From the west end of Princes Street in the city centre, head up Lothian Road and at Tollcross bear right on to Home Street and Bruntsfield Place. Basically we are following the main road (A702). Pass through the suburb of Morningside with its bustling High Street. You can shorten the walk by taking a local bus to this area. Branch on to Braid Road and start gaining height. After almost a mile, we pass the junction with Braid Mount and an ornate gate appears on your left. This is the path up to Buckstone Snab, the highest point of the Braid Hills.
Follow the gravel trail and hang right at the first fork, proceeding up the steeper of the two options. This is the direct route to Buckstone Snab and there are excellent outlooks across Edinburgh and the Pentlands from the plateau summit. A detailed viewfinder pinpoints the other six hills within the capital city, plus many other peaks in the distance. Either go back the way you came or make it a circular walk by descending on the opposite side, staying to the right of the huge transmitter mast, then taking a walled path that runs between the two golf courses on the lower slopes. Turn left upon meeting a minor road and follow this past the golf centre to join Liberton Drive. Turn right, catching glimpses of the privately owned Liberton Tower before taking a left on to Alnwickhill Road. This hooks us up with Liberton Road (A701). Head towards the complex junction at the Cameron Toll shopping centre then follow Craigmillar Park. This road leads all the way (undergoing several name changes) back to the east end of Princes Street.
