Good to know
Good to Know
- Edinburgh Leisure operates 556 sports clubs and teams across 35 sports with state-of-the-art public facilities including climbing, swimming, and multi-purpose halls.
- Water sports like kayaking, SUP, and coasteering are best May-September; operators provide equipment and instruction for beginners.
- Pentland Hills south of the city offer diverse hiking from easy to challenging with bus access in 30-40 minutes.
- Midlothian Snowsports Centre (Hillend) provides year-round skiing/snowboarding on the UK's largest artificial slope with equipment hire included in entry.
- Winter season (November-January) features George Street ice rink in city centre as part of Christmas markets with lessons available.
- Bike hire is widely available (£15-25 per day standard, £40-60 e-bike) with traffic-free paths like Water of Leith Walkway.
- Mountain biking hubs Glentress and Innerleithen with purpose-built trails are 30 minutes drive away.
- Ice hockey team Edinburgh Capitals plays in Scottish National League; rugby dominates winter with major fixtures at Murrayfield.
- Curling bookings at Curl Edinburgh fill quickly; reserve in advance for October-May season.
- Arthur's Seat (extinct volcano) offers steep hike close to city centre; can be slippery or muddy in winter—wear sturdy boots.
Hiking
Arthur's Seat
- Difficulty
- moderate with short rocky scramble
- Height Metres
- extinct volcano
- Time To Summit
- 20-30 minutes from Dunsapie Loch car park
Pentland Hills
- Difficulty
- beginner to advanced
- Key Routes
- Bonaly-to-Flotterstone traverse, Turnhouse Hill, Glencorse and Loganlea reservoir circuit
- Highest Point
- Scald Law 579m
Cycling
Water of Leith Walkway
- Type
- City cycling
- Description
- Traffic-free cycling route through Edinburgh
Union Canal Towpath
- Type
- Canal cycling
- Description
- Flat traffic-free route suitable for beginners
Bike Hire
- Providers
- Cycle Scotland (near Haymarket), Biketrax (Tollcross), Edinburgh Bike Hire
- Price Range
- per day
- Price E Bike
- £40
- Price Standard Bike
- £15
Bike Share
- Description
- Public bike-share scheme with docking stations across city centre
Mountain Biking
- Distance
- 30 minutes drive away
- Bike Hire
- available locally
- Locations
- Glentress and Innerleithen
- Difficulty Levels
- novice to advanced black runs
Climbing
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (Ratho)
- Type
- Indoor climbing arena
- Provider
- Edinburgh Leisure
- Activities
- climbing, bouldering
- Instruction
- Expert instructors, coaching available for all levels
East Lothian Coastal Areas
- Type
- Rock climbing
- Operators
- Driftwood Adventure, Ocean Vertical
- Difficulty
- all levels
Water Sports
Kayaking
- Locations
- Cramond, South Queensferry, Portobello (Firth of Forth)
- Guided Tours
- Yes
- Notable Experience
- Cramond to Cramond Island paddle at low tide with seal viewing and Forth Rail Bridge views
Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP)
- Difficulty
- all levels
- Description
- Available through various operators on local waters
Coasteering
- Seasonal pricing
- May-September
- Operators
- Driftwood Adventure, Ocean Vertical (Dunbar location)
- Difficulty
- all skill levels
- Description
- Rock scrambling, cliff diving, sea swimming (coastal adventure)
Canyoning
- Access
- Short minibus ride from Edinburgh
- Seasonal pricing
- May-September
- Operators
- Intrepidus Outdoors
- Description
- Waterfall abseiling (up to 17m), cliff jumping, natural water slides
Edinburgh Leisure
- Activity
- Sailing
- Location
- Port Edgar near Forth Road Bridge
- Offerings
- Intro courses and lessons
Fox Lake
- Activity
- Wakeboarding and waterskiing
- Description
- Equipment rentals available, expert instruction for all levels
Fox Lake
- Activity
- Aqua park
- Description
- Inflatable obstacles, slides, climbing structures, monitored by lifeguards
Lost Shore (Dunbar Area, Nearby Day-trip)
- Activity
- Surfing
- Description
- State-of-the-art Wavegarden artificial resort with adjustable wave technology, lessons available
- Water Temperature Note
- Most guided water sports (May-September) when temperatures 12-16°C (54–61°F)
Winter Sports
Midlothian Snowsports Centre (Hillend)
- Slopes
- 2 main slopes, 2-3 nursery slopes, fun slope with jumps
- Seasons
- Year-round on artificial slopes
- Activity
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Description
- UK's largest artificial dry ski slope, located in Pentland Hills just outside city
Curl Edinburgh
- Season
- October-May
- Activity
- Curling
- Note
- Very popular, books up quickly
- Description
- Taster sessions available. Same rink where Team GB Winter Olympians train.
George Street Ice Rink (City Centre)
- Season
- November-early January
- Activity
- Ice skating
- Features
- Part of Christmas markets; lessons available, toddler and relaxed sessions
Pentland Hills, Arthur's Seat
- Season
- year-round with snow possible in hills
- Activity
- Winter walking/hiking
- Note
- Arthur's Seat can be slippery or muddy; needs good footwear
Skiing and Snowboarding on Real Snow
- Day Trip
- Cairngorms and Glencoe
- Note
- Available when snow present, typically February best season
Parks And Green Spaces
Arthur's Seat
- Difficulty
- moderate to challenging
- Duration Minutes
- 30
- Description
- Extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, 15 minutes from city centre. Steep hike with rocky scramble at summit rewarding with panoramic city views.
- Proximity Note
- Within city centre
Calton Hill
- Difficulty
- easy
- Duration Minutes
- 10
- Description
- Easy accessible walk with panoramic views of Edinburgh and surroundings. UNESCO World Heritage Site with monuments.
- Proximity Note
- Within city centre
Pentland Hills
- Access
- Bus accessible
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Description
- Range of hills south of city centre with multiple hiking routes. Scald Law reaches 579m. Popular routes include Bonaly-to-Flotterstone traverse and reservoir circuits.
- Proximity Note
- 30-40 minutes by bus from city centre
Royal Botanic Garden
- Description
- Large botanical gardens with walking paths and views.
- Proximity Note
- Close to city centre
Princes Street Gardens
- Seasonal pricing
- Winter skating November-early January
- Description
- Central park featuring ice skating rink (November-early January), Ferris wheel, carousel, and festive attractions during winter season.
- Proximity Note
- City centre
Organized Sports And Leagues
- Note
- Edinburgh has 59+ sports clubs across 35+ sports disciplines with opportunities for participation
Local Leagues
Football
- Clubs
- Hearts (Tynecastle), Hibernian FC (Easter Road, Leith)
- Offerings
- 5-a-side, 6, 7, 11-a-side leagues, recreational and competitive
- Providers
- Powerleague, community clubs
Rugby
- Teams
- Edinburgh Rugby, multiple amateur clubs
- Venue
- Murrayfield Stadium
- Season
- winter dominant (December 1872 Cup, Six Nations)
Ice Hockey
- Team
- Edinburgh Capitals
- League
- Scottish National League
Curling
- Venue
- Murrayfield Ice Rink
- Season
- October-May
Rowing and Sailing
- Clubs
- Multiple boat clubs with training opportunities
Roller Derby
- Club
- Auld Reekie Roller Derby
- Location
- Meadows area
Quadball (Quidditch Variant)
- Club
- Edinburgh Holyrood Hippogriffs
- Location
- Meadows (Southside)
- Description
- Team sport with 7 players per side
Access Parkour
- Sport
- Parkour
- Offerings
- Classes for all levels
Golf
- Courses
- Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, Braid Hills Golf Course, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club nearby
- Seasonal pricing
- Winter golf with discounts available
Spectator Sports
- Rugby
- Edinburgh Rugby at Murrayfield, winter season highlights include December 1872 Cup
- Football
- Hearts (Tynecastle) and Hibernian FC (Easter Road) Scottish Premiership
University Sports
- Clubs
- 71
- Teams
- 200
- Offerings
- Coaching, training, competitions, intramural leagues
- Organization
- Edinburgh University Sports Union
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this nature, parks & outdoor activities research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.edinburghtourism.org
- 2.edinburgh.org
- 3.intrepidusoutdoors.co.uk
- 4.edinburgh.org
- 5.edinburgh.org
- 6.edinburgh.org
- 7.edinburghleisure.co.uk
- 8.allaboutedinburgh.co.uk
- 9.sport-exercise.ed.ac.uk
- 10.eusu.ed.ac.uk
- 11.gymslistshq.com
- 12.edinburgh.org
- 13.powerleague.com
- 14.edinburghleisure.co.uk
- 15.frommers.com
- 16.thisiseastside.com
- 17.xe.com
- 18.xe.com
More About Edinburgh
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.