Some of Edinburgh’s best views ask for only a short detour from the city centre. Calton Hill rises above the eastern end of Princes Street, giving you space to pause between sightseeing stops and take in the skyline. Go when the light is soft if you can, but leave enough daylight to wander comfortably and notice the details around you.
More than a viewpoint
The panorama is the first reason to climb Calton Hill. Look across the rooftops and pick out familiar landmarks, then turn your attention to the hill itself. The graceful Dugald Stewart Monument makes a memorable foreground for a photograph, while the unfinished National Monument and the Nelson Monument give the skyline a distinctive silhouette. The City Observatory adds another layer to the hill’s story and is home to Collective, a contemporary art space.
There is no need to rush from one monument to the next. A relaxed circuit lets you enjoy different views as the city changes around you. If you are visiting near dusk, take extra care on the paths and check your route back down, as parts of the hill have limited lighting.
Getting to Calton Hill from our accommodation
From Ben Cruachan Guest House at 17 McDonald Road or Ben Cruachan Rooms & Studios at 21 McDonald Road, Calton Hill makes a natural walk towards the east end of the city centre. Head towards Waterloo Place and choose an approach that suits your group and the conditions.
From Caledonian Apartments on Caledonian Crescent, travel towards Princes Street via Haymarket, then continue east to the hill. You can make it part of a longer city walk or use public transport for the central stretch. Check current service information before leaving.
A small outing that fits a longer Edinburgh stay
Calton Hill is easy to pair with an afternoon in the New Town or a walk onward towards the Old Town. Staying at our guest house, rooms and studios on McDonald Road or our self-catering apartments on Caledonian Crescent gives you two different starting points for the same memorable view. It is the kind of short outing that can become a favourite moment of an Edinburgh stay.
For more on the monuments, see Forever Edinburgh’s heritage guide. For access and after-dark advice, see Collective’s visitor information.
Featured image: Skyline of Edinburgh by Andrew Colin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The original file was uploaded; any cropped display remains credited under the same licence.