In antiquity, the ancient cities of Rome and Athens each stretched across the so-called ‘Seven Hills.’ In true neoclassical style, Edinburgh also has seven hills. Each year in June, the city stages the Seven Hills of Edinburgh Race, a challenge that includes road, cross-country and hill running.

Arthur’s Seat
Edinburgh’s famous extinct volcano. The best spot for a panoramic view of the city and the Firth of Forth.

Blackford Hill
The home of the Royal Observatory and an ancient hillfort.

Braid Hill
Between Blackford Hill and Braid Hill runs the Hermitage of Braid, a wonderful local riverside walkway.

Calton Hill
This hill is home to a copy of Athens’ Acropolis, built in 1822 as the National Monument of Scotland. The hill also hosts the City Observatory, the Nelson Monument to celebrate victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and the Dugald Stewart Monument. The latter is the famous circular temple with nine fluted Corinthian columns visible from Princes Street and elsewhere in the city, and is William Henry Playfair’s replica of Athens’ Monument of Lysicrates. Dugald Stewart was a professor of philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and an instrumental player in the Scottish Enlightenment.

Castle Rock
Edinburgh Castle sits upon this rocky outcrop. On 14 March 1314, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, together with thirty of his men, climbed the rock face to open the gates to allow the Scots’ army to capture the castle from the English.

Corstorphine Hill
This is the home of Edinburgh Zoo, topped with a tower dedicated to Sir Walter Scott on the 100th anniversary of his death.

Easter Craiglockhart Hill
There are two Craiglockhart Hills, Easter and Wester (so, technically ‘eight hills’), but it is the Easter hill that features in the Race. The Wester is the higher hill.