Walks you can reach from Carstairs by train

Recommended: Urban walk with some climbing, through parkland with views over the city, and along Portobello promenade.

Time: 3h–5h30

Warnings: A quarter urban. Some climbing.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A very green, quiet and largely traffic-free route, gently downhill towards Edinburgh for most of the way, with a good surface throughout. It follows the Water of Leith Walkway and then the Union Canal towpath and ending through the city's parks and streets. A few steepish slopes but no stairs; the river path can be muddy in places. Follows National Cycle Route 75 for most of its length and is part of the John Muir Way; the Colinton Tunnel is a highlight. Princes Street Gardens open at 7am and close at dusk.

Waterway: three quarters beside rivers and canals.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Lunch: Cafes near the route at Juniper Green, though most open around 10am.

Warnings: The Slateford Aqueduct has only a narrow, cobbled towpath with a drop, so take care and be patient when passing others.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Route into Edinburgh along the shoreline and old railway path, with some modest climbing.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 6h30–13h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Time: 4h–8h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 4h30–9h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A lovely rural path for the most part, with a small section of deep puddles and mud that persists even after a dry spell, two farm crossings (one requiring a gate climb) and a very steep section towards the end.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: A small section has deep puddles and mud even after a dry fortnight. The route crosses through two farms, with a gate to climb at the second. Very steep towards the end.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 2h–4h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 2h30–5h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.