Our last day we took a walk here, and The Meadows was the perfect place to get in steps and pass…read morethe time. This large, clean park is near the university with walking/running trails. It is surrounded by trees. If you look above the trees you'll see how modern architecture blends with the very old buildings. In the park is a playground for toddlers and a little older children. A short-game 36-hole golf course is here with a neat history listed on the signs. You walk on at no cost carrying a wedge and putter and practice/play as long as you want. We saw two girlfriends playing, and two businessmen in shirts and ties playing during their lunch hour. There is also a dog park. Take a walk here on the paved paths.

Ah the meadows. The name implies multiples of meadow, but it's really just one large field. The…read morearea is ringed by trees, there is a fenced-in dog and people park on the side, and ample room to laze about and look up at the clouds. You can see Arthur's seat in the distance, which is where we were headed when we decided to stop and sit. I found the place clean enough, but near my area of laze there were a multitude of cigarette butts. It didn't bother me too much, but I could have done without it.

Very clean on the edge of The Meadows. There are swings, slide, and climbing structure. Lots of…read moreparents and young children. Did not see any snack counters.

Ok, so I'm obviously not a five-year old child anymore. (I can type and spell and use words like…read moreincongruous, though I haven't had the opportunity yet). But I like play parks. There comes a point when people stop making fun things for you. I mean, I'm in my early 20s, so people give me clothes and books instead of water-guns. Which is totally valid. But I think every now and then people should give their friends bouncy balls and hoola-hoops and frisbees. Seriously. So, this playpark is not half as cool as the one on the Meadows, but it's in a quieter less crowded part of the park. They have slides and monkey bars and all sort of fun things. I've many a time seen children having fun on them. (I've also seen older teenagers having fun on them. At night. With beer). If you feel like you're tired of being 20, maybe have a visit. If you're a parent, then take your children there, 'cause that's where it looks like the party is.

There are plenty of awesome Edinburgh Castle viewpoints for you to choose from within the city…read more Whichever one you visit will offer spectacular views, but the views from Princes Street Gardens truly are something special. The Gardens are made up of two adjacent parks which have been around since the 1820s. They sit in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle so as you can imagine, the views are very impressive! These gardens are found next to Edinburgh Train Station and the Scott Monument. They're free to enter, but just keep in mind that it does get really busy here! It lies in the valley between Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, at the heart of the Scottish capital's World Heritage Site. well, it was not always beautiful- Princes Street Gardens was created by draining Edinburgh's largest loch, the Nor Loch. there are many statues, monuments, landmarks in and around this iconic garden * Pictish Symbol Stone- The stone, now in the National Museum of Scotland * Monuments and statues- in a garden full of monuments and statues the Scott Monument, built in 1844 to commemorate the writer Sir Walter Scott, is the largest and most striking. * Ross Fountain: On the west side of the gardens is the Ross Fountain * St John's Scottish Episcopal Church * Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial: A tribute to the famous author, this memorial prompted a discussion about his adventures and literary works. * Norwegian Stone Memorial: This stone commemorates the enduring friendship between Norway and Scotland, established during World War II. * Ross Band Stand and Royal Scots Memorial: These stops offered a glimpse into the cultural and historical significance of the gardens. Every year at Christmas, part of the Gardens is transformed into the "Winter Wonderland" with a Christmas Market, an ice rink and many other fun attractions, including a Ferris wheel that stands 108 ft (33m) tall, often called The Edinburgh Eye. Today, the gardens are a popular Edinburgh tourist destination, especially beautiful in the spring and summer when the flowers are blooming.

This park along Princes Street has it all. It's just the place to be morning, noon, or night. There…read moreare beautiful views of the castle and the Ross Fountain. We saw a bandstand for performances as well as lush green grassy areas with plenty of bench seating. There are memorials and monuments scattered throughout the park. There's a church at one end of the park and Waverly Market (and train station) at the other end of it. The Mound splits up the two sides of this park into the west and east side. The east side has beautiful views of the Scott Monument. The National Gallery sits on the Mound for all art lovers to see as they are passing through to the other side. They have occasional holiday festivals here. One was being set up for Edinbugh's Winter Festival while we were there. It's difficult to believe that this was once a wetland around the castle. It eventually became known as Nor' Loch when it was purposely flooded to protect the castle. Yes, kind of like a moat. It eventually became a waste dump a couple of centuries later due to overpopulation. We were also told that it could have been the site of "Witch Ducking" prior to the accused being executed on Castlehill. Fact or fiction? The loch was drained in the 19th century to make way for the railway system. You don't really notice it from the park until you walk down the steps to the station. There are a few unique memorials here. I won't name them all, but the Scottish American (The Call), Mortonhall Baby Ashes, and Wojtek the Soldier Bear Memorials are the ones that caught my eye. We walked along Princes Street to see the statues, but then took detours through the park each day after that. It's so much better than walking along the crowded street. There's an adorable Gardener's Cottage as you're heading up to the mound with a beautiful garden. Don't miss the circular Royal Scott's Memorial on the other side of it. There's so much to discover at Princes Street Gardens.

This is a place that I didn't think I could do because of climbing hills but It's not all that bas…read moreas you can walk on the lower ground and still get a good view of things. I didn't climb any high hills for a bigger view, that's something I can go back to the Pentland Hills and do another day. Just walking about in the forest was pretty cool, i like that kind of thing plus it was so relaxing and peaceful. There was a sign that I passed, it was funny because someone altered the sign and it said "no parking, pissing place only" lol hehe. Did you knew that Amy Soldiers do exercise in Pentland Hills with firing there guns, a sign posted for warning, just in case you get a bullet in you bum. A great atmosphere at the Pentlands as everybody would pass you and say hello, it was nice, everyone was enjoying there day out. Ideal for walking your dog's or just hanging out with family/friends. Would consider going back again sometime very soon. https://socialsandi1.com/2018/08/05/pentlandhills-regional-park/

Wilderness, Waterfalls, Rivers and Raccoon's (well, maybe not these ;-) )…read more I was looking for a place to enjoy a nice afternoon stroll and which should be in proximity to Edinburgh city. Well, I am so lucky to live in a town surrounded by "mountains" which are called the Pentland Hills. There are several lakes/ water reservoirs in the Pentland Hills Regional Park which are accessible using several walking routes. We walked towards the Glencorse reservoir. A good start or end for the journey is the Flotterstone Inn and the Information centre nearby. Take your rucksack, get good walking boots, warm clothes and off it goes. Follow the paths which are clearly marked and you can't get lost. You might even pass an occasional waterfall! For the travelers without a car, you can hop on a bus and get off at Flotterstone Inn (but be careful - buses are a rare occurrence and you could be stranded) Lovely place!

Holyrood Park is a large park home to a number of historic sites and landmarks accessible via a…read moretrail system, including Arthur's Seat, Hunter's Bog, Dunsapie Crag, St Anthony's Chapel, Duddingston Loch, and The Radical Road. I approached on foot the morning of Friday 19 July 2019, reaching a sign of the park and its trail system at approximately 9:31 a.m. There were a number of cars coming and going already. It was my first visit to the park, so I opted to walk and skip any hassle I might encounter with parking. I was happy with that decision as it was a quick look at the map to get my bearings and I was on my way without needing to find parking. For my final destination in the park for the visit, I chose to hike to the top of Arthur's Seat - remains of a volcano that was active over 300 million years ago. The trails were well maintained and well designed for handling a large number of hikers.

This hike was perfect!! Beautiful weather in June, over looked the city, not crowded at all, and…read moreeasy for a family to tackle together (just keep small ones away from the edges as some areas are steep drop offs abruptly).

It's the nicely landscaped square and garden in the heart of New Town. We just happened to see it…read moreafter having lunch at Bread Street Kitchen & Bar. There are many nice restaurants and shops all over this area. It's most definitely the ritziest part of town with all the designer shops such as Louis Vuitton & Gucci across from the square. There's also a Costa Coffee shop at the very corner of it. It's all very convenient. We walked around the garden. It wasn't as beautiful as it normally would be in the spring or summer. The trees were displaying their fall colors, and there wasn't much in the way of flowering plants. The Melville Monument, Lion of Scotland statue, and Paddington Bear are all great photo opportunities here. Everyone was taking pictures with Paddington Bear on the bench eating a marmalade sandwich. I just happened to snap a picture in between the selfies. I actually found this sculpture to be the most interesting one of them all. St. Andrew Square Garden is a nice little stop if you just happened to be in the area. It's a great place to relax after a day of touring, eating, drinking, or shopping.

St. Andrew Square Garden is a small park worth visiting if you're in the area. It features a tall…read moremonument, the Melville Monument Column, which is quite noticeable. The park has plenty of green space, and Paddington Bear is sitting on a bench, so you can take a photo with him. While I wouldn't go out of my way to visit it, I recommend staying here for a bit and enjoying the green space.

Inverleith Park really is breathtaking with its huge pond and birds and trees and grass and benches…read moreto sit and admire the whole spectacle. With a panoramic view of Edinburgh castle in the distance and St Giles cathedral among other things, it's a sight to behold. The park is great for children too with a play park and a wetland where you will find a whole host of birds. I especially loved the sundial garden too. The only drawback is I wish there were toilets so I didn't have to cut my visit short but apart from that, Inverleith Park is well worth a visit.

Believe it or not, I don't have a musical quote or jazz hands to add to this update. I know, i'm…read moregetting lazy in my old Yelp age... but really, who can one up Julie Andrews? No one can. That's science. So if all the previous sing-song moments still ring true, why the update? Well, we're doing a little Yelp challenge that called for my favourite spot "with a view". Sounds easy enough, but Edinburgh is one of those places that has a spectacular view pretty much anywhere you turn... so narrowing it down to a favourite? Big decision. I stopped and thought of where I've seen the most spectacular things in the last year and a half, and Inverleith Park found itself at the top of the list. Besides being a lovely park in its own right, as Nicola C said, it's probably one of the best (and less crowded) viewpoints to fireworks at the castle. With Hogmanay, festival season, Burns night, etc etc etc... that makes for many an occasion to watch fireworks throughout the year and I echo the sentiment: you can't ask for a better spot to take in the festivities. So I previously loved Inverleith Park for its everyday amenities, but as it turns out, it also tops my list of memorable moments. That's makes it truly one darn wonderful park.

A head chilling stroll... Relaxing without chaos…read more.. An urban escape.

George Square Gardens is located just in the middle of some of the ugliest buildings in Edinburgh…read more(you know who you are Appleton Tower) However, this garden is well laid out and surprisingly big. If the Meadows are too crowded to be in then by all means come here to chill (just turn your back to the Library). There's a Labyrinth thingy on one side- it's not really a labyrinth more like a self-meditating maze and often I have seen people concentrating hard as they walk around it. I myself am probably too shallow to understand its meaning on finding my true self and so have instead raced friends to the end of it (each starting at a different side). During the Festival this Garden gets even prettier- they put large paper lanterns, a bar and wooden swings around and it's great to chill in with a great buzz of people!

I'm pretty much in love with how much green space this city boasts. They should put that front and…read morecentre on the tourism boards: Edinburgh: walk two blocks and find a park... like, actually. (apparently, the tourism board should also sound like a 14 year old girl...) I'm not going to beat around the bush here (heh), I walked 15 minutes out of my way to go to this park. Sure, I was headed in the general direction but this gal can't pass up a good FTR (First To Review), and so park trekking it was. And as parks go, this one is pretty spiffy. Maybe not walk 15 minutes out of your way spiffy, but it's clean, the play space is bright, spacious and apparently "not for adults" and they've got a nice little set of picnic benches for when it isn't crazy cold/windy/raining (i'm told this magical moment happens in June). Not a destination park in any sense, i'm sure it would be a lovely find if I lived in the neighbourhood and a great spot to take the little ones!

Great park... Always busy. Great to meet up with friends with the kids. It would be good if the…read morecouncil could add more things for the kids to play on. Lots of space that could be used. Feel very lucky to have it on my door step!

It's a hidden pocket garden with a gated entryway. I don't think a whole lot of tourists pass…read morethrough here unless on a tour. It's kind of obscure, and looks like someone's private garden. I love that it's maintained very well. You can thank the Mushroom Trust for that. On a cool November day, it was a nice little retreat from the Royal Mile. It's very quiet in there, and maybe due to the high walls of Canongate Kirk. It's a nice pass thru for locals walking through from neighboring businesses. It's lovely to pass by the manicured shrubs and to see falling autumn leaves. I think I saw an herb garden as well. The Canongate Mercat Cross is also there as you walk further into the garden. I'd be here daily if I lived or worked nearby. It's just one of those hidden gems that deserves a visit when on Canongate.

Absolute gem that we encountered by accident after tea at Clarindas. Definitely worth a stroll…read morethrough these beautifully manicured gardens. Great photo ops as well- and it's free! Felt like we were in the countryside in the middle of Old Edinburgh