Arthur's Seat Reviews (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Cracking View From Up Here

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

September 6, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo Arthur's Seat was formed by an extinct volcano and it sits on the East side of Edinburgh over looking Holyrood Park, near Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament. Growing up in East Lothian, about 20 miles from Edinburgh I have taken many a ...Read more

Arthur's Seat

by Red Mezz

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

October 29, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo This far too often over looked activity in Edinburgh is one of the most easily viewed, and often seen with out the visitor even knowing what it is that they are looking at. There are very few specifics I tell friends and people coming across that ...Read more

This far too often over looked activity in Edinburgh is one of the most easily viewed, and often seen with out the visitor even knowing what it is that they are looking at.

There are very few specifics I tell friends and people coming across that they need to see in Edinburgh, outside of simply sight seeing the city itself, but in my top 3 (right along side the castle and going up in the Scott Monument) is always Arthur's Seat.

Located just out of the city centre over the Salisbury Crags, this isn't just a tourist attraction, or a 'thing to do because it's a thing to do' spot. This is one of the best places in Edinburgh to pass an afternoon (or night, or very early morning.) First of all is the extremely surprising change of scenery just mere moments outside of the city centre. Walking down hill from the Royal Mile, just past Holyrood Park you come to the edge of the crags. It's a very easy down hill walk to reach them, and right at the bottom of the mile, the scenery changes almost instantly. Within just a few minutes of leisurely walking you’re surrounded by steep, dramatic Scottish hills, and if you follow the side walk around them you come to some ancient ruins overlooking a large swan filled pond. (Talk about a photo opp.) And this is great for any one, and pretty much any level of active, activity you want to pursue. You can stroll around the sidewalks near the crags with no climbing at all and view the pond, ruins, and crags all extremely pleasant and photographable.

Or wander up in to the crags a ways; have your photo taken in front of Arthur's Seat at the ruins and get a bit of a look at the city and surrounding country side. But, far and away the best way to experience this area is to come up at either dawn or dusk (I recommend dusk as getting up top for dawn means climbing a rather steepish hill in near dark in the very, very cold morning at about 3am. But, if that is your thing you won't be alone. Students and travellers alike love to meet the morning in celebration at the top of Arthur's seat, and it is a magnificent way to start the day. But equally good (and not quite so cold or dangerous) is to climb along the crags at dusk, and allowing half an hour to get to the top before sunset. The climbing does get a little bit steep, but only right at the end and if you are even reasonably good shape it shouldn't prove too troublesome.

It is an awesome view of the city, the best one you could hope for, and the act of seeing it so close from such a remote-type place is a very unique experience. Catch a dry evening with a proper sunset and you can't ask for more.

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From journal Across the Pond, to the wonders of Edinburgh...

Making the Climb to Artist's Sit

by Mandan Lynn

Smithwick, South Dakota

October 12, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo Okay, so it's not that much of a hike. Maybe twenty minutes up the hill. But it felt like a lot to me, a girl who has grown accustomed to the Netherlands, where you're lucky to find an incline, much less an actual hill.It doesn't take long to ...Read more

From journal Taking the High Road to Scotland

Arthur's Seat

by svearvaldyr

Fortrose, Scotland, United Kingdom

August 18, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo If I had to name one sight that no visitor to Edinburgh should leave without seeing, this would be it. Arthur's Seat takes its name from King Arthur—most notably the legends that claimed he was a giant—and the hill fort that used to be situated ...Read more If I had to name one sight that no visitor to Edinburgh should leave without seeing, this would be it. Arthur's Seat takes its name from King Arthur—most notably the legends that claimed he was a giant—and the hill fort that used to be situated there.

Rising rather majestically from right in the heart of the city, this outcropping of extinct volcano sits in the midst of Holyrood Park in the southwest corner of the city centre. You can drive up to its base if you wish and wander around the greensward that surrounds it, but to fully appreciate it you really need to climb to the top. You can take the longer, gentler climb from Dunsapie Loch, but for a quicker route there's an established path that leads most of the way to the summit, starting at the point where Arthur's Seat meets the Crags. It winds around the side of the great hill and then rapidly gets steeper, set with big stone steps embedded in the earth. Once you get past this crude staircase, you're on a little plateau and the rocky peak rises to your right. This next part of the climb is less ordered but you'll know when you reach the top—two short stone pillars mark it out and the view unfolds all around you.

It takes about half an hour to 45 minutes to get from the base all the way to the summit but - apart from strong, cold winds once you get there—it's very easy. You'll be out of breath by the time you get up there but it is well worth the effort. If it's icy do be careful on the early part of the climb as it can get very slippery and it'll be an unpleasant tumble down the hillside if you fall.

The view is best appreciated at sunset or sunrise. If you're planning on doing this at sunrise, dress very warmly as it gets really cold up there, at any time of year. Similarly at sunset, be prepared for a dip in temperature fuelled by the (often very) strong winds. The view itself though is unrivalled in Edinburgh. There's a bit of everything, from the twinkling lights and sights of the city (if Hibs are playing you can hear the crowd cheering all the way from Easter Road) through the watery expanse of the Firth of Forth to the hills beyond in almost all directions.

Unfortunately there's no disabled access, but with nothing resembling an entry fee, there's really no excuse to not do this if you're physically able to take it on. If you're fortunate enough to get the right kind of clouds at sunset you'll be treated to a truly breathtaking display. Close

From journal Exploring Auld Reekie - Edinburgh on a budget

Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags

by artslover

Calgary, Alberta

March 15, 2006

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Arthur's Seat is the peak of an extinct volcano. The nearby cliffs are called Salisbury Crags. They are located east of Edinburgh Castle, south of the city centre, and near the main campus of the University of Edinburgh. It is a very popular walk ...Read more

From journal Endlessly Fascinating Edinburgh

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