Few city walks change the scenery as quickly as Holyrood Park. One moment you are near Edinburgh’s historic streets; the next you are looking up at Arthur’s Seat, the park’s distinctive hill. It is a memorable place to stretch your legs, enjoy open space and see the capital from a different angle.
Choose the walk that suits you
You do not have to reach the summit to enjoy Holyrood Park. Gentler paths offer views of the crags, lochs and changing landscape, while the climb to Arthur’s Seat rewards a longer, more demanding outing with a broad panorama. Give yourself time to stop, take photographs and enjoy the contrasts between the park and the city around it.
Conditions can change quickly on exposed ground. Wear suitable footwear, take a layer for wind and rain, and check the current park guidance before choosing your route. If the summit does not suit the weather or your group, a shorter walk still makes an excellent Edinburgh outing.
Getting to Arthur’s Seat from our Edinburgh accommodation
From Ben Cruachan Guest House at 17 McDonald Road or Ben Cruachan Rooms & Studios at 21 McDonald Road, head towards the eastern side of the city centre and Holyrood. You can make the journey on foot if you want a longer day out, or use public transport to save your energy for the park.
Staying at Caledonian Apartments on Caledonian Crescent? Travel via Haymarket or the city centre towards Holyrood, then begin your walk from a park entrance that fits your chosen route. Check live journey information before setting out.
Make it part of your Edinburgh stay
An Arthur’s Seat walk pairs naturally with time around the Royal Mile and Holyrood. Our McDonald Road guest house and rooms and studios provide two accommodation choices in the same neighbourhood, while the self-catering Caledonian Apartments offer a different base to the west of the centre. Wherever you stay, the park can be a highlight of a wider Edinburgh visit.
See Historic Environment Scotland’s Holyrood Park visitor information for current access, safety and route guidance.
Featured image: Morning gold by Magnus Hagdorn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The original file was uploaded; any cropped display is shared under the same licence.