Arthur's Seat: reviews and practical tips

An extinct volcano towering over Edinburgh

From the peak of Arthur's Seat, the city spreads out all at once, taking in Edinburgh Castle, the tangled medieval alleys of the Old Town, and the grid of the New Town. Your view stretches all the way to the Firth of Forth and, on clear days, out toward the Highlands.

You hike up via dirt and stone trails, passing jagged volcanic rock outcroppings that reveal the true geological character of the hill.

Why climb to the top of Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat is an ancient extinct volcano and the highest point in Holyrood Park, sitting at an elevation of 821 feet. It formed during the Early Carboniferous volcanic period, around the exact same time as the crag beneath Edinburgh Castle. Lava samples retrieved from the site date back between 341 and 335 million years.

Glacial erosion carved out the steep basalt cliffs of the Salisbury Crags between the hill and downtown. Viewed from certain angles, the entire formation resembles a sleeping lion, with two ancient craters shaping what locals call the lion's head and the lion's rump. Back in 1879, writer Robert Louis Stevenson famously described the landmark as a hill for magnitude, a mountain for boldness of design.

A site occupied since the Iron Age

On the eastern slope of the summit, you can still spot two stone earthen banks, which are the remnants of an Iron Age fort. The exact origin of the name remains debated, with several theories pointing toward legends surrounding King Arthur.

Salisbury Crags, the scenic alternative

If you want a less demanding walk, the lower Salisbury Crags path running along the hillside gives you sweeping views over the city without requiring the full summit climb.

Local tip: wear sturdy hiking boots. The rocky, uneven trails turn slick and muddy after a rain shower, which happens often in Edinburgh.