Walk of the week: Cammo Estate, Edinburgh

RIGHT on the edge of Scotland's capital lies a beautiful green space, hidden beyond the leafy suburb of Barnton.

Cammo Estate is a great place to get lost. Paths weave between the trees and shrubs you associate with country houses — yew, holly, rhododendron, pine — while meadows support an abundant birdlife.

The estate's main house is now in ruins but it was once one of the addresses to be seen at. Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have used Cammo as inspiration for the House of Shaws in Kidnapped. Also passed on this walk is an ornamental canal, walled garden and the ruins of what must once have been a very ornate stable block.

All these trappings of wealth are now being reclaimed by nature, a wildlife haven looked after by the city council, making it an ideal place for a stroll.

The estate's water tower — now home only to birds — is the final destination. The hill behind is the place to have your picnic while enjoying a panorama from Corstorphine Hill to the Pentlands. It is hard to believe the tram works, traffic jams and crowds are little more than a stone's throw away.

DISTANCE 1 miles. HEIGHT CLIMBED 120 ft. TIME 1 to 1 hours. MAP OS Landranger 66.

PARK Head west along the A90 from the Barnton junction. After a third of a mile go left, along Cammo Road. After about 400 yards turn left again, on to Cammo Walk, and follow the road for about 500 yards to a car park on the right.

IN SUMMARY Take a path on the right of the car park, following a sign for the visitor centre. Continue through trees by the side of the road to a footbridge. Cross to reach the visitor centre and East Avenue of Cammo House, where you go left. Follow the avenue in a straight line. It bears right at the top to reach the ruins of Cammo House. Walk to the far side of the ruins and take a path that veers to the right. Follow this to another path where you go left and at a fork at the end of the canal go right.

Follow a straight path until just before a field, where you go left. Cross a meadow to reach an old stone gate. Once through, take a path on the right and on reaching an old stone building, follow a smaller path on the right, across a field, to reach Cammo Tower. Ascend the hill beyond the tower before retracing your steps to the old stable block. Go right to follow a path to the car park.

REFRESH Try the Cramond Brig, on the other side of the A90.

WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AREA There is a visitor centre at Cammo Estate with a small exhibition, though it is only open on Sundays, Tuesdays (2pm to 4pm) and Thursdays (10am to 4pm).

Cramond is a good place to head and watch the boats at the mouth of the River Almond.