QUEER HIKING: Seven Hills of Edinburgh Challenge for Palestine

To celebrate our 4th anniversary in September, Edinburgh Queer Hiking is taking on the Seven Hills of Edinburgh Challenge! This is a fundraiser for Palestine so get your friends and family to join in too.

This classic route connects Edinburgh's seven hills and offers a fun challenge for walkers with stunning panoramic views of the city. The route is also a great way to see the best of the city and explore areas on and off the beaten track.

This is not an easy walk - 27km and 700m of climbing – but you’re welcome to join for as much or as little of the walk as you wish. We will start with Arthur’s Seat (251m) and then continue in the following order: Blackford Hill (164m), Braid Hill (213m), Easter Craiglockhart Hill (158m and 175m), Costorphine Hill (161m), Castle Rock (131m) and finishing at Calton Hill (103m).

We’ll continue the festivities at Kilderkin pub that we have booked from 7pm onwards.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Distance: 27km / 16.5 miles
Duration: 8-10h
Difficulty: difficult

MEETING POINT: Holyrood car park

ROUTE: https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-route/united-kingdom/the-edinburgh-seven-summits-challenge/60979013/#caml=asw,-j09lu,98vv62,0,0&dm=1

TERRAIN

This mapped route takes in a combination of paved roads (both residential and fast flowing), park paths, and rougher hill tracks so care is needed along the busy roads and at the crossings, and in wetter conditions when the rougher paths become muddy and very slippery.

AMENITIES

There's public toilets near Holyrood car park, in Blackford Hill, Costorphine Hill and Castle Rock. Plenty of shops, cafes and bars along the way.

WHAT TO BRING

Good walking shoes, waterproofs, water and lunch!

IMPORTANT - WHAT TO EXPECT IN OUR EVENTS?

• Our events are for the LGBTQIA+ community but respectful allies are welcome unless otherwise specified.

• Edinburgh Queer Hiking is fundamentally trans positive. Please respect people's pronouns and introduce yourself with yours. If you’re not sure of what pronouns are or why they are important, please do some research before attending.

• Our hikes are not about speed or fitness but about spending time together outdoors. We adapt the pace so that everyone can hike together and feel comfortable. We tend to make a lot of stops, whether for ice cream or just ‘smelling the roses’ - the time given is therefore only an ESTIMATION and might vary considerably depending on the size and needs of the group on a given day.

• If you feel a little nervous to be coming to an event on your own for the first time, please get in touch and we will arrange for somebody to meet you in advance so you can go together.

• Please respect different people will seek different things from our events. For some our events are primarily a social thing while others might just want to enjoy nature on their own. All ways of attending our walks are equally valid and welcome.

Host or Publisher Edinburgh Queer Hiking