text: As anyone who rides a bike here knows and probably curses Edinburgh is a place of many hills Perhaps the most wellknown is Carlton Hill with its notorious cemetery and neoclassical monuments at the top or Arthurs Seat the dramatic extinct volcano that dominates the city skyline Blackford Hills gentle grassy slopes have no particular claim to fame but are simply a congenial place for a stroll on a balmy summer evening or a more brisk walk on frosty winter afternoonsnnThere are several routes up to the top one along a path shaded by trees another that involves scrambling through some rather abrasive gorse bushes and once at the summit you can enjoy a panoramic view of Edinburgh from the south or stay up late and watch the stars in a tranquil setting