Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities in the UK. Full of friendly locals, gorgeous architecture, amazing history, and lots of whisky, you won’t be bored on a trip to Edinburgh! There really is something for everyone in this city, and one of my favorite things was hiking up Arthur’s Seat! I’ve done this walk twice, the first in November 2013 on my first trip to Edinburgh. The second time was July 2019 on a quick weekend getaway to the Scottish capital. Here is everything you need to know about hiking up Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
What is Arthur’s Seat?
Arthur’s Seat is actually an extinct volcano. It is located right in the heart of the city of Edinburgh! It’s the main peak of the hills of Holyrood Park. Arthur’s Seat is 251 meters high, so while it’s prominent it’s nothing too crazy! It is easily accessible from city center Edinburgh, and is a moderate hike.
Hiking Arthur’s Seat
There are a lot of different routes up to the top of Arthur’s Seat. It’s really up to you which one you go up! I went up on the main path, which is one of the most direct options. There are many other routes, some more challenging than others. If you’re wanting a moderate (not difficult!) hike, the path that starts at Dunsapie Loch was also recommended to me. You also have the option to hike up along Salisbury Crags. This is the rocky ridge closer to the actual center of Edinburgh.
I started from the main point, Holyrood Palace and the parking lot not far from it. There were a LOT of other people doing this walk when I went on a warm, sunny Sunday in July! It’s simple enough to just follow the crowds and the signs that say “Arthur’s Seat Summit.”
There is quite a steady incline as you make your way up the grassy area. But the path is well-marked, and rocky so hopefully it wouldn’t be too horrible in wet weather.
You’ll arrive at a mini-summit first. I actually thought this had some of the best views out towards the water and the Firth of Forth! If you start from Dunsapie Loch, you’ll also reach this point.
The trek from the mini-summit to the actual summit and top of Arthur’s Seat is very rocky, but with plenty of paths to avoid having to scramble. It’s only about 10 minutes from the first mini-summit to the main summit of Arthur’s Seat. If you’re there on a good weather day (especially in summer!), be prepared to share the summit with a LOT of other people!
The views from Arthur’s Seat really are phenomenal. To say it’s just 251 meters, you can see for miles on a clear day. You get an especially great view of Edinburgh’s Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and Calton Hill.
I loved trying to see how many Edinburgh landmarks I could spot! Overall, the walk from Holyrood Palace up to the summit took just 40 minutes, which included plenty of quick stops for breaks and photos.
Exploring Around Arthur’s Seat
On a nice day, if you have the time I’d definitely recommend walking out along Salisbury Crags. I’d love to do this on my next trip to Edinburgh! I chose to take a slightly different path down, mainly to escape the crowds.
The views were particularly nice on this way as the heather was just starting to bloom! If you weren’t already aware, I am absolutely obsessed with the blooming heather in the late summer months in England. It is just so beautiful!
On your way down, make sure to stop by St. Anthony’s Chapel. This medieval chapel is mainly ruins now, but dates back to the 15th century. It’s a lot of fun to wander around the ruins, and you actually get a pretty good view of Edinburgh from here too!
From here, I linked back up with the main path to get back to Holyrood and the rest of Edinburgh city center. All in all, it took me 90 minutes from starting at Holyrood Palace to finishing the walk. This included a break at the summit to rest and take photos, and plenty of other photo stops along the way!
Planning Your Trip
Despite how accessible Arthur’s Seat is to Edinburgh, it is still a big hill to walk up. In bad weather you might struggle with the drops on the other side of the paths or the summit. Be careful and take your time. Wear proper footgear—preferably hiking boots, but I got away just wearing my running shoes that have a thick sole and good support. Bring plenty of water and snacks, and make sure to take a rain jacket with you! I’d also recommend sunscreen.
I’ve stayed at two different hostels in Edinburgh, Budget Backpackers and Edinburgh Backpackers (although on this trip I stayed with my brother-in-law). I’d recommend either hostel, although it has now been nearly 6 years since I stayed in Budget Backpackers and 3 years since I stayed in Edinburgh Backpackers. You can search for hostels in Edinburgh here, or hotels in Edinburgh here! You can also sign up to and search accommodation on Airbnb here.
Edinburgh has its own airport, which isn’t too far away from the city center. I use Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights. If you’re traveling in the UK by train, I definitely recommend booking train tickets on Trainline—I’ve always found the cheapest tickets through them. Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Looking for tours in Edinburgh? You might like these ones!
Arthur’s Seat is a fantastic moderate hike, with amazing views to reward you at the top. I hope this post helps in planning your hike up Arthur’s Seat!
Have you hiked Arthur’s Seat? Which route did you take?
You might also like my other Edinburgh posts:
Unusual And Quirky Bars To Visit In Edinburgh
15 Tips For A Weekend Trip To Edinburgh
5 Harry Potter Places To Visit In Edinburgh
All of my Scotland posts and my hiking posts!
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