Arthur's Seat
|
Firth of Forth
from Arthur's
Seat
|
Firth of Forth
from Arthur's
Seat
( Ailsa Craig on horizon )
|
Summit of Arthur's Seat
|
Arthur's Seat
from Salisbury
Crags
|
Arthur's Seat
above Salisbury
Crags
|
Map of Holyrood
Park
and Arthur's Seat
|
ARTHUR' SEAT AND
SALISBURY CRAGS - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-
Location: Edinburgh
Map: OS Landranger [ GR 277 740 ] — not necessary
Distance: From 0.75 miles [ 1 km ] to 2.5 miles [ 4km ]
Time: 45 minutes to 2 hours
Terrain: paths
This walk this is hard to beat, and the variety of possible routes
means there should be something for all the family to enjoy.
The glaciated remains of an ancient volcano, Arthur’s Seat ( 251 metres
) sits in Holyrood Park, encircled by the Queen’s Drive on which there
are a nmnber of parking places from which to enter the park.
There is a good path network but it is worth noting that, if you’re
heading for the summit itself, in places the volcanic rocks have been
polished smooth by the passage of countless feet and can be slippery,
especially when it’s damp or frosty As long as care is taken
and one stays on the main paths, then the walks to the heights are
suitable for most.
When viewed from the west, Arthur’s Seat resembles a crouching lion.
There is no doubt that this prominent and shapely landform draws the
eye to it, so it should be of no surprise that the highest of
Edinburgh’s seven hills provides a magnificent viewpoint from which to
look over the capital.
The quickest route to the summit is from Dunsapie Loch to the east, but
the most scenic approach is from the St Margaret’s Loch car park.
Walk towards Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, then ascend
quite steeply up the Radical Road, the wide pathway which runs beneath
the impressive Salisbury Crags.
The pathway levels out, then descends towards the Queen’s Drive where
another path leads over the tail end of the cliffs. Staying low and
veering left, a path allows an undemanding loop to be made through
Hunter’s Bog back to the start. Ahead, however, the crouching lion
rears up. Where the main path forks, head up right; the left fork
provides a variation, traversing up and left around the base of
Arthur’s Seat.
A good path with stone steps leads easily upwards through the seemingly
impenetrable mass of the hillside before swinging up right and around
on to the lion’s haunches, then up on to the summit area itself and the
lion’s head.
Carefully pick your way off the easy-angled ( though polished ) summit
rocks and descend to the start of the chained pathway coming up from
Dunsapie Loch, then swing left on another path and, Where this
forks, go right and head easily downhill back to the start.
Arthur's
Seat
Gallery ::
Edinburgh
Photo
Gallery