Arthur's Seat — Attraction in City of Edinburgh

Nice hike up to epic views. I found the info about the walk online varied widely and now that I’ve done it I can see why - there are multiple ways of approaching the summit, some of which aren’t too bad and some are quite challenging.

I’m in my 30s, overweight but with fairly decent walking fitness (regular hill walker). I’m not an especially experienced hiker. I went up via the main path used by most people, which starts near the car park behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It’s on the map below in black dotted lines. From the car park to the summit took me 40 minutes with a few quick photo stops. That was at a steady pace as I was conscious of daylight. This path was fairly easy to follow and well maintained. You need sneakers at minimum, and it would be slippery on the stone steps in wet weather. The last 2 minutes or so is scrambling/climbing the rocky part to the top, it’s not especially hard but there’s no one track to follow.

The safest way down for inexperienced hikers is back down the main path. If you’re very fit and not planning to linger for long at the top, up and down the main path would take you about an hour I think. If you’re not very fit and/or planning to sit and admire the view for a bit, give it an hour and a half.

Instead of going back down the main path you can also go down the other side, which I did. I don’t think the whole path on that side is marked on the map but it drops down to meet the path marked as Piper’s Walk. This side is much steeper and there are some slippery spots with loose gravel in places. I had a near miss with some loose stones and took it pretty slow after that including a couple of moments of bum shuffling! Some people were climbing up this way but I’m very glad I didn’t. Once you’re down that way you have the option to walk on a relatively flat track back to the car park, or head on up again to the ridgeline of Salisbury Crags, the rather striking cliffs that are closer to the city. I did this, and I was back in the car park 1:45 after I started (including about 10 mins stopped at the summit). I had been up Salisbury Crags before so didn’t linger there for long, but if you’re doing the whole circuit for the first time I’d allow 2 hours as the view there is worth stopping for!

This is a really nice walk and well worth doing while in Edinburgh. If you’re not a confident hiker or really pressed for time, the walk from Holyrood to the top of the Salisbury Crags is quicker, about 30 minutes up so could do the whole thing complete with a decent stop for photos in about an hour, and offers a closer and (in my opinion) equally spectacular view of the city! But if you have the time, the satisfaction of getting to the summit is...

In my opinion it’s worth to climb the hill. The landscape is marvelous. Arthur's Seat is a hill in Edinburgh, one of the highest points in the city. It is located in Holyrood Park and is actually the summit of an extinct volcano. It is notable for its natural beauty as well as its history and legends.

Features of Arthur's Seat: Height: 251 meters (823 feet). It has a commanding view over the center of Edinburgh. Geological Structure: An active volcano some 350 million years ago, this hill is now a natural formation. During the Ice Age, glacial movements eroded the volcanic rocks and shaped the hill. Holyrood Park: Arthur's Seat is part of a large natural park with walking paths, lakes (such as Dunsapie Loch) and other volcanic formations.

Origin of the Name: The Legend of King Arthur: The name Arthur's Seat is linked to the legends of the famous King Arthur. According to some rumors, it may have been part of Camelot, one of King Arthur's kingdoms. However, there is no historical basis for this claim. Old Scots: The name may derive from the Old Scots "Archer's Seat" or "Ard-na-Said".

Legends and Stories: Traces of the Queen: According to some local legends, this is the site where King Arthur camped with his warriors. Witch Hunt Stories: During Scotland's witch-hunting periods, Arthur's Seat and the surrounding area were associated with mysterious events. Tiny Coffins: In 1836, 17 miniature coffins were found buried at Arthur's Seat. It is still unknown who placed the coffins and why. Some think it may be linked to witch hunts or ancient rituals.

Visiting Arthur's Seat is a popular hiking and nature area for locals and tourists alike. The climb to the top offers breathtaking views, especially at sunrise or sunset. From the summit there are panoramic views of Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Firth of Forth.

If you are visiting Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat...

Go early to avoid the crowds! Wear sturdy shoes and take water as this is quite a climb. There's the main trail almost the entire way up that is fairly easy to travel on other than the incline. There is also "The Radical Road" which we did not take as it seemed a bit too unsafe for me, but plenty others were on it. There is a chapel ruin and other things to check out on the way up, as well. When you reach the top, it just rocks--no longer a trail. We went at what must've been the most popular time of day as the summit was packed. There was a group of tweens standing around the stone that you touch to say you made it to the top, all on their phones, and they refused to move to let others get to it. I sort of reached up between them to slap the rock and said, "That's as close as I can get, I guess." Just one girl looked up from her phone, then she went right back to her phone without moving. It was rather irritating that no adult told them they'd had their time and should move. Other than that, it was a breathtaking view of the city from the top and it was nice to say we'd accomplished it. We were also treated to a bagpipe player performing up there! We walked up from the city, then went down the other side and made our way down to The Sheep Heid Inn, which is said to be the oldest pub in Scotland, and had a...