Arthur's Seat

Few capital cities have a mountain in the middle of them. Arthur’s Seat is the main peak of Holyrood Park, an extinct volcano about 251 metres high, a ten-minute walk from the bottom of the Royal Mile. From the summit you see the whole city, the Firth of Forth, the hills of Fife and, on a clear day, a long way beyond.

What is Arthur’s Seat?

Arthur’s Seat is the eroded remains of a volcano that was active around 350 million years ago. Together with Salisbury Crags, the dramatic line of cliffs facing the city, and the rest of Holyrood Park, it’s one of the best places in Edinburgh to see how the city’s landscape was formed. The park is open to everyone and free.

No one is quite sure where the name comes from. The link to King Arthur is the romantic favourite, but there’s little evidence for it.

Which route should I take?

• From Holyrood (the classic route): start near the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament and follow the path up through the valley behind Salisbury Crags. It’s steep in places and rocky near the top. Most people reach the summit in 45 minutes to an hour.
• From Dunsapie Loch (the short route): if you’d like less climbing, start from the small loch on the east side of the park. It’s the quickest way to the summit and handy if you’re carrying camera gear.
• From Duddingston village: a steep path climbs from the south-east, past Duddingston Loch.

Allow about two hours there and back from Holyrood, including time at the top.

Is the Radical Road open?

The Radical Road, the path that runs along the foot of Salisbury Crags, has been closed since 2018 because of the risk of rockfall. Historic Environment Scotland has said it plans to partially reopen part of it. Check the latest before you go, and never climb over the barriers.

When to go

• Golden hour, in the last hour before sunset, turns the whole city gold. Leave plenty of time to get down before dark.
• Early morning is quiet and calm, with the Old Town below catching the first light.
• Avoid high wind, ice and fog. The summit is exposed, and the rocks are slippery when wet.

Local tip

You don’t need the summit for the best photos. The slopes on the way up give great views over the Old Town, with fewer people in your frame.

Safety

• Wear proper shoes. The top is rocky and polished smooth by millions of feet, and it’s slippery when wet.
• It’s often very windy at the summit, even on a calm day in town.
• Leave plenty of daylight for the walk down, especially in winter, when it gets dark mid-afternoon.

Nearby

• Duddingston, a village on the south side of the park, where the Sheep Heid Inn claims to be one of Scotland’s oldest pubs.
• The Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament, at the foot of the park.
• Calton Hill, about 20 minutes’ walk away.
• The Old Town and the Royal Mile, straight up the Canongate.