{Edinburgh} Hermitage of Braid River Walk
The Hermitage of Braid (part of The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve) is one of our favourite places in Edinburgh. It’s a green oasis just to the south of the city centre, where the Braid Burn runs through a valley, surrounded by woodland. I’ve written before about how we love going here for Picnics and Pooh Sticks, and the Hermitage of Braid Murder Mystery Trail I wrote for my boys during lockdown.
My youngest boy goes to an after school nature club once a week during term time, and they often meet at the Hermitage of Braid. One thing they sometimes do during the summer, is a ‘river walk’ (a ‘burn’ is a name for a stream here in Scotland, so really it should be a ‘stream walk’ but they call it river walk). He enjoyed it so much, that he wanted to re-do the walk with us, and it ended up being the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer’s day. Based on the age and height of children in the after school club, I’d say to stay safe this is best for ages 8+
As you can see from the video, the part of the Braid Burn were we did the walk was not very deep. My son was eight at the time, and even at the deepest point the water never went above his knees.
For those familiar with the Hermitage, we entered the water at the bridge just along from the Lodge Coffee House, and walked down stream to the paddling ‘pool’ just before you get to the walled garden. If you’re not familiar with the Hermitage, I’ve marked the starting and end points on a map for you – you can’t see much in satellite view, because of all the trees, but you can make out the open grassy area opposite the paddling pool. The route is just over 300m long, and it took us almost exactly half an hour.
Here’s a few tips on how to have a safe and enjoyable river walk at the Hermitage:
Appropriate footwear is a must! – We both wore waterproof hiking sandals, which are ideal as they don’t get water logged (though my son insists on wearing his with socks). Some of the kids at the after school club wear old trainers, something lightweight that won’t get too heavy when wet. Whatever you wear, you should definitely wear something, because a) attempting this without footwear risks injury, as you can cut your feet on the rocky river bed; and b) footwear will give you a better grip, and you’re less likely to fall than in bare feet.
Wear shorts – Probably goes without saying that you want to wear shorts (or a skirt?), if you are going to be wading through water. It’s no fun with wet clothes sticking to your legs. I didn’t actually own any shorts at the time, so wore a pair of joggers that I could roll up.
Use a walking stick – If you look closely at the video, you might notice that we acquired a big walking stick half way through our walk that we found along the banks. This really helped us to keep our balance on some of the trickier bits, and in hindsight is something we should have organised to have with us from the start. Bring one from home if you have one, or have a look around the woods before you start your walk.
Move slowly! – Don’t rush. Walk slowly. Feel ahead, foot by foot, for your next steps. There are parts where the burn narrows and the water flows a bit faster, so don’t get caught by surprise.
Bring a towel and spare clothes – You’ll want a towel to dry off your wet feet at the end of the walk. We have some ultralight towels that go on all outings and day trips with us, that take up very little space. But in case someone does end up falling in the water, you might want to pack a set of spare clothes too. And if you are doing the walk in trainers, bring a spare set of shoes (we just dried out feet and sandals, and then put the sandals back on). Of course, if the adult with the bag ends up falling in, and the spare things in the bag will end up getting wet too, so either pack them in a waterproof bag or, ideally…
…have one adult walking on dry land – If you have enough grown ups in your group, I suggest one of you walks alongside the Braid Burn on dry land, and is in charge of shoes, spare clothes, towels, and any valuable that shouldn’t get wet (phones etc). My husband was the one who suggested this, and it didn’t make it easier keeping my balance not having to carry all the extra stuff, or worrying about dropping my phone (though it may just have been an excuse for him not to have to get in the water…)
Stop if you need to – If it’s getting too much, you’re getting tired or too cold, then stop. You don’t HAVE to make it to end of the route we walked. There are several stretches of the banks along the way where it’s easy enough to get out the water. If you have had one adult staying on dry land, then they can also give you a hand getting out, so that’s another good reason to have someone walk alongside.
Pack a treat for the end – Although it wasn’t a super long walk, and it was very refreshing, our feet were starting to feel the cold a bit by the time we got out. After drying off and warming up our feet again, a treat to refuel – something like an oat bar – was just what was needed.
I hope these tips will help you prepare if you decide to do your own river walk at the Hermitage. Please note that this walk is for a very specific stretch of the Braid Burn, and based on the walks at our after school club which are led by qualified outdoor educators. Considering the age and height of children in the club, I’d say to stay safe this is best for ages 8+
Please do not attempt this in other areas of the Burn, in any deeper water, or in any bodies of water you are unfamiliar with! While we are sharing our own experiences, we cannot be held responsible for anyone doing their own river walk. If in any doubt, then a splash about the paddling ‘pool’ of the Braid Burn – the ‘end point’ on the map above – is a safer option (you can also walk a little up stream at that point, it’s very wide and shallow). Please be careful, and stay safe!
