Hike Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano located in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park. It marks the park’s highest point, sitting 251 metres above sea level. This makes it one of the best spots to visit to get a panoramic view of the whole city. The hike to the top is relatively short, but is not without its difficulties. The hill has featured in numerous novels, including Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Jules Verne’s ‘The Underground City’. Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson described it as ‘a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design’. Arthur’s Seat is a jagged, grassy hill, rising up from the urban sprawl, a reminder of the now-extinct volcano, its last eruption was 350 million years ago.  No one really knows why it is called Arthur’s Seat, although believe it is a connection between Edinburgh and King Arthur. If it’s panoramic and breathtaking views you are after, the summit of Arthur’s Seat offers one of the best vantage points over the city. A prime pick for a walking adventure, you don’t have to venture out of the city, just follow one of the many trails up this 800-foot extinct volcano. 

Be warned, the route may be short, but it is challenging.There are five suggested routes in the park, suitable for a range of abilities. We recommend the red route, it takes around 2 hours and there is a path all the way to the summit and it’s not too steep. You will be rewarded with fantastic panoramic views of the city at the top and again on the way back along the base of Salisbury Crags, with great views of the Castle rock and the centre of Edinburgh.

Finish your walk with a gentle amble through Holyrood Park, admire the wildlife to be found on the shores of the three lochs, St Margaret’s, Dunsapie and Duddingston.

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