Edinburgh under a blanket of cloud, intermittent rain, little breeze, brown puddles reflecting the grey granite edifices of Hermitage Drive, the venue for the start of our six-mile walk.

Muddy paths, canyons of bright yellow gorse funnel us towards a grassy slope. Climbing steeply and slightly out of breath, we arrived at the 540-foot summit of Blackford Hill, the trig point and orientation table affording extensive views of Edinburgh.

Making our way alongside the 1896 green domed Royal Observatory, we followed one of a myriad of paths along the perimeter of Craigmillar Park golf course. As the rain stopped, we paused at the Montessori Arts School for coffee spotting a young roe deer chasing a couple of rooks beneath the 15th century Liberton Tower, an ochre-coloured sentinel overlooking the valley.

Crossing Braids Hill Road onto the Wee Braids golf course, we negotiated a stony track to the snout of Buckstone Snab. At 683 feet, slightly higher than Blackford Hill on the other side of the valley.

A quick descent over the Cormiston Road led us to Braidburn Valley Park. Paths flanked by bright lime green catkins accompanied the burn downhill to a lunch stop at The Lodge Coffee House. Once the Morningside Tollhouse, this tiny cafe with striped wooden floors, bottle green box seats, and tables constructed from old Singer sewing machines, provided sweet treats and good coffee. Fortified by refreshment, we completed our circular walk through the gorge of the Hermitage of Braid.