30 things to do outdoors in and around Edinburgh

HIT THE PENTLANDS The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a wildly green oasis of hill and loch. Hiking the rugged peaks is the main drawcard, but there are also cycle trails and horse or pony trails. RM

CLIMB CAIRNPAPPLE The best effort-to-reward ratio of any Lothians hill, this wee gem boasts sweeping views within minutes. That it is also an ancient ceremonial and burial site dating back to 3,000 BC makes it unmissable. RM

SURF’S UP Pease Bay is the grandaddy but you can surf anywhere from North Berwick to Coldingham. Sam at

c2csurfschool.com will sort

you out, or why not try a stand-up paddle board?

FARM IT OUT Younger ones will love the farm at Almond Valley Heritage Centre, with its mini railway and play areas. RM

OUTHOUSE BBQ BBQs in the garden at The Outhouse, just off Broughton Street, are always popular. They also have a good range of beers sourced from around the world. JT

PEAR DOFF The Pear Tree’s high student quotient may not endear it to all but it is one of the city’s biggest and best beer gardens. Regular live music in warmer months helps jolly along the already lively ambience. JT

SAMPLE THE SHORE Leith Shore offers multiple options for pavement dining and drinking coupled with the whiff of the sea. Everyone has their faves whether it be cocktails at The Granary or the mighty “fruits de mer royale” platter at The Ship. Say “To hell with austerity!” JT

GO LINLITHGOW LOCH Linlithgow Palace is reason enough to visit this trim West Lothian town, but it also overlooks a picturesque loch. A circular walking trail eases you round in under an hour with benches, ducks and swans, and mysterious crannogs. Information boards fill you in on the flora, fauna and history. Afterwards the royal burgh’s twee tearooms and pubs tempt. RM

SHISHA SPOT Hanam’s has a little-known outdoor terraced seating area where guests can puff away on a hubbly bubbly, pipe while overlooking Victoria Street. JT

PEARCE PATROL The outside seating at Joe Pearce’s on Elm Row is the perfect spot for watching Leith Walk wildlife. It attracts a boho crowd who like a blether over their roll-ups and bottles of Scandie cider. JT

BEECRAIGS BOUND Feel like your are deep in the Highlands immersed in a fold of massive trees in deepest West Lothian. In addition to the well set-up campsite in Beecraigs Country Park there’s a loch to fish in and walking trails. RM

HOP TO HOPETOUN Perhaps Scotland’s finest stately home. Visit the grand main house, have lunch in the café, enjoy the walking trails or just cycle through the sprawling estate. RM

HIGH LIFE Arthur’s Seat may only rise 250m above sea level, but it’s still a proper hill you should come prepared for and be careful on, whether climbing or walking. Also, the views are easily the finest in Edinburgh. RM

ROUTE CANAL The Union Canal is brilliant for boating with no locks this side of Falkirk. Hire a narrow boat (www.black-prince.com) for a week or just pootle about for a half or full day self-hire. RM

DA VINCI MODE 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel was world famous long before the Da Vinci Code and whether it is the site of the Holy Grail or not there is no doubting the stupendous architecture and the artistry of the masonry. Nearby Roslin Glen is a bucolic wilderness ideal for rambling with a head full of conspiracies. RM

VENTURE FORTH It may only be 2.5km long, but the views from the Forth Road Bridge are superb, taking in swathes of Fife and the Lothians. Handily, there are train and bus connections on both sides. RM

SKI FUNDAY Who needs the Alps? Hillend has a range of slopes and a freestyle area. Then there are ski schools for both adults and children so you can learn new skills to take on to the snow. RM

PEDAL IT Glentress, just outside Peebles, is a top mountain bike centre. All ages and skill levels can enjoy myriad routes and the excellent bike shop and restaurant. RM

WHEEL APPEAL One of the great modern Scottish engineering achievements, the Falkirk Wheel takes boats between the Forth and Clyde and Union canals. Boat tours and a visitor centre are also on hand. RM

TRIP OUT The Edinburgh World Heritage Official Tour shows you exactly why the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and allows you to feel rather smug as a local, while also revealing some facinating views on the city from residents of centuries gone by. LJ

SECRET PLOT No 12 Picardy Place seems to be in constant evolution but its Secret Garden is great for an al fresco drink or ciggy. Outdoor heaters help. JT

INVADE INCHCOLM Two companies now ease you over from picturesque South Queensferry to the Firth of Forth island of Inchcolm. The “Iona of the East” is home to its own wee abbey, walking trails and myriad seabirds. Look out for dolphins and porpoises, and gawp as you chug under the Forth Rail Bridge. South Queensferry’s historic cobbles await afterwards. Maid of the Forth (maidoftheforth.co.uk) and the Forth Belle (forthtours.com) are the operators. RM

BOTANIC ANTICS The relatively new Gateway Centre is eye-catching, but it’s the more modest Terrace Cafe that has better views. Good for kids too. JT

BRIDGE THE GAP This sublime coastal walk kicks off at the historic Hawes Inn in South Queensferry and ends in Cramond. En route you will find a castle, a grand country house, and sweeping beaches. Look out for pheasants and deer too. Finish at the Cramond Brig pub/restaurant to give yourself a tasty reward. RM

COAST IT The coastal walk from North Berwick to Gullane is just under nine miles with world-class views. Seabirds swirl above, the wind eases through the dunes and it all feels a million miles from the urban hubbub. Choose which direction to take based on the wind. RM

KINGDOM COME Fife Coastal Path stretches for 100 miles, but it can be split into easily do-able chunks to suit all. Perhaps the most scenic stretch is east from the traditional fishing village of St Monans, in search of the fabled wilds of Fife Ness. En route are rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and charming little fishing villages. RM

KEEP IT RAIL Thanks to rail enthusiasts, the gem that is Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway has been reborn. You have the chance to chug through the countryside to an old mine, which you can tour. Look out too for special events like the Day Out With Thomas in May and August and a festive theme before Christmas. The Bo’ness station has a wee café and souvenir shop too. RM

GO FOURTH The balcony on the Forth Floor at Harvey Nicks has vertiginous views and can also be a suntrap, with staff handing out the suncream. JT

OLOROOFO With views of the Castle and over to Fife, the terrace of Tony Singh’s rooftop restaurant and bar at Oloroso can be a very sophisticated place for a bite to eat or sipping something chilled. The thin and beautiful may wish to stick to the range of low cal cocktails. Those of us who are built for comfort can investigate the grill menu of steaks, chops and veal T-bones. JT

GEOCACHE FOR GOLD If darting around in the shadows, trying not to look dodgy as you search for a package hidden by someone that you’ve never met before sounds right up your alley, but you don’t fancy the idea of a full cavity search at the local nick and a lengthy stretch in jail, then why not give geocaching a go? Simply grab your smartphone or GPS handset, get yourself an account at the website www.geocaching.com, and get yourself out there hi-tech treasure hunting. TH