Arthur's Seat
The ancient volcanic remnant at 251 metres in Holyrood Park. In about half an hour's climb, you reach the summit with a 360-degree view over the whole city and the sea.
Arthur's Seat is the remnant of a volcano that was active about 350 million years ago. It sits in Holyrood Park, which covers 260 hectares, and at 251 metres above sea level it is the 'wilderness' within walking distance of the city centre. The most common route starts near Holyrood Palace. You can go up the gentle grassy slope of Queen's Drive, or take the steeper 'Radical Road' below the Salisbury Crags cliffs. A one-way trip takes about 40–60 minutes. The summit is bare rock, and you need to use your hands and feet for a few steps. From the top, you can see the Old Town and the castle, the New Town, Leith and the Firth of Forth. On a clear day, you can even see the Forth Bridge. For the descent, you can loop round to Duddingston Loch and Duddingston Village on the east side. The Sheep Heid Inn in the village claims to be one of Scotland's oldest pubs. It is free and open all day, but the summit is exposed and very windy, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a windproof jacket. In summer, sunset is after 21:30, so bring a headlamp if you stay to watch the sunset and descend afterwards.
Opening hours
Open all day; free admission
Nearby sights
- Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Our Dynamic Earth
- Scottish Parliament Building
- Calton Hill
- Royal Mile
- Craigmillar Castle
- National Museum of Scotland
- The Real Mary King's Close