Monday 15/05/2023 Holyrood Park – Arthurs Seat
Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Back in Edinburgh, we would venture up to Arthur’s Seat regularly for our runs and walks. Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano that last erupted 350 million years ago and is now a grassy hill in Holyrood Park at the end of the Royal Mile.
Max elevation: 234 m
Total climbing: 414 m
Total descent: -380 m
Average speed: 3.58 km/h
Total time: 02:18:16
From our relative’s house, it is a short climb through residential streets to reach the park which has fantastic trails allowing you to walk or run around Arthurs Seat with spectacular views all the way (about 7km in total). It is possible to climb to the top (251m above sea level) along a short steep route that affords spectacular 360-degree views of Edinburgh City, Edinburgh Castle (built on another extinct volcano) and the Firth of Forth.
St Anthonys Chapel from St Margaret’s Loch
Within the park, there is also a 2,000-year-old fort, a chapel and a lovely pond with resident ducks. It’s well worth a visit.
Wednesday 17/05/2023 Old Town – Cannon Gate – St Margaret’s Loch – Arthurs Seat
Max elevation: 259 m
Total climbing: 364 m
Total descent: -352 m
Average speed: 4.49 km/h
Total time: 04:08:27
Sunday 14/05/2023 West Princes Street Gardens – Calton Hill – Waverley – Old Town
Max elevation: 139 m
Total climbing: 276 m
Total descent: -258 m
Average speed: 5.56 km/h
Total time: 03:00:39
The local flora, fauna, geology, history and some other walks (Bard)
Flora and fauna
The flora of Arthur’s Seat is diverse, with over 300 species of plants recorded. The most common plants are grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Some of the wildflowers that can be found on Arthur’s Seat include daisies, buttercups, and primroses. The shrubs that can be found on Arthur’s Seat include gorse, heather, and birch.
The fauna of Arthur’s Seat is also diverse, with over 50 species of animals recorded. The most common animals are birds, insects, and small mammals. Some of the birds that can be found on Arthur’s Seat include chaffinches, blue tits, and kestrels. The insects that can be found on Arthur’s Seat include butterflies, bees, and beetles. The small mammals that can be found on Arthur’s Seat include rabbits, squirrels, and mice.
Geology
Arthur’s Seat is a volcanic plug, which means that it is a piece of solidified magma that once filled the throat of a volcano. The volcano that formed Arthur’s Seat erupted about 340 million years ago. The rocks that makeup Arthur’s Seat are mostly granite and sandstone.
Early history
Arthur’s Seat has been inhabited by humans since at least the Bronze Age. There are a number of archaeological sites on Arthur’s Seat, including a hillfort and a stone circle. The hillfort is thought to have been built in the Iron Age, and the stone circle is thought to be even older.
Modern history
Arthur’s Seat has been a popular tourist destination since the 18th century. In the 19th century, it was a popular spot for picnics and hiking. Today, it is still a popular spot for recreation, and it is also home to a number of businesses, including a visitor centre and a cafe.
Walks
There are a number of walks that can be taken on Arthur’s Seat. The most popular walk is the ascent to the summit, which takes about an hour. There are also a number of shorter walks that can be taken, including a walk around the base of the hill and a walk to the top of Salisbury Crags.
Here are some of the most popular walks on Arthur’s Seat:
The Summit Walk: This is the most popular walk, and it takes about an hour to complete. The trail starts at the Visitor Center and follows a well-maintained path to the summit.
The Salisbury Crags Walk: This is a shorter walk that takes about 30 minutes to complete. The trail starts at the Visitor Center and follows a path along the base of Salisbury Crags.
The Braid Burn Walk: This is a more challenging walk that takes about 2 hours to complete. The trail starts at the Visitor Center and follows the Braid Burn up to the summit.
The Queen’s Drive Walk: This is a leisurely walk that takes about 1 hour to complete. The trail follows the Queen’s Drive, which is a road that circles Arthur’s Seat.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries and other content
