My husband and I are traveling to England and Scotland in June, and aside from the general walking we'll be doing in London, Oxford and Edinburgh, we'd like to do a day hike. We are trying to decide between the Cotswolds, Hadrian's Wall, or the countryside outside of Edinburgh (Arthur's Seat and/or something else). I realize the countryside in each place is different, so it is very hard to choose! I'm also a Tolkien fan, general history buff, and have Scottish ancestry, so that makes it doubly difficult! Any pros/cons or general recommendations are greatly appreciated! Thanks! ~Katie
Posted by
Central Florida
484 posts
HI Katie! I like hiking too. I haven't been to all 3 places you listed. However, I can give you my 2 cents about Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a city. Arthur's Seat is more like a Park on the edge of town than a countryside hiking place. From the bottom to the top takes about 20-30 minutes depending on how many photo stops you make. It's an old sheep/goat trail up an extinct volcano. A nice reprieve from the city bustle. If a day hike is your main activity, I would choose another location than Arthur's Seat.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
It sounds like you're talking more about casual strolls than hikes. How far can you hump in a day? Five miles? Thirty? Do you want a loop, an out-and-back, a one-way with transport return? Flats? Verticals? Good paths? Slogging? Shower shoes or boots?
Posted by
OP
Minneapolis, MN, USA
5 posts
EdGood point to clarify. We are not experienced hikers, so it would be strolling plus. Here in Minnesota you can imagine there aren't many vertical climbs. That being said, we will probably want to do 6-8 miles at a casual pace, but having some challenges would be nice, so some hills or inclines would be fun. Doing a loop, or going from A to B and catching transport back are probably our two preferences. I have decent foot gear (Asolo hiking boots), and my husband has some Target brand "hiking" boots. Barbthanks for the tip on Arthur's Seat. It might still be fun to climb for the view, and then add on some other walking/hiking in the countryside outside Edinburgh. Thanks!
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1862 posts
If you go to Twice Brewed, a pub right alongside the Hadrian's Wall road B6318, you could get lunch, then walk about three miles east along the wall to Housesteads fort. From that spot, there is a bus that runs along the same road. Take it west back to your car. Walking along the wall has challenging spots - lots of unevenness and ups-and-downs. However, this section is not terribly difficult. You can find extensive information about Hadrian's Wall walks on the internet.