Walking with a group is a great way to explore the city and make new friends while keeping yourself fit and healthy. There are many walking groups in Edinburgh, and with routes including Arthur’s Seat, the Innocent Railway track and Cramond Beach, it’s easy to find one that suits your walking ability.
Meetup.com Edinburgh Walking Group
This excellent Edinburgh Walking Group has hundreds of friendly members and offers a wonderful selection of local walks. To get involved, just join meetup.com, where you can find out all about the group and the walks they organise. Past walks include the Fife Coastal Path, Coldingham Bay, and a ‘Sunday Brunch Saunter’ along Edinburgh’s canal. Click here to find out more.
Ramblers Scotland
Ramblers Scotland is an organisation that runs local walking groups in the Edinburgh area. Join the group closest to your area (Musselburgh, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, North Berwick, etc.) and get involved in all the brilliant walks on offer. There are five different grades of walk, ranging from leisurely to strenuous, and there is at least one walk of each grade every month. For more information, click here.
HF Edinburgh Hill Walking Club
HF Edinburgh Hill Walking Club is a small friendly walking group that always welcomes new members. Walks are scheduled for most Sundays, whatever the weather. All walks have experienced leaders and are graded to suit different levels of fitness. Transport is provided using members’ cars with fuel costs being shared equally. Click here to find out more.
St John’s Church Walking Group
St John’s Church Walking Group organises a walk each month (usually on the third Saturday). Everyone is very welcome to join in as many or as few walks as they wish, regardless of age, ability, or whether you’re a church member or not. Enjoy the opportunity to meet like-minded people and to get out into the countryside. The added perk is that groups often finish at a tearoom, café or pub. Click here for more information.
Feet First Edinburgh
Feet First Edinburgh is an educational walking programme organised by the Waterways Trust Scotland and their partners British Waterways and Scottish Natural Heritage. The programme provides free guided walks for schools, community groups and the general public, with the aim to provide information on wildlife, waterway heritage, local history and water safety. Walks are generally alongside the Union Canal and Water of Leith in Edinburgh, and each walk lasts approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. To find out more, click here.
Edinburgh All Year Ramblers
This friendly, independent hill-walking club organises guided walks for its members every week of the year. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of some of Scotland’s most beautiful locations while meeting new people and getting fit at the same time. The All Year Ramblers explore a wide range of areas and terrains: from rugged mountain ridges to beaches, canals, woodland tracks and country parks. There’s also the option of attending a few hostel/backpacking trips. Click here for more information.
Do you know of any other walking groups in Edinburgh, or want to share your experiences of the groups we’ve listed? Post a comment below.
