Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city sits in the shadow of a 251-metre-high volcano- Arthur’s Seat. The volcanic hill is located to the East of the city, to the East of the Royal Mile and overlooks Holyrood Park and offers amazing 360-degree panoramic views of the city and beyond.
Now Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano I should add, it first erupted 350 million years ago, and has not erupted for over 200 million years! Now with its diverse range of flora and geology it is also a site of Special Scientific Interest.
Starting within Holyrood Park you take the main path climbing and winding up the side of the hill, it is a generally easy climb and not too strenuous. It does become single dirt track with bobbly stones, so just ensure you wear sensible shoes. Near the peak however it does start to become rocky and jaggy ground, just take your time. At the top the weather could have changed, and it is likely to be windy with a chill in the air so make sure you dress appropriately even in summer months.
The views from the summit are fascinating, with views out across the Firth of Forth river, over the city to the Old and New Towns, to Edinburgh Castle, and the other side stretches as far as the eye can see.
This walk should take around 2 hours return and is doable for everyone including families with small children.
We visited in Winter and successfully tried to time our walk for sunset, so we could see day and night, but due to the rocky terrain it is advisable not to stay too late, unless you have a torch.
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