Walks you can reach from Edinburgh Waverley by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Edinburgh Waverley.
Linlithgow to Falkirk High (West Lothian)
15 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Rural Union Canal towpath: the Avon Aqueduct (Scotland's longest and tallest) and the 630m Falkirk Tunnel (Scotland's longest); good for wildflowers.
Warnings: Towpath can be muddy; suitable footwear advised.
Walk details: ScotRail (tips).
North Queensferry to Burntisland (Fife)
15 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Scenic coastal walk on the Fife Coastal Path beneath the iconic Forth Bridge, through charming towns including Aberdour with its harbour and sandy beach, on to Burntisland.
Warnings: Exposed to coastal weather; pack layers and waterproofs.
Walk details: ScotRail (tips).
Alnmouth Circular via the Northumberland Coast Path (Northumberland)
1 hour direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Parkland, woodland and a stretch of the Northumberland coast — beach, dunes and the village of Alnmouth.
The Northumberland Coast Path: A coastal trail along the Northumberland shoreline forming part of the England Coast Path, here running past Buston Links and Alnmouth bay.
Time: 3h30
Warnings: Some field sections lack defined paths and can be boggy when wet.
Walk details: Northern Railway (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Brunstane to Prestonpans (Midlothian)
7 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Prestonpans to Longniddry (East Lothian)
15 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
East Linton to Dunbar (East Lothian)
15 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Recommended: Stunning views of the Bass Rock and the North Sea. A gorgeous, flat and easy route on very well-surfaced paths, almost entirely off-road. Passes through farmland, woodland and the Tyne estuary and with a dramatic final clifftop approach to Dunbar along the edge of the golf course and beach. Follows the John Muir Way. Plenty of bird life along the Tyne estuary; look out for seals in Dunbar harbour, and emus and llamas at the back of East Links Family Park.
Coastal: three fifths along the coast.
Time: 3h30–7h
End-of-walk reward: Ice cream may await on Dunbar High Street.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Longniddry to North Berwick (East Lothian)
15 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Recommended: An absolutely beautiful coastal walk, ideal at low tide, with superb and expansive views. A stunning coastal walk along wide sandy beaches, rock lines and headland footpaths, best on a sunny day at low tide (the section to Aberlady can be walked barefoot on the sand). The surface is frequently soft sand and which is not hard going but tiring. The whole route can also be walked at high tide via parallel inland paths.
Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.
Time: 6h–11h30
End-of-walk reward: Bakeries and ice cream at North Berwick, with facilities and bus services at Aberlady and Gullane; a fish and chip van in the car park north of Longniddry.
Warnings: Do not attempt to wade across Aberlady Bay — lots of soft mud; turn inland to use the footbridge. The soft sand dunes at Gullane can be tricky in poor weather or fading light. Watch for the turn off Gullane Sands across Gullane Links.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Polmont to Linlithgow (Stirlingshire)
30 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Recommended: The highlight of the route is the spectacular Avon Aqueduct. A simple, direct and easy-to-follow walk mostly along the Union Canal towpath, with an uphill section from Polmont at the start and a downhill section into Linlithgow. Good surfaces with no road sections and though the towpath is narrow in places and there are stepped sections in Linlithgow. Follows the Union Canal towpath. Linlithgow has plenty of history to explore.
Waterway: nine tenths along the Union Canal.
Time: 2h30–5h30
1 end-of-walk reward: the Granary
Warnings: The towpath is narrow in places. Stepped sections in Linlithgow may present problems for some, though alternatives exist.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
North Berwick to East Linton (East Lothian)
30 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Recommended: Very pleasant route; A lovely, varied route; great views north and south; Lots of vistas both north and south. A lovely, varied and well-surfaced route with very few steep sections and only one set of steps, passing through woodland and farmland with great views north and south. Mostly traffic-free, well-signposted and still direct and used by walkers and mountain bikers. Follows the John Muir Way, signposted all the way; extending to or from Dunbar makes a full day. Passes close by North Berwick Law, well worth climbing. North Berwick and East Linton are both historic and worth exploring.
Time: 3h–6h
Walk details: Slow Ways.
North Berwick to Dunbar (East Lothian)
30 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Aberdour to Inverkeithing (Fife)
30 minutes direct from Edinburgh Waverley.
Recommended: Mainly hard-surfaced with a few short climbs, around suburban Dalgety Bay with some sections secluded by trees and great views to the Forth bridges.
Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.
Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.
Time: 3h–6h30
Warnings: A few short climbs.
Walk details: Railwalks.
Alnmouth to Widdrington (Northumberland)
1 hour direct from Edinburgh Waverley.