It’s hard not to love Edinburgh, Scotland. The people are friendly, it's easy to get around and the blend of old and new is fascinating.
This bustling capital city is divided between Old Town with its medieval history and New Town with its evolution from the 18th century to now. Plus, there’s a long coastline and green hills and expanses.
Edinburgh sits on the remains of a 350-million-year-old volcanic island. And, with glacial erosion and time, the ancient volcanic formations led to the city’s current hilly and craggy topography. The result is a striking and unique landscape.
The city's skyline includes an interesting mix of architecture from medieval to the modern. Landmarks include the Parliament building, Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse Palace, the Balmoral Hotel clock tower and the Scott Monument.
Plus, there's the variety of monuments, parks, homes, and shops you'd expect to find in a cityscape. Dare I mention the controversial W hotel with its modern, rounded ribbon design that some akin to a giant poo emoji? Decide for yourself! Get your camera ready and head to these spots in Edinburgh for the best views of the city and surrounding communities.
Edinburgh Castle
As you ride into the city, the view of Edinburgh Castle perched high above everything else is an incredible site. You immediately understand the castle’s strategic position and imagine soldiers toiling in vain to scale the hill’s steep, rocky face.
The castle sits 430 feet above sea level at the summit of Castle Rock, a volcanic plug. The views from the castle grounds are amazing. You can see all the way to the coastline and appreciate the unique cityscape below.
The height of Castle Rock adds to the intrigue of castle life. You can’t help but think about the protection it provided royalty, the effectiveness of cannons positioned in their embrasures and the despair of prisoners trying to see the world below through tiny slits in the prison courtyard walls.
Touring the castle is a must for anyone visiting Edinburgh. In addition to the expansive views from all sides, you’ll see the crown jewels, artifacts, royal apartments, prison quarters, the grand ballroom, the National War Memorial and more.
The castle opens daily at 9:30 a.m. and closes either at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. depending on the month. Last entry is always one hour before closing. The castle is closed on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. A ticket is required to visit the castle. Walk-up tickets are available, but during busy tourist seasons, such as the summer, its best to buy them in advance.
Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags
Writer and Edinburgh native Robert Louis Stevenson described Arthur’s Seat as "a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design."
Arthur’s Seat rises 823 feet above sea level. It's the highest point in Edinburgh and among the ancient volcanic hills of Holyrood Park.
Holyrood Park is near one end of The Royal Mile, a road that stretches between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This active royal residence for King Charles III is also called Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Palace.
The 640 acres of Holyrood Park are adjacent to the palace. The park features well-established paths for walking among the hills.
The trek to Arthur’s seat will take about two hours, but its not too strenuous. The reward –
spectacular views.
If you don’t have the time or energy to hike all the way up, the other elevations in the park offer nice views, as well. The park's Salisbury Crags are about 570 feet above sea level. The steep cliffs of the crags are geologically striking and easier to get to than Arthur's Seat.
Even if you don't trek up the hills, a short walk into the park will immerse you into the beautiful, rolling landscape of rocks, grasses and yellow blooms.
Fun fact, no one knows for certain the origins of the name Arthur’s Seat. One popular theory centers on King Arthur and Camelot.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is an ancient volcano and a fantastic spot for panoramic views. It offers some of the best views of the city and the surrounding areas.
It’s a steep walk to the top, but you’ll be rewarded with clear views practically everywhere you stand. And, it's a lot faster to get to than Arthur's Seat (about 10 to 15 minutes versus two hours).
Personally, I think Calton Hill offers the best views across the Firth of Forth estuary, which is between Edinburgh and the North Sea. The park-like beauty of Carlton Hill is also the perfect spot to appreciate the impressive hills of Holyrood Park, which make the neighboring Parliament and Holyrood Palace, look diminutive in comparison.
The top of Calton Hill is a spacious area with gently sloping, grassy lawns perfect for picnics and relaxing. The hill is home to a collection of historic monuments and structures, including the National Monument, which was inspired by the Parthenon.
The tall, tubular-shaped Nelson Monument is one of the hill's most recognizable landmarks and easily seen from the city streets below. The historic City Observatory building was once actively used for astrological purposes.
Today, the section around the City Observatory building is part an artist-run initiative called the Collective. The observatory and adjacent City Dome building are used for contemporary art exhibits.
In addition the observatory building, the Collective includes The Lookout by Gardener's Cottage, an upscale dinner spot praised for its farm-to-table food and, of course, the views! There's also a food kiosk located near the gallery and the Observatory House, which is available for lodging.
Observer's Walk is a series of artist-created audio guides commissioned by the Collective. The guides are available online and intended for listening to while visiting Calton Hill. The Collective is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There is no parking at the top of Calton Hill, except for people with mobility issues. But, cars and taxis can drive up the hill to pick up and drop off riders.
Fun fact, if you’re walking to Calton Hill from the Holyroodhouse Palace area, your directions will likely take you to Jacob’s Ladder, which was once a shortcut for funeral processions.
Be prepared for a glute workout because Jacob’s Ladder is an extremely steep, stone staircase of 140 steps carved into volcanic rock.
Royal Botanic Garden
The Royal Botanic Garden is spread over 72 acres and home to one of the most extensive plant collections in the world. The garden, about a mile from Edinburgh's city center, is a tranquil and beautiful oasis.
For views of the city’s skyline, wander through the lush grounds to the highest point of the Rock Garden. Through breaks in the tree line are views in different directions across the city.
In all fairness, skyline views from the garden are not as impressive as other locations in this list. But, the gardens are gorgeous and worth seeing.
The Rock Garden, for example, includes around 5,000 species of plants, a waterfall and stream. Other areas to explore include the Chinese Hillside, Arboretum, Scottish Plant Collection, the Rhododendron Collection and the Woodland Garden.
This is truly one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen. I especially enjoyed the Rock Garden waterfall and the Chinese Pavilion. Sitting outside among the beautiful landscape eating a slice of cake from the onsite Terrace Cafe was also a highlight. A perfect outing!
The garden is free and opens daily at 10 a.m. Closing times vary from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. depending on the month. The last entry is always 45 minutes before closing. The gardens are closed on Dec. 25, Jan. 1, and in extreme weather.
The Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is a gothic, tower-like structure built in honor of Scottish writer Sir Walter Raleigh. The monument is just over 200 feet tall and has three levels of open-air viewing platforms, each with 360-degree views.
The monument, located in Princess Street Gardens, is in the heart of Edinburgh and one of the busiest sections of the city. It stands in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and where Old Town and New Town meet.
Fun fact, the nearby Waverley Train Station is named after one of Scott's novels.
The monument is open everyday at 10 a.m. and the last tour is at 4:30 p.m. The monument closes for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tickets are purchased upon arrival and no reservations are available. For more information, visit the monument's website.
Final Tip
Edinburgh is compact and easy to navigate, especially the city's center. It's also hilly, so keep that in mind. It's an easy walk (downhill) from Edinburgh Castle to the Holyrood Park and from there to nearby Calton Hill. The Royal Botanic Gardens are a little further out so catch a black cab or Uber. We only used Uber once because the black cabs and buses are clean, comfortable and abundant.
Happy exploring!
Commentaires