Blue Monday is said to be the most depressing day of the year. It normally falls on the third Monday of the year, a time when people are battling the UK’s miserable temperatures, have spent most of their money over Christmas and New Year - or in more recent years food shopping and energy bills - and all and all are left feeling a bit fed up. There’s also an added burden if your New Year’s resolution has proven too tricky to honour in the first few weeks of the year.
But living in Edinburgh, we’re extremely lucky to have an abundance of fantastic walks - from urban jaunts, beach side walks to country strolls - all in and around the Capital to help us keep on top of the Blue Monday blues.
Here are 11 Edinburgh walks we recommend to try if you’re needing a breath of fresh air this Monday.
9. Cramond Beach
Cramond Beach in North West of Edinburgh provides the perfect family walk – offering stunning views of Firth of Forth, sandy beaches, whitewashed houses and fresh sea air. You can also venture over to Cramond Island when the tide is out or wander along the promenade to Silverknowes. For information on safe crossing times visit the Queensferry Lifeboat website. Photo: Ann Priestley, flickr
10. Blackford Hill
Located in the south of the capital, Blackford Hill offers stunning panoramic views of the city’s skyline and winding streets. Popular with dog walkers, the beauty spot has several beautiful walks over grassy hills and woodland areas and visitors can also marvel at the impressive Royal Observatory of Edinburgh. Photo: kaysgeog, flickr
11. Union Canal
The Union Canal runs from Fountainbridge in the city centre all the way to Linlithgow. Providing the perfect balance and green, blue and urban spaces, the 32-mile stretch is popular with cyclists and walkers. Walks can be accessed from several locations with landmarks along the way including historical bridges and the Almond and Slateford aqueducts. Photo: <p&p>photo