20191209b
360º interactive image of the doocot at Hermitage of Braid Edinburgh #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
↑ 360º interactive image of the doocot at Hermitage of Braid Edinburgh. (Click the Theta icon for full screen and full controls.)
↑ Video made with insta 360 desktop app (full HD 1920 x 1080)
Lang Linn footpath from Braid Hills Drive to Blackford Glen #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
↑ Lang Linn footpath from Braid Hills Drive to Blackford Glen. (Click the Theta icon for full screen and full controls.)
Lang Linn insta – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
↑ Lang Linn footpath from further down. (Click the Theta icon for full screen and full controls.)