Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve - Explore parks

Title Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve
Address Clermiston Road North
Postcode EH12 6UP
Telephone 0131 529 2401
Email naturalheritageservice@edinburgh.gov.uk
Facilities Natural Heritage Service, Orienteering course, Waymarked Route, Interpretation panels, Car park, Orienteering, Walled Garden, Seating
Background Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve is a natural heritage park with large areas of mature woodland and grassland. At its highest point 531 feet (161 metres) visitors get stunning views of the city. On a clear day you can see the summit of Ben Lomond in the west, exceptional views of the Forth Estuary and Fife to the north, to the east central Edinburgh , the Lammermuir Hills and flatter terrain of East Lothian and to the south the rolling backdrop of the Pentland Hills. The park has been awarded a Green Flag since 2010, in recognition of it being a quality greenspace.
History and heritage Corstorphine Hill Tower, also known as Clermiston Tower or the Scott Tower, is a memorial to Sir Walter Scott. You may find cup-markings on the west slopes of the Hill. They were probably part of a sacred landscape of Neolithic or Bronze Age, from about 3600 to 1500 BC, but their precise purpose remains unknown. Artefacts were also found nearby.
Wildlife This is a mature woodland site, where you will find mostly oak and birch. You will also see areas of open ground consisting of bare rock, and grassland. While out exploring Corstorphine Hill you may see foxes, badgers and buzzards and look closely for nationally and regionally important flora like small balsam, lords and ladies, spring beauty and common spotted orchid.
Geology The Hill is a Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphologic Site (RIGS) because the rocks and other interesting landforms are easily accessible. This complements earlier designations: Edinburgh's Green Belt, Area of Great Landscape Value, Nature Conservation Site and Listed Wildlife Site.
Orienteering There is a permanent orienteering course here, which is accessible at all times. Map packs can be bought for £2.50 from the Hermitage Visitor Centre in the Hermitage of Braid, from the Visitor Centre at Cammo Lodge, or through the website of Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club (www.esoc.org.uk)
Organise an event Find out how to organise an event
Getting involved Friends of Corstorphine Hill
Green flag Yes
Management plan Corstorphine management plan
Location map 55.957417037360365,-3.2759857177734375
Trees The Clermiston group
Image Noticeboard