Arthur's Seat from Holyrood
Climb the old volcano in the middle of Edinburgh for views over the city, the Forth and the Pentlands.
- Distance
- 4.8 km
- Ascent
- 220 m
- Time
- 1.5–2 h
- Grade
- Moderate
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 251 m
Drag along the profile to see where you are on the map.
Offline navigation is coming in the TRXO app. Hear when it launches.
Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Arthur's Seat from Holyrood is a moderate 4.8 km circular walk with 220 m of ascent, taking 1.5 to 2 hours. It starts at Holyrood, by the Palace and Scottish Parliament (grid reference NT 269 739). It climbs Arthur's Seat (251 m), a Marilyn. The start can be reached by public transport.
Arthur's Seat is the eroded core of a volcano that was active around 350 million years ago, and it rises from Holyrood Park just a few minutes from the Royal Mile. This route climbs from the palace through Hunter's Bog, a quiet valley hidden behind Salisbury Crags, and up the rocky final slopes to the summit.
The top is polished rock that's very slippery when wet, and it can be windy. The descent drops to Dunsapie Loch and follows Queen's Drive round past St Margaret's Loch and the ruined St Anthony's Chapel. The Radical Road below Salisbury Crags has been closed since a rockfall in 2018, so this route avoids it.
Route
-
1
Hunter's Bog
From the palace, follow the path into the valley of Hunter's Bog behind Salisbury Crags.
-
2
The summit
Climb the steepening path at the head of the valley onto the rocky summit, with the city spread out below.
-
3
Dunsapie and the lochs
Descend east to Dunsapie Loch, then follow Queen's Drive round past St Margaret's Loch back to the palace.
Summit
Arthur's Seat
251 m
“Possibly from Àrd na Saighead, 'height of arrows'; the King Arthur link is legend”
Questions about this walk
- How long does Arthur's Seat from Holyrood take?
- Most walkers take 1.5–2 hours for the 4.8 km route, which has 220 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Holyrood, by the Palace and Scottish Parliament (grid reference NT 269 739). Small car parks on Queen's Drive (some roads close to traffic at times).
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Edinburgh Waverley is about 20 minutes' walk; Lothian buses to Holyrood. Check times on Traveline Scotland.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded moderate. Grassy and rocky paths, steep and worn near the summit; polished rock on top. Road verges on Queen's Drive.
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Before you go: Holyrood Park is managed by Historic Environment Scotland: keep dogs on a lead near the lochs, where birds nest.
Walked this? Tell the next walker
No reviews, condition reports, walkers' photos or trip reports for this walk yet. Yours would be the first.
