Walks you can reach from Haymarket by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Kirknewton Station to Curriehill Station (Midlothian)
15m direct from Haymarket.
A mix of quiet roads and good field paths past Kaimes Hill and finishing along the Water of Leith. Paths can be indistinct in places.
Easy: 9km, moderate ascents.
The Glenbrook road has no pavement and tight bends, and a short section on the A70 (Lang Whang) has fast traffic on a long straight; take care. The path is indistinct near Kaimes Wood.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Inverkeithing Station to Dalgety Bay Station (Fife)
15m direct from Haymarket.
great coastal views throughout; Great views. A pleasant, varied and easily followed coastal walk along the Fife Coastal Path on good tarmac and gravel surfaces, with woodland sections in Dalgety Bay, great views over the Forth and little or no main-road walking. One set of stairs at the Inverkeithing end. Follows the Fife Coastal Path; easy to extend along the coast to North Queensferry or Aberdour. Several seating areas along the way; a small shopping area in Dalgety Bay.
Tough: steep ascents. 5km.
One set of steps at the Inverkeithing end (a short, easy detour avoids them).
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Dunfermline City Station to Inverkeithing Station (Fife)
15m direct from Haymarket.
the vista back onto the Forth Bridge keeps changing; The Rail Bridge viewpoint is stunning. A longer route following the Fife Pilgrim Way almost the whole way, mostly off-road or on small roads and tracks across farmland, woodland, playing fields and fields of sheep, with long moderate slopes becoming steep over Castland Hill. Surfaces vary from tarmac and firm gravel to rough, muddy grassy field edges and with a long pavement stretch into Dunfermline. Follows the Fife Pilgrim Way (Inverkeithing to Dunfermline section), waymarked with thigh-high wooden posts. Rosyth is described as Scotland's only Garden City. A post office, convenience store, café and takeaway lie a few minutes off the route near Hilton Road.
Tough: steep ascents. 10km.
A long, busy and unpleasant stretch along and across the A985, though it has a wide bank/verge. The route is a little unclear across farmland near Wester Gellet and at Douglas Bank Cemetery. Graded strenuous; muddy in places.
Lunch: The route avoids most habitation in the middle; a post office, convenience store, café and takeaway are a few minutes off-route near Hilton Road. Many places to eat in central Dunfermline and in Inverkeithing.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Inverkeithing Station to Cowdenbeath Station (Fife)
15m direct from Haymarket.
15km. Moderate ascents.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Polmont Station to Linlithgow Station (Stirlingshire)
15m direct from Haymarket.
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.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents.
The towpath is narrow in places. Stepped sections in Linlithgow may present problems for some, though alternatives exist.
End-of-walk reward: the Granary.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Bathgate Station to Linlithgow Station (West Lothian)
15m direct from Haymarket.
Tough: steep ascents. 12km.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
West Calder Station to Kirknewton Station (Midlothian)
15m direct from Haymarket.
13km. Moderate ascents.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Fauldhouse Station to West Calder Station (West Lothian)
15m direct from Haymarket.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Falkirk Grahamston Station to Polmont Station (Stirlingshire)
15m direct from Haymarket.
A good route through pedestrianised streets and the delightful old woodlands of Callendar Wood on well-made paths, then a twisty maze of little paths with steps through the Hallglen Estate, before a calm, tarmac towpath along the Union Canal. It finishes on the busy, noisy Station Road into Polmont; some steps and with likely step-free alternatives in Hallglen. Follows the Union Canal towpath. Callendar Wood is an attractive area of old woodland.
7km.
Several flights of stone steps through the Hallglen Estate. At the Redding Industrial Estate the towpath briefly becomes a road open to cars. The turning off the towpath into Polmont is easy to miss. Station Road into Polmont is busy and noisy.
Lunch: Lots of cafes and shops in Falkirk; a small shopping centre with a supermarket in Polmont.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Dalgety Bay Station to Burntisland Station (Fife)
30m direct from Haymarket.
Very nice section of The Fife Coastal Path; a stunning section of the Fife Coast Path. A stunning section of the Fife Coastal Path with good surfaces throughout and minimal gradients and becoming a little industrial on the final approach to Burntisland. The pavement is narrow through Aberdour. Follows the Fife Coastal Path; the journey can be broken at Aberdour (station and buses) or combined with the Inverkeithing to Dalgety Bay route. A little waterfall near Aberdour is worth seeing.
Tough: steep ascents. 10km.
The pavement is narrow through Aberdour.
Lunch: Easy access to facilities along and at either end of the route.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Dalgety Bay Station to Cowdenbeath Station (Fife)
30m direct from Haymarket.
11km. Moderate ascents.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Dunfermline City Station to Cowdenbeath Station (Fife)
30m direct from Haymarket.
Mostly off-road paths and farm tracks through quiet countryside, with pavement sections through the towns at each end. Good underfoot for much of the way and but boggy ground around Hill of Beath. An off-road cycle path from the Leys Park Road car park parallels the suggested roadside start and keeps the walk off-road.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents.
Navigation becomes difficult around Hill of Beath where recent works have disrupted the old paths, and the ground there can be boggy.