A Walk Up the Marvelous Arthur's Seat: A Must for Your Time in Edinburgh Scotland

Arthur’s Seat is a must for able bodied travelers to Edinburgh.

What is this?

And why is it on the “must see list”?

I’m glad you asked these questions because I have some answers for you.

Just keep reading!

What is Arthur’s Seat?

It’s a hill.

Plain and simple — Arthur’s Seat is a hill.

But it’s a hill that was volcanic as is the hill where Edinburgh Castle sits.

Yes, there was lots of volcanic activity waaaaaayyyyy back in time in this area where the Scottish capital now sits. 

Arthur’s Seat also happens to be the highest point in Holyrood Park which is where you’ll find this hill. 

It’s a lovely park with trails, smaller hills, some small lochs and some crags for rock climbing.

There are also some ruins within the park of St Anthony’s Chapel.

This park would have been the hunting grounds for the royals back in the 12th century.

It’s cool to imagine what Edinburgh would have looked like with less development back then.

Holyrood Park is Edinburgh’s largest park at 650 acres and it’s definitely worthy of some time.

Where exactly are Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park located?

Arthur’s Seat and the park are about 1.6km (1 mile) from Edinburgh Castle. 

In fact, Holyrood Park is very close to Holyrood Palace.

And this park is situated very much in the midst of busy Edinburgh — yet it feels very much away from it all.

Why walking this hill is a must

The views

There is no doubt about it that Arthur’s Seat offers some amazing views.

You get views all across Edinburgh.

It’s fun to pick out some of the distinctive landmarks and buildings.

You’ll have views to the Firth of Forth and as far as the North Sea.

*Sigh*

The incredible views from this point really are worth the hike up.

The peace of the park

As I mentioned above, it really feels as though you are far away from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh. 

Holyrood Park really is lovely.

Yes, Arthur’s Seat is its star, but there is more to the park.

I wish I had taken the time to wander about the park more.

Crow Hill — not as high as Arthur’s Seat — was within easy reach.

But I didn’t make it up to that hill.

I’m sure the views from there are quite fab too.

There is Whinny Hill, Nether Hill, Hunters Bog and Salisbury Crags.

I walked through the bog on my way back down.

While it was a wee bit mucky, it was nice to be the only one walking that trail.

If you have good weather, do spend some time exploring the park beyond Arthur’s Seat.

It’s a good workout

Walking up Arthur’s Seat is definitely a good way to get the heart rate up and burn off some of the good food and drink (hello tasty Scottish whisky) you have been enjoying in Edinburgh.

While the trail is not particularly long, it does go up continuously.

And there are other trails to connect with so you can really make a day of your excursion to the park.

Logistics

The trail

I want to point out that while this is a walk in a park it is not a ‘walk in the park’.

Walking up to Arthur’s Seat is an uphill hike.

The trail can be very muddy and wet in parts, especially toward the bottom.

And the top is very rocky and can be slippery.

There are some parts at the very top that you might have to scramble a bit depending as there are a few “paths” you can take to reach the summit. 

This hike is not for everyone. 

So please, know yourself — your abilities and your limits.

Tips for walking Arthur’s Seat

If you are not comfortable with rocky and/or muddy surfaces, do not attempt this trail.

Please do wear good shoes or boots.

You don’t need heavy duty hiking boots, but sneakers with good tread are a must. 

I personally wear trail running sneakers on a lot of hikes and find them to work well for me. 

Waterproof shoes or boots will be even better if there has been rain.

Don’t do this walk in bad weather as it will be even more treacherous and you won’t get those fantastic views.

Do take your time and enjoy the views from different spots along the trail. 

No need to rush!

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. This is because travel to Europe is complicated.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

I am continuing to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about places. And hopefully make that bucket list! This way when we can all fully travel again, you’ll be ready to go. 

And if you are ready to go soon, please contact Lynne for any assistance you may need.

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