Corstorphine Hill is one of Edinburgh’s best-loved woodland escapes, bordering Edinburgh Zoo and Murrayfield Golf Course. Its network of woodland paths, mature trees and open viewpoints make it an excellent destination for both wildlife watching and some of the finest panoramic views in the city.
As you make your way up the hill, you may be surprised to hear the chatter of monkeys or even the unmistakable roar of a lion. If you didn’t know Edinburgh Zoo sits alongside the hillside, it can be a rather unexpected experience!
From the higher viewpoints above Murrayfield Golf Course, you’re rewarded with spectacular views across the city. On a clear day you can see the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, Salisbury Crags and beyond to the East Lothian coastline. While admiring the scenery, don’t be too surprised if you turn around to find a zebra looking back at you. The zoo’s paddocks sit right beside parts of the woodland, offering some wonderfully unusual encounters.
The hill itself is rich in wildlife. Great spotted woodpeckers are often heard drumming among the mature trees in spring, while robins, wrens, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, long-tailed tits and other woodland birds are regular companions along the paths. Keep a careful eye out for the colourful jay, whose bright blue wing feathers often give it away as it flies noisily through the trees.
Corstorphine Hill is also home to badgers, foxes, grey squirrels and the occasional roe deer, particularly during the quieter early morning and evening hours. Throughout the warmer months, butterflies and other pollinating insects thrive along the woodland edges and sunny clearings, adding even more life to this peaceful green space.
Whether you’re visiting for the wildlife, the woodland walks or the breathtaking views across Edinburgh, Corstorphine Hill offers something special in every season. It’s one of those places where nature and the city sit side by side in a way that’s uniquely Edinburgh.