Hotels near Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat is the 251-metre peak at the centre of Holyrood Park and the most rewarding short hike in any UK city. It is the remnant of a volcano that last erupted around 340 million years ago, and from the summit you see all of Edinburgh laid out below - castle, Old Town, Forth Bridge, even Fife on a clear day.

Two main routes lead up. The Radical Road and Salisbury Crags approach from St Margaret's Loch is dramatic but steep, with several scrambling sections near the top. The easier path starts from Dunsapie Loch on the east side, which gains most of the height already by road. Either way, count on 45 minutes to an hour each way and wear proper shoes - the basalt rock is slick after rain. Sunrise climbs in summer (around 4:30am in June) are a long-standing Edinburgh tradition.

Pro Tip: Park at Dunsapie Loch (free parking, EH8 8HG) for the gentlest ascent of around 25 minutes. Bring a windproof layer - the summit is exposed and a good 5°C cooler than the city below.