📌 Holyrood, City of Edinburgh
★★★★★
Amidst a capital city already extraordinary for its history and man made tourist attractions, Arthur’s Seat is Edinburgh‘s crowning glory. The summit is the highest of the city’s Seven Hills and dominates the skyline however you arrive in the capital, be it by air, road or rail. The rocky summit and neighbouring Salisbury Crags are, like the hill on which Edinburgh Castle stands, the remains of an ancient volcano. The whole area is within the boundaries of Holyrood Park: former royal pleasure ground and now under the care of Historic Environment Scotland. This circular route takes in the crags and summit, the park’s northernmost loch and the remains of a 14th century chapel, with world class views throughout. But although technically a walk in the park, it’s certainly not your average one. Stout footwear is advised: this is a proper hill climb, so allow a few hours for the whole circuit; as spoof TripAdvisor reviews point out, there’s no café at the top (nor is there a seat…)!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Edinburgh Castle (left) & Calton Hill (right) from Salisbury Crags 
Edinburgh Castle 
Arthur’s Seat beyond Salisbury Crags 
Looking back to the city 
Arthur’s Seat beyond Salisbury Crags 
Arthur’s Seat 
Hunter’s Bog 
Ascent route (centre) 
Steep ascent to Arthur’s Seat 
Looking back to Salisbury Crags 
Halfway up 
Looking south towards the Pentland Hills from the ascent 
Upper slopes 
Arthur’s Seat summit, looking east 
Hunter’s Bog & Dry Dam 
View back to the summit from the descent 
Gorse bushes on the descent 
St Anthony’s Chapel 
St Margaret’s Loch 
Rough descent to the loch 
St Margaret’s Loch 
Mute swan 
Tufted duck 
Sunbathing pigeon
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at St Margaret’s Loch, Duke’s Walk (1 mi east of Edinburgh Waverley station) – route can also be joined from the foot of the Royal Mile
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 278741
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.953887,-3.158718
🚌 Holyrood (at a slightly different point on the route) / London Road (A1) junction with Meadowbank Terrace | 🚆 Edinburgh Waverley (1 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 280 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr
Features: 🏞️ Holyrood Park; 💧 St Margaret’s Loch; 🧗 Salisbury Crags; △ Arthur’s Seat (251 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); ⛪ St Anthony’s Chapel
⬤ Moderate | Clear dirt, stone and tarmac paths, both made and unmade with lots of steps in places. Very steep ascent to Arthur’s Seat, with rough and rocky ground around the summit.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – St Margaret’s Loch north side – Salisbury Crags – Arthur’s Seat – Dry Dam – St Anthony’s Chapel – St Margaret’s Loch south side – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Ducks, swans, geese and gulls on St Margaret’s Loch, bird of prey over Salisbury Crags, jackdaws on Arthur’s Seat.
Weather: Extensive sunshine with a few wispy clouds forming on the summit; strong easterly wind keeping temperatures in low teens.
April 2020
