Hermitage of Braid

Being off work between Christmas and New Year means having time to relax in the morning and go walking in the afternoon.

This afternoon, my partner and I walk through the Hermitage of Braid, a dry valley (despite the Braid Burn running through it) formed in the last ice age, when the Water of Leith ran in this direction, its normal course blocked by an ice sheet.

At this time of year, the valley floor doesn't get any sunshine, blocked by the Braid Hills. The photo is shot looking west, upstream, towards the Hermitage, which is now a visitor centre.

From here my partner and I walk east, through the steep side valley. In places (sorry, no more extras for this year) The sunlight can be seen hitting the tops of the trees at the top of the steep sided valley.

The path comes out at the bottom of Liberton Rd, so we walk to Cameron Toll to look around the shops and have afternoon coffee, before heading home on the bus(es).