Walked by Fergal MacErlean
SCOTLAND
2.5 miles/4km 2 hours Moderate 230m
An ascent of Arthur’s Seat by Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh offers sensational views over the Scottish capital and far beyond to Fife and the Lothians.
On a crisp winter’s day with blue skies, all of the family will relish standing atop this ancient volcano, the highest point of Holyrood Park.
The unimproved grassland area was previously a royal hunting estate before King James V designated it as a Royal Park in the 1500s. Arthur’s Seat has remained virtually unchanged for centuries and is an important wildlife haven for mammals including squirrels and brown hare.
1 START
From the start point on Queen’s Drive next to Holyrood Palace you will be looking directly at the impressive Salisbury Crags. Take the trail to the left for the main summit route. After a few minutes of walking, the trail will fork. Go left.
The path becomes an earthen singletrack trail and is a steady, gradual climb. However, it can be very muddy and wet in parts, especially toward the bottom.
2 0.3 MILES
The path leads close to the striking remains of St Anthony’s Chapel, which is perched on a rocky spur below Whinny Hill. This is the only building, albeit ruined, to stand within the grounds of Holyrood Park.
The chapel’s origins are shrouded in mystery and it is suspected to have fallen into disrepair following the Reformation of 1560.
Continue up towards the peak where the ground becomes increasingly steep and rocky; wet sections can be slippery. There is a metal chain railing. Huff and puff your way to the top.
3 0.6 MILES
It’s often extremely windy on the clearly marked 251-metre-high summit. It feels wild and rugged up here, surprisingly so for being on the edge of the city.
There is a panoramic view, with the Firth of Forth laid out to the north, and you can spot the Bass Rock to the
