There's No Shortage of Activities in Edinburgh for Those With Bagpipes of Energy

Our city's violent, volcanic past has left lush

, lumpy hills in its wake creating a playground for adventure-seekers.

Our three most prominent promontories, Arthur's Seat, the Braids and the Pentland Hills are hotspots for joggers, fell-runners, hikers, skiers and paragliders.

Skiing in Edinburgh? Surely not! Think again. Hillend Ski Centre boasts the longest dry ski slope in Europe and is situated only 30 minutes from the city centre.

If you have forearms of steel and aren't afraid of heights then check out the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho, on the west side of Edinburgh. This is the largest indoor climbing centre in the world. Yes, in the world.

Each May, the world's leading masochists gather in Edinburgh to take part in the Edinburgh Marathon. In Scotland, we don't do flat, meaning the Edinburgh Marathon is considered one of the toughest. A league table of difficult marathons? How ridiculous is that.....

The Pentland Hills

This 20 mile long range begins in the south-west of Edinburgh and stretches south towards the Scottish Borders region. The Pentland Hills play an important recreational role for the people of Edinburgh as well as a functional one. The majority of the city's water supply comes from the numerous reservoirs in the hills.

The Pentland Hills' proximity to villages and townships such as Balerno, Juniper Green and Bonaly makes the area particularly popular with hikers and mountain bikers. Many of the hills are even high enough to encourage paragliding and hang-gliding.

I am very fortunate to have grown up near the Pentland Hills. I can be in the hills enjoying wonderful views of the city in 15 minutes. Even if you're not one for hiking it is worth the trip up to the Pentlands simply to enjoy the tremendous quality of light up there. On a bright, sunny day it is simply outstanding.

Exploring the entire range is close to impossible and not the aim of the game. A few hours walk or cycle in some of the foothills of the Pentlands will give you a good appreciation for the area and if you wander far enough you will be surprised by how isolated you can feel only a few miles from the city of Edinburgh.

You can take the Lothian Buses number 10 from Princes Street heading towards Torphin. At Bonaly shops, get off the bus (ask the driver to help you out if need be) and cross the motorway bridge towards the hills in front of you. From there, it's really up to you. If you follow the path you will end up at Torduff reservoir, a very pretty spot with breathtaking views over the entire city.

The area around Harlaw reservoir and Threipmuir reservoir is also a very popular area for walking and cycling. Take the Lothian Buses number 44 from Princes Street heading towards Balerno. Stay on the bus until the end of the line and start your walk up the hill, following the signs for Threipmuir and Harlaw reservoir. Do not be afraid to ask the locals for help!

If you have a real sense of adventure, feel free to walk as far as you want, exploring the area as you go. Just remember - the further you get from civilisation, the bleaker things get. It is always a good idea to take a compass and a mobile phone in case you lose your bearings!

Midlothian Snowsports Centre

We might not see a lot of snowfall in the south of Scotland but it doesn't dampen our interest in winter sports! Midlothian Snowsports Centre has the longest dry ski slope in Europe and it's located just 30 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh.

Lothian Buses numbers 4 and 15 will take you from the city centre out to 'Hillend' in the foothills of the Pentland Hills where the centre is situated. Number 4 will have the name Hillend on the front of the bus and the number 15 heads towards Penicuik. As always, if you are in doubt, ask the driver!

It is, of course, possible to hire boots, skis or a snowboard at Midlothian Snowsports Centre. All you need is thick, warm clothing to keep you toasty and protect your skin from the ski mats. After all, you will fall, won't you?!

The centre operates both tow-lifts and chairlifts. The adult price for one hour of skiing is 9.50. A child pays 6.50. These prices include equipment hire and use of the tow lifts. If you would like to ski for longer than an hour, you can add hours to your ski pass at a rate of 4 per hour for adults and 2.80 for children.

Midlothian Snowsports Centre is open 7 days a week. They open at 9.30am every day and close at 9pm Monday to Friday and 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that the chairlift opens at 1pm during the week and 10am at weekends and is, of course, weather dependent. You are in the Pentland Hills after all!

If you are a complete beginner, the ski centre offers skiing lessons. There is also a cafe called Cafe 360 for all your 'apres-ski' needs! It is also possible to purchase a chairlift ticket simply to take you to the top of the hill. So if you aren't an avid skier and just want to admire the view and watch people fall over, they cater for that too!

Arthur's Seat

Is that a lion-shaped hill over there? From some angles this appears to be the case. The 251 metre peak of Arthur's Seat often takes on the form of a lion's head with shoulders behind it. The gradual slope from the summit down towards the Salisbury Crags plateau is his back.

Whether this is the impression you get or not, the grandeur of this extinct volcano is undeniable. The great thing is, it's relatively easy to climb which means it's not impossible to run to the top, if you are that way inclined!

What's more, the volcano is surrounded by low-lying parkland with well-kept paths and a pond which is ideal for those training for the marathon I mentioned earlier! If you're not too keen on heights or going uphill for that matter, a gentle jog around the base of Arthur's Seat looking up at the mighty beast might just be your thing. In the months leading up to May, you will not be alone...

Due to the sheer size of the lion, you can gain access to almost any part of his body from many parts of the city. If you are based in the city centre however, the easiest and quickest route to Arthur's Seat is via the Royal Mile and the Scottish Parliament. From here you will be able to follow a path up onto the plateau (or the lion's back) and then up the slope the summit.

So, in a nutshell, you can saunter, walk, jog, run or sprint your way around Arthur's Seat, up Arthur's Seat and down Arthur's Seat. Just remember to take a water bottle and a camera with you! You'll need both.

The Braids

Arthur's Seat and the surrounding parkland might be significantly bigger than the Braids but it is also a lot more crowded. This is one of two great advantages the Braid Hills have over their big sister.

The other advantage is their location. Situated slightly to the south of the city centre, you are able to get unparalleled 360 degree panoramic views of almost the entire city of Edinburgh. If that's not an incentive to drag your backside to the top, I don't know what is.

It will only take 10 minutes or so to get to the highest point of the Braids, Blackford Hill, although the hike up is relatively steep compared to the hike you'll face on Arthur's Seat.

All the better for sprinting then! No? To be honest, my thighs are burning and my ticker is pumping hard by the time I get to the top. You can get a really good workout in this part of town if you've got the time and the energy.

If you don't have the legs to walk or jog out to the Braids, the Lothian Buses number 41 to Craighouse will take you from the city centre out to Cluny Gardens. You will see the Braid Hills on your left. There is a gate and a gatehouse with a sign that says 'Hermitage of Braid'. From there, well, that's your part!

Edinburgh International Climbing Arena

In 2003 the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena emerged from the long-abandoned Ratho Quarry, a 20 minute drive from Edinburgh city centre. It is the largest indoor climbing arena in the world.

The centre offers, however, a lot more than just climbing facilities and coaching. It also houses the Scottish National Judo Academy, an aerial assault course and two top-class gyms; one aimed specifically at climbers and the other aimed at young people.

The EICA has walls ranging from 12m to 35m high. If you have never climbed before, the centre has a team of instructors whose job it is to get you started. For those with lots of climbing experience, the EICA has two new competition walls which will test even the most talented climbers.

The Lothian Buses number X48 will take you from Princes Street to Ratho. At the bus stop across from the Bridge Inn, get off the bus and walk back to the Union Canal towpath. A 15 minute walk along the towpath will take you to Edinburgh International Climbing Centre.

Interestingly enough, the EICA is only a 20 minute walk from Edinburgh International Airport and the centre runs a shuttle bus service to and from the airport. This enables serious climbers from around the world to come to the EICA for the weekend with relative ease.

If you think this could be something for you, please check the EICA website for more details, opening hours and membership prices!

The Edinburgh Marathon

Now this might be the page for those with energy to burn but the soul-crushing marathon is truly in a league of its own. Nevertheless, it is a world-class event, a wonderful day out and of course a cracking way to see the city!

The 2010 Edinburgh Marathon took place on the 23rd of May and next year's race is pencilled in for the same week. 26.2 miles of strain, pain and quite possibly rain is not everyone's cup of tea, so you also have the option to run a half marathon or take part in a marathon relay with a group of friends.

Edinburgh is by no means the flattest city in the world. It's one of the reasons why we love it so much. As a result, the marathon organisers have to map out the route accordingly, avoiding steep climbs and undulating terrain. Most of the Edinburgh Marathon takes place to the east of the city in East Lothian, following the coastline out to Longniddry and back to the city centre.

It is a truly international event (you wouldn't expect anything else from Edinburgh would you?) which attracts top runners from around the world. Why not make next year your year? Or if a 26 mile run is just a stretch too far, soak up the buzzing atmosphere as a spectator!

There's No Shortage of Activities in Edinburgh for Those With Bagpipes of Energy

By: Robbie Leys

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