Walks around Corstorphine Hill The 'woods' is the local name for the hill, the almost total tree-cover of its upper parts indicated by the darker green on the map. It is criss-crossed by numerous formal tracks and informal paths, the main ones are shown on the map. Recently the Friends arranged the installation of 10 waymarkers at strategic points on the Hill to help visitors find their way around the many paths. The locations of the waymarkers are shown on a waymarker map of 'Corstorphine Hill' Local Nature Reserve, viewed here as a pdf file (1MB). Walks are arranged by the Rangers Service and the Friends of Corstorphine Hill, mainly in the summer (see notice-boards). In April 2014 the coast to coast John Muir Way for walkers and cyclists opened. It is waymarked along its entire length and the Corstorphine Hill Section is waymarked from the Balgreen Road entrance, to Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint, to the Tower, and then down to Clermiston Road past the Walled Garden. North End of Corstorphine Hill Along the west side of the hill, the slopes form very fine glaciated pavements on the top of the dolerite sill. Several small quarries show all the features of the dolerite: hard igneous rock, crystalline nature, cracks (joints), westerly dip. (There is nothing in the two large privately owned quarries which cannot be seen in the small quarries. Old wells, now fenced off for safety, tapped water in the cracked rock in valleys through the ridge. Take in the view-point to the west. The steeper eastern slopes, conceal the sedimentary rocks under the dolerite. They are well-seen in the Pavement Quarry, where flaggy siltstones dip west. These were baked by the heat of the intrusion making them ideal for use as flagstones. Other quarries show sandstones. Look for fossil shells and plant stems in the loose debris. Rest-and-be-thankful The ridge on the east side of Corstorphine Hill trends west to east. This is because the dolerite intrusion changes direction. The top slope of the sill forms the Zoo, and glaciated pavement on the top of the ridge. Access is restricted to a path between the Zoo and Murrayfield Golf Course. Look out for zebras, ostriches and antelopes in the African Plains enclosure of the Zoo. Closely spaced are fine view points to the north, east and south, the latter known as Rest-and-be-thankful, where travelers paused to take in their first glimpse of Edinburgh and before the last leg of their journey. Corstorphine Hill Tower Public access from the Clerwood bus terminus. Go left, north, along Clermiston Road, for 100 meters, cross and take the gated track, uphill past the old walled garden on the right to the Tower on top of the hill. The Tower can also be reached easily from the Cairnmuir Road / Kaimes Road car-park.

West Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership BIFFA Award Edinburgh Airport The Conservation Volunteers

The Friends of Corstorphine Hill (FOCH) is a registered charity. FOCH holds personal information about members provided by members when joining. This comprises names, addresses, telephone numbers and e mail addresses. Personal information is not shared with other organizations. Personal information is used for the purposes of maintaining lists of members, distributing newsletters, publicizing FOCH events such as walks and talks and recording membership payments and donations. Personal information is stored securely on two computers held by the Treasurer and Secretary. Data is transferred only between these places. Data is processed solely for the purposes of FOCH. The Data Protection Officer is the FOCH Treasurer. Members may request a copy of their own personal data held by FOCH by e mailing FOCH (pstay@blueyonder.co.uk). Members may update their own data held by FOCH by e mailing FOCH (pstay@blueyonder.co.uk). Members may request deletion of their personal data at any time. Personal data is routinely deleted on termination of membership. Inquiries regarding this privacy policy should be directed to The Secretary, FOCH, (pstay@blueyonder.co.uk)

What's in it for me? Knowing you are contributing to maintaining and improving a site of natural beauty and importance Be a valued member of the community Receive a regular Newsletter about the Friends Receive invitations to take part in projects, give advice, and attend walks and talks What have we done? Increased use for leisure and recreation More frequent opening of the Tower Improved access, tidiness and safety Increased understanding of the Hill Started on walled garden and old nursery Campaigned against adverse developments How do I join Friends of Corstorphine Hill? Membership fee is only £1 per person. The following forms page is ready to print. Just send name, address and fee to one of the following below, or catch a committee member at one of the events. F. Davies, 5 Saughtonhall Place, Edinburgh EH12 5RH Gordon Swann, 1 Dovecot Road, Edinburgh EH12 7LF

We need volunteers - if you can join in with any of our activities, such as: committee work giving a talk leading a walk newsletter delivery newsletter production organizing talks organizing walks taking a turn on the Tower rota Walled Garden maintenance please let us know ... many hands make light work ... and you will be made most welcome.

Ian Moore has posted photographs of Corstorphine Hill birds and other interesting sightings Here. The website for the Leanardo Hotel, on Clermiston Road. The (Edinburgh Zoo) website. https://www.corstorphinetrust.co.uk/ (Corstorphine Trust): The Corstorphine Trust is a local community association, based at The Corstorphine Heritage Centre (The Dower House) in St Margaret's Park, Corstorphine. GeoConservation Groups affiliated with the https://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/home/geoconservation/ (Edinburgh Geological Society) website. http://www.corstorphinehill.org.uk/pdfs/SoE_Trees_and_woodland.pdf (Edinburgh Tree Warden Network): if you have a question, comment or suggestion about trees, e.g. concerns about damaged or diseased trees (especially if there is a possible risk to public safety); or damage being caused to trees. Edinburgh & Lothians Badger Group: if you want an answer to a question about badgers; or wish to report badger related information (e.g. dead or injured badgers or sightings of badgers). The Edinburgh and Lothians Badger Group, now part of https://www.scottishbadgers.org.uk/index.asp https://www.esoc.org.uk/ (Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club): if you would like more information about orienteering on Corstorphine Hill. Websites of some of the other 'Friends' groups, looking after parks and green spaces in Edinburgh, can be found at the following links:- https://www.eastercraiglockharthill.org/ https://www.ferryglen.org.uk/ http://www.figgatepark.org.uk/ http://www.hopetouncrescentgarden.org.uk/ http://www.montgomerystreetpark.org.uk/ http://www.friendsoftheriveralmondwalkway.org.uk/ https://www.friendsofburdiehouse.org/ http://www.spanglefish.com/FriendsofHillsideCaltonArea/