These are all circular walks unless stated, the photos are all in order left to right (although they may not have been taken on the day of the walk). If you click on a photo you will be taken to a larger image on my flickr page, where you can also click on, map, down the left of the page to find the location.
If you would like more info, or have any comments you can email me at ralph-dot@tiscali.co.uk
Walk, Edinburgh, Caravan Club Site to Cramond Village (along the Firth of Forth), March 2009
Approximately 4.5 mile (5.5 with Causeway) or 7.2 kilometres
Arrived at the CC site on the Firth of Forth in Edinburgh, too late to make the long journey into the centre, so we walked down to the river and along to a very nice village, Cramond.
From the site entrance, just to the right, on the opposite side of the road is a path through the trees and down some slippery steps the the promenade and river. We turned left and headed up stream towards Cramond, it was very cold but as usual we were well wrapped up. Its about 1.5 mile to Cramond and you can see Cramond Island and the causeway leading to it as you walk along, you can also see the two magnificent bridges just visible above the hills in the distance (there is also a constant stream of low flying airplanes coming in to land at Edinburgh Airport).
At the confluence of the rivers Forth and Almond, is the causeway to Cramond Island and depending on the tide you can add a mile on to the walk by going out to the island (we did both in out time there so this walk shows photos of both). It is further than it looks, so check the tide table on the notice board before you decide.
As we came away from causeway it started to rain but luckily there is a pub at this end of the village, at the mouth of the river Almond, so we took refuge in there and even luckier, it was a Sam Smiths pub (if you have read any of my other walks you may know why). The Cramond Inn, is very nice pub, with a lovely warm open fire, good beers and good food.
It soon stopped raining and we (reluctantly on my part) continued our walk along the river Almond. The sun was going down and the power went from batteries in the camera (some photos taken on another day), so we started make our way back towards the pub. We walked back the way we came then away from the river up a steep bank, School Brea, towards the village centre. At the top of the bank we turned left onto The Glebe, then left again onto Cramond Glebe Road, passed Cramond Kirk and the site of the Roman Fort of Alaterva
, back down to the pub. 
After a drink or two, there is the long walk back to the site in the dark, we walked along the promenade until we came to a cafe/tea room and as we didn't fancy the slippery steps, we walked up a road there to the main road that passes the site. Not the best walk to do after beer if you have a weak bladder.
Walk, Edinburgh, Castle and Royal Mile, March 2009
Approximately 4.5 mile or 7.2 kilometres
A minibus from the campsite dropped us in a back street (Charlotte Lane), where we walked through a passageway to Charlotte Square where we turned right and walked straight to the main street in Edinburgh, Princes Street. Unfortunately for us and other visitors, until 2011, transport improvements mean that the road is partially closed, dug up and looks a right mess. So we headed for the Castle. We crossed over Princes Street and along Kings Stables
Road (we actually walked a path in the gardens alongside the road) to Johnston Terrace then up some steps (Castle Wynd North) to the Castle. There is quite a contrast in architecture between the new and old buildings on this walk and I am not sure some of the new stuff is in fitting for this city. 
We didn't want to visit inside the castle, as that is an all day thing, so we just had a look at the outside in the courtyard, where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held every August. We also looked over the walls down on the city, before we set off down the Royal Mile towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The walk down the Royal Mile took quite a long time, we popped into shops, stopped for a cup of tea and generally did the usual sightseeing things, there is plenty to see and visit along the way. All the way along there are views of the newer parts of the city down the many side streets and also older parts down alleyways. There are many places to eat and drink, so if you wanted you could have lunch and or a beer, we didn't today.
The Royal Mile is actually a mile long (strange that), at the bottom is Holyroodhouse and the new Scottish Parliament building. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Queen's residence in Edinburgh and is a nice old building, the Parliament building is new and a very odd design but not quite as ugly as the locals would have you believe.
We had a walk so far up the path up Arthurs Seat (the big hill) for a better view of Holyroodhouse and the Parliament buildings (there is also a good view of the port of Leith). We didn't go too high as it was very steep and also I didn't want to go all the way up, as we came down it started to rain so we made for cover at the Parliament. We had our sandwiches on seats under cover at the side of the Parliament and then went inside for a cup of tea.
This is something we have never done in England, visit parliament, I think security must be a lot less here than in London but we were searched on the way in. The tea was good, we used the toilets and went for a look at the debating chamber, the building is a lot more impressive and nicer inside than it is outside.
Outside we crossed over the road to peer through the fence and gates at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, we didn't go in (we weren't invited).
We now set off back to Princes Street, we walked passed Queen Mary's Bath House (a strange little building by the main road) and along (and up) Calton Road. This road passes under the railway to the station then under Waterloo Place (the east end of Princes Street), onto Leith Street and a large shopping mall (St James Shopping Centre). The arch carrying Waterloo Place is very nice but workmen's cabins from work on a nearby hotel spoilt the view.
After looking around the Mall, we came out of the west side, onto Multrees Walk, leading to St Andrews Square and then George Street. Here I had a look for the Hard Rock Cafe, with the intention of maybe having lunch there tomorrow on my birthday. After finding the Hard Rock Cafe we turned left and headed back onto Princes Street but as it was such a mess, we walked through the Princes Street Gardens to where we had started the walk.
There was still an hour to the first bus back to the site, so we popped into a couple of pubs and had a couple of beers.
Walk, Edinburgh, Queens Street & Princes Street, March 2009
Approximately 4.0 mile or 6.5 kilometres
A minibus from the campsite dropped us in a back street (Charlotte Lane), where we walked through a passageway to Charlotte Square where we turned left and walked along Glenfinlas Street. This led to Ainslie Places with its great Georgian terraces, we exited down Great Stuart Street into Moray Place with its even bigger Georgian terraces. We exited on Heriot Row so we could walk through Queen Street Gardens but discovered they are for residents only and are locked. So we ended up on Queen Street but in the shade it was very cold, so we headed to the relative shelter of busy George Street.
We headed east along George Street towards St Andrews Square and eventually the St James Shopping Centre. After a quick look in the shops we came out and took some photos of the Nelson Monument and City Observatory, high on the hill to the east of the shopping centre. We did consider walking up there but decided against it, instead we walked to the Old Town, over the North Bridge but as we had already done the Old Town we took a right down Cockburn Street and over Waverley Bridge back to Princes Street.
Opposite the train station we stopped for a rest by the Albert Memorial in Princes Street Gardens, then it was onto Princes Street and a look around a mockup of how new trams will look. We then had another quick look in the some of the larger shops (I say quick look, Dot managed to buy two coats).
I was now feeling a bit peckish, so as we were close to the Hard Rock Cafe we went in to see what was on offer. Well as you probably know, we operate on a tight budget and I was not very impressed with the prices in there, also the choice of beer was poor, so we had one beer and left. We walked back to the east end of Princes Street and down Leith Street, along to where the cinema and theater are. Here we found a pub called The Conan Doyle, where we had good beer and good food at reasonable prices.
We came out of the pub onto York Place, we headed wets and turned left onto St Andrews Street and diagonally across St Andrews Square to Rose Street. Rose Street runs parallel to George Street and Princes Street and as we had done the other two, we walked that way back to the pickup point. We even had another beer in one of the many pubs (The Kenilworth) along this Street (it was my birthday after all).
Walk, Firth of Forth Bridges, March 2009
Approximately 2.0 mile or 3.2 kilometres
This is not circular walk.
We parked in a free car park off the B924 (this part of the B924 is Edinburgh Road) in South Queensferry, between the two bridges but closer to the rail bridge. It was snowing when we arrived so we had a cup of tea and some sandwiches in the van and by the time we finished the sun was shining. I took before and after photos of the bridges, some with it snowing and some in the sun.
First we headed east to the very famous rail bridge, then underneath t iand on for about 200 meters passed it, for a view looking west. Then we turned round and headed west along the river for the road bridge, a pretty straightforward walk as you can see the bridges for most of it.
Through South Queensferry the road moves away from the river but there are still places to get down to the riverside. There are also shops, bars and eating places in South Queensferry, by now the sun was shining, although it was still very cold. The road is very narrow so you have to be careful with the traffic, it reminded me of Hawes in Yorkshire.
About half way between the bridges the sun was out and I managed to get the following shots, while Dot had a quick look in some shops.
We continued until we were under the road bridge but it is a bit disappointing, as there doesn't appear to be anywhere to view the bridge, or even get a good photo. I walked through what looked like boat yard to get a shot, I don't know if it was privet property as there were no sings but I didn't stay there long.
The walk back to the car park (the same way we came), was uneventful but the views are slightly different.
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