Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh: A city centre volcano:
2 hours
Easy
3 miles
Arthur’s Seat is the dramatic volcanic hill that rises above Edinburgh, offering one of the city’s most iconic and rewarding walks. Standing at 251 metres, it is the highest point in Holyrood Park, and from its summit you’re treated to panoramic views across the city’s skyline, the Firth of Forth, and on clear days, even as far as the Pentland Hills and the Highlands beyond. Despite its rugged, wild appearance, Arthur’s Seat is remarkably accessible—sitting just a short walk from the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace—making it a unique blend of natural escape and urban convenience.
The walk can be approached by several routes, ranging from gentle slopes suitable for a leisurely stroll to steeper, rockier paths that provide a more energetic climb. Along the way you’ll encounter craggy outcrops, grassy meadows, and traces of the area’s volcanic origins. The hill is also steeped in history and legend, from associations with King Arthur to archaeological remains of ancient hill forts. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker looking for a quick climb or a visitor seeking a memorable viewpoint over Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat is a must-do walk that combines natural beauty, history, and the thrill of standing above Scotland’s capital.
Useful information for Arthur’s Seat
- Holyrood car park (EH8 8AZ) close to Queens Drive is the perfect starting point for this route. As we were staying in a short walk up the road from the walk we didn’t use the car park. It is reported parking charges apply Monday – Friday between 8:30am and 5:30pm and the costs are £1 per hour. Parking appears to be free on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
- The What3Words for the car park are: ///coherent.unable.mice
- Terrain along this route is varied and can get muddy and slippery in wet conditions. Expect some good clear paths, grassy sections with steep rocky sections nearer the summit.
- Public toilet facilities are available at Holyrood Park and Holyrood Park Education Centre.
- There are a variety of public transport options to get to this route
Arthur’s Seat route description
At the first corner there is a fork, the right path leads you to Hunter’s Bog ignore this path and take the left. We then took the path along the foot of the cliffs, although there is an easier route past a boulder marking St Anthony’s Well. Regardless of which one you take they merge higher up. From here continue to climb ensuring you take the time to enjoy the views. Dunsapie Loch should be visible below you at this point.
You will soon reach a couple of rocky paths, both of which take you to the summit — the choice seems to be made on which one is busiest. And there you have it — a short city centre hike will give you views over Edinburgh that you would be sorry to have missed.
You have a few options on routes taking you back down. We retraced our steps back down to the rocky path which led to some steep steps. After a short while this opened up into a grassy area at the end of Salisbury Crags and before we knew it we were back down and ready for some lunch.
Where to eat and drink after walking Arthur’s Seat
There are no shortage of food and drink options following this short walk. The Sheep Heid Inn located at the foot of Arthur’s Seat and is the obvious choice for lunch, dinner or just drinks. Here you will find an all day menu serving stone-baked pizzas (from £14.50), premium steak grills (from £26.95) as well as the usual pub favourites (from £15.50). There is also a daily specials board to choose from. The Sunday lunch menu offers a selection of freshly carved roasts as well as other options such as the 21 Day-aged 100z Rib-eye steak.
Not far from the start of Arthur’s Seat walk is the Royal Mile. Running through the heart of the old town the Royal Mile is full of bars, restaurants and pubs with a huge variety of options to choose from. Those looking for fine dining options will be drawn to Wedgwood The Restaurant. Here the menus change with the seasons — actually they can change on a daily basis to encompass availability of the freshest produce. Choose from the lunch, A la Carte or the Wee Tour of Scotland Tasting Menu — as with the menus themselves prices are subject to change.
Pics in the peaks: more from Arthur’s Seat
