Complete your trip to Edinburgh with a cheeky ascent of Arthur’s Seat, a looming ancient extinct volcano offering unrivalled panaramic views from coast to city (and beyond)!
Distance: 3.7km (2.3mi) / Elev Gain: 280m (917ft)
High Point: Arthur's Seat - 251m
Map: OS Explorer 350 - Edinburgh
GPS Download: Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags Circular Walk
Starting Point: Holyrood Car Park
Walk Highlights
This 2.3 mile circular mountain walk punches well above its weight, and what it may lack in distance (although some will find this challenging!) it makes up for with impressive views which get better as you get higher!
There are various routes up Arthur’s Seat you could take, and here I cover what I believe to be the best one – in particular returning via Salisbury Crags (more on that later).
You likely won’t be alone on this walk, it’s high on the to-do list for the many thousands of tourists who descend upon Edinburgh year-round. Some celebrate the achievement of reaching the summit with a dram of whisky, given the onward descent I don’t recommend that though !
Getting there
The walk starts from the edge of Holyrood Park, close to the Scottish Parliament building. Holyrood car park is in immediate proximity to the park, however if like me you are using public transport its an approx 20 min stomp from the nearest tram stop (Picardy Place), or there are bus stops aplenty nearby, including along Canongate – served by the number 35 bus (see Lothian Buses).
The start
The walk begins over the road from Holyrood Car park, where It’s worth spending a few minutes viewing the nearby map, which summarises the various paths and allows you to get your bearings.
An innocuous start on a wide tarmac path is akin to the days hors d’oeuvre, setting you up nicely for the upcoming main course. A fork in the path (no pun intended!) is signed to indicate the route towards Arthur’s Seat summit (tip: head left), here underfoot conditions noticeably change, becoming rocky and uneven.
Your heart beat will no doubt ramp up inline with the terrain, and if you do stop don’t forget to look behind you for a preview of the expansive coastal views to come.
Soon enough the first glimpse of Arthur’s Seat summit appears, a distant and steady stream of walkers appear like a colony of ants slowly moving towards their destination. The route ahead is now obvious.
Arthur’s Seat
The summit of Arthur’s Seat is approached via a short but quad burning ascent. The path makes way to a plateau, rewarded by sweeping views out towards the coastal port area of Leith.
The best however is yet to come. A couple of obvious route choices lead upwards, completing the final push to the summit – marked by a trig pillar. I took what was essentially a stone staircase, rather than the hands on semi-scramble option (I am getting old nowadays!).
What to say about the summit, well it’s exposed and as a result presents a 360 degree panoramic view to die for – and one that my photos simply cannot justify (Panorama mode is your friend here)! You could spend a good while up here, taking photos, Edinburgh landmark spotting, eating, chatting etc. That said its exposure (and coastal proximity) means it can be very windy, and if it’s cold and windy it’s gonna be, well, very cold!
The weather will undoubtedly correlate to your overall enjoyment and time spent on the summit, if you can hold out for a favourable weather window – do so.
Salisbury Crags
Salisbury Crags is the extra bonus on this route, presenting arguably the best views on the entire walk – certainly of Edinburgh city.
Overlooking Holyrood park and to the west of Arthur’s Seat, the cliffs face the city, and the further you get towards the final crag the better the view becomes. The majestic Edinburgh castle is easily identifiable. along with other Edinburgh landmarks. Again you could spend some time here taking photos and enjoying the view!
As you drop down from the crags you eventually meet the return path, and essentially that’s it!
Hazards
Navigation will only be an issue in mist/fog, wait for clearer conditions if you can! The summit of Arthur’s Seat is exposed, It can be extremely windy and cold – surprisingly so compared to down in Holyrood Park. Underfoot terrain varies between tarmac, loose stone/gravel, mud and rocks – you may even find yourself using your hands in parts. Be extra careful in wet or wintry conditions, Arthur’s Seat is essentially a mini-mountain – respect it!
Remember – we cannot highlight all potential hazards when out in the great outdoors. Safety is ultimately down to you. Educate yourself in safety, weather reports, navigation and equipment specific to the activity you intend to undertake and conditions/terrain you may encounter! Check out adventuresmart.uk for general outdoor safety considerations – and activity specific guidance for hill walking, paddle boarding, mountain biking and open water swimming.
I hope you enjoyed an assault on this wonderful little mountain, and took away some lasting memories – both digital and non-digital! Please leave a rating and review of the walk below!
