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A visit to Edinburgh is never complete without scaling the summit of Arthur's Seat, for a magnificent view, and the camaradery of fellow tourists, similarly breathless.
You will see Edinburgh laid out before you, be able to spot most of the main attractions, (as well as the Forth Rail Bridge & Estuary) and get some welcome exercise.
Allow a good hour, or two, and take water, food and warm clothing. Where else can you walk up a hill like this in the centre of such a beautiful city? It's like being God up there! But do take care as it has steep parts best avoided.
This picture was taken in Spring, and is of the southern approach, near the Commonwealth Swimming Pool. It is less busy than the way up from Holyrood. The summit can just be seen, through the trees.
Also see Salisbury Crags Tip. An enjoyable, shorter walk lower down the hill but with enough height for views of Edinburgh. Leave a Comment Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace, at lower end of the Royal Mile. Also can be approached from the Commonwealth Pool.Website: www.multimap.co.uk Other Contact: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
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If it's a nice day you might want to walk up to the top of Arthur's Seat (which I did on a previous visit two and a half years ago) to get some nice views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano which looks like a mountain, even though it is only 250 meters (823 feet) above sea level. It is located in Holyrood Park, a 650 acre open area which is also sometimes known as Queen's Park because it is owned by the queen.
I took this photo from the St Leonards entrance to Holyrood Park, near the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
For some more views, please see my Views of Edinburgh travelogue.
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Arthur's Seat, which unfortunately does not seem to have any connection with King Arthur, is one part of a long extinct volcano, the other parts being the Castle Rock and Calton Hill. The authors of my guidebook to this place call it 'the sleeping lion that has guarded the city from time immemorial'.
A wonderful area for walks, the mountain, which reaches the height of 251 m, is criss-crossed with paths of varying degrees of difficulty, so before you embark on a hike, it might be worth buying 'A Guide to Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat' (2.95 GBP in 1999) by G.Wright, I.Adams and M.Scot. I got mine from the souvenir shop by the Palace of Holyroodhouse. But again I did not have the time to make full use of it. It did point out to me St. Margaret's Loch though, just past the palace, on the banks of which I took a rest after the lengthy walk along the Royal Mile and the visit to the palace. There were swans and ducks being fed on the lake and I could see the occasional hikers climb up Arthur's Seat, at the foot of which I was sitting. On the way, I saw St. Margaret's Well, dating from the late 15th century and up on the hill St. Anthony's Chapel with a walker or two going in that direction. If you have no time for a hike or just prefer a ride, you can drive around the rock along the Queen's Drive to get some great views.
Photographs by Izabela Szymanska Leave a Comment Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace.
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No matter where in Edinburgh you stand, walk, drive or sit... Arthur's Seat WILL catch your eye.
To get there walk down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. Turn right after the parliament and it's in front of you. Then start climbing! :)
When at the top you will realise it was worth the sweat and hard work! The view is amazing as long its not a cloudy day!
Just watch out for the crazy BMX-ers riding their bikes down the hill about 100000 km/hour... Also Arthur's Seat is a popular place for dog owner's - keep that it mind if you're scared of dogs because there's always a few running free...
Did you know???
Myths say there are secret tunnels from Edinburgh castle to Holyrood palace and apparently they're even under Arthur's Seat... Address: End of Royal MileDirections: Next to Holyrood Palace and the Parliament
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Dont leave Edinburgh without climbing Arthurs Seat! There is nothing more satisfying than reaching the peak after hiking for about an hour. It is a steep climb in some areas, but rather flat in others. We took the long route up, but there are shortcuts. At one point a man hobbling along on a cane passed us!! Just go at your own pace. When we finally reached the peak, we felt that we could conquer the world!!! The view from the top is breathtaking. I couldnt stop taking pictures.
Carry a jacket. Leave a Comment Directions: Behind Holyrood Palace.
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The crags that make a backdrop to Edinburgh are the remains of a volcanic eruption that took place 350 million years ago.
They make a pleasant place to walk, or drive, up as there is a wonderful view over the Pentland Firth, with Portobello tucked in down below.
Unfortunately it is a favourite place for suicides. Leave a Comment Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace.
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Actually, I don't think it is possible to miss these when you are in Edinburgh. These are the crags to the north of Arthurs Seat and if you are energetic you can climb them for views back over the city. Please be careful, its not that hard to fall off.
The first picture is taken from just behind Dynamic Earth and the Parliament.
The second picture is a view over Dynamic Earth, taken from inside the Parliament. Leave a Comment Address: Use visual location!Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace. About 15 minutes walk from North Bridge.
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Arthur's seat, an extinct volcano that last erupted around 325 million years ago, is the highest point of Holyrood Park, the highest point being 251m (823 feet). Holyrood Park is the ancient hunting ground of Scottish kings.
Although Arthur's seat can be climbed from almost any direction, the easiest ascent is from the East, where a grassy slope rises above Dunsapie Loch, however, many tourists probably approach it from near Holyrood Palace as this is more central. I did the easier climb, as we were staying close to this approach. We took Holyrood Park road which runs alongside the Commonwealth swimming pool on Dalkeith Road. This walk took about an hour to get to the top. The views are fantastic. Leave a Comment Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace.
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One of the most enjoyable times we had in Edinburgh was an afternoon hike up Arthur's Seat. This 823 Ft. extinct volcano is the centerpiece of the 650 acre Holyrood Park, and an easy walk from downtown Edinburgh. Several trails crisscross the park. A particularly pleasing section of trail was the "Radical Road," directly below the rock face. On the beautiful spring afternoon of our hike, a group of young rock climbers were practicing their skills there. The views from Arthurs's Seat are spectacular in every direction. Leave a Comment Directions: A visitor's center next to Holyrood Palace, at the foot of the Royal Mile, offers trail maps. The trailheads also begin at this point.
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Arthurs Seat is another extinct volcano which from a distance looks like an armchair a bit so hence the name. Its well worth the climb although if you have got access to a car you can drive half way up so its not so strenuous! I would NOT recommend climbing the way I did! Take the time to walk around to the car park on the other side as the path to the summit from there is much easier. The way I went was very steep and tiring, especially in hot weather.
Fantastic views all around the city and over towards the Forth road and rail bridges and Fife. The views really are stunning if you go on a day like today when it is really beautiful and clear. Leave a Comment Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace. You can't really miss it!
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