Friday May 15th 2026
A map displaying open and closed parts of the path network around Castle Hill as of May 1
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Parts of Castle Hill have been reopened to the public after being closed for several years over rockfall concerns.
According to a document before Tuesday’s culture committee, a portion of the path network under the hill was deemed safe late last year.
Maintenance work was carried out by council staff over the winter months in order to clear vegetation and restore the paths themselves, with the relevant paths opening on May 1.
The reopened routes include the path from the castle car park to the Mound, and two routes down from the Mound to the bridge over the railway tracks near the Ross Bandstand.
A portion of the path network, linking King’s Stables Road to Princes Street Gardens West via a bridge over the railway near the Ross Fountain, reopened in September last year.
That followed the installation of netting to keep path users safe from debris coming down the hill.
However, the document states that the portion of the path network directly under the rock face will ‘need to remain permanently closed’.
It continued: “There is no opportunity to put any control or mitigation to reduce the risk from debris.
“Additional fencing and signage have been erected to warn members of the public of the risk and to stop the use of certain path routes.”
The closed sections include the path running around the hill from Johnston Terrace to the bridge near the Ross Bandstand, and the spur off that path to King’s Stables Road.
In addition, the two paths that climb the north face of Castle Hill towards the castle will remain shut, as well as another short path along the face.
The paths were reportedly closed in 2018.
It comes as Historic Environment Scotland is undertaking works to stabilise the rock face on Castle Hill.
The document said ‘further dialogue will continue’ between council officers and the organisation as these works are underway.
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