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Title
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Braid Hills
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Address
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Braid Hills Drive
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Postcode
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EH10 6JZ
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Telephone
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0131 529 5151
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Email
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southeast.locality@edinburgh.gov.uk
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Facilities
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Walks, Views, Horse riding, Bridle path, Golf course, Seating, Picnic benches
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Background
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The Braid Hills rise to a height of 675 feet and offer spectacular views on all sides. They are partially covered with whin, wild roses and patches of bramble. The Hills are mainly used by walkers and golfers using the two 18-hole courses, but Braid Hills is also the only park in the city where horse riding is permitted.
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History and heritage
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The Braids were purchased by the Edinburgh Corporation in 1890 with authorisation from the Edinburgh and Police Extension Act "to be used in all time coming for the purpose of a public park and pleasure and recreation ground for the use of the inhabitants of Edinburghâ€. At that time the transaction did not include the whole of the Braids as we know them today and some 22 acres along the Liberton Road were leased. Nowadays the Braids is the only park in the city where horse riding is permitted. On the highest point an indicator pinpoints local landmarks, hill ranges and distant mountains as far away as Ben Lomond, Ben More above Crianlarich, Beinn A Ghlo by Blair Atholl and the Sidlaws near Dundee. Erected in 1995 as a plinth set on three legs of Dumfries red sandstone, the indicator provides a 360-degree sweep, and includes height, distances and information about how the landscape was fashioned and major historical events, The indicator was financed and designed by local residents George Russell and John Bartholomew.The Braid Hills contains areas of Urban Forest (on the Braid Hills Golf Course), is part of a Local Biodiversity Site (with the Mortonhall Estate) and is part of an Area of Great Landscape Value (with Blackford Hill and the Hermitage of Braid).
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Geology
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The Braid Hills are composed of Devonian trachyte lavas. There are the remains of several quarries around the north eastern and west edges of the Braid Hills, where stone such as claystone and feldspar was extracted.
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Visitor information
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Lothian bus numbers 15 and 11
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Organise an event
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Find out how to organise an event
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Getting involved
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Friends of Braid Hills
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Other useful links
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Braid Hills golf course
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Location map
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55.914341381536055,-3.191356658935547
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Image
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