A popular Scottish running trail has been named the best in the UK, according to new research.
Arthur's Seat, in Edinburgh's ever-popular Holyrood Park, beat out the likes of the South West Coast Path in England and Elan Valley in Wales in the new index.
Created by HOKA , the research has revealed the most popular trails across the UK according to online searches, hashtags and reviews.
Analysing Google search data for 40 UK running trails, thousands of Instagram hashtags and the percentage of 4 and 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor, the performance footwear brand has identified the 10 most popular running trails in the UK.
The research also took into account the length and difficulty level of each trail.
Securing the top spot in the running trails index, Arthur’s Seat in Scotland is the most popular running trail across the UK with a final score of 9.7/10.
The HOKA team said: "This ancient volcano is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh and boasts 360-degree views of the city.
"With 90,500 Google searches a month on average and 287,000 tags on Instagram, this short trail of 2.4 miles in length is classified as moderate to difficult, making it accessible to most runners."
The only other entry in the top 10 for Scotland was the West Highland Way.
This 96-mile footpath was the first official Scottish trail created, beginning on the outskirts of Glasgow and travelling north through the Highlands, the trail ends at Fort William while taking in beauty spots such as Loch Lomond and Ben Nevis en route.
With a high difficulty level of 7/10, the HOKA team said runners will be tested by its rocky terrain and steep ascents.
A spokesperson for the brand said: "Whether running for fun or to beat a PB, more and more people are becoming running addicts with ‘running’ being searched every 30 seconds in the UK.
"From a short jog around the park to training for a marathon, running is a great way to not only stay healthy, but to meet new people, connect with yourself and with nature."
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