Arthur’s Seat Edinburgh Walk: Quick Guide To Best Route
Last Updated On 12th December 2024 By Lauren | Wild Lovely World
Home » Blog » Europe » Scotland »In this post, discover how to do the Arthur’s Seat walk in Edinburgh and everything you need to know for climbing this extinct volcano and famous landmark.
Arthur’s Seat is located in Edinburgh city centre. It is the peak of the group of hills which form Holyrood Park (near the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse). It is 250.5 m (822 ft) high, so it is a pretty small hill by many standards. However, Arthur’s Seat rises dramatically above Edinburgh and is an iconic landmark in Scotland’s capital city.
I lived in Edinburgh for nearly 4 years and hiked to the top of Arthur’s Seat many times! The walk is pretty easy for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, but it can be steep in parts. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful view of Edinburgh and the surrounding area!
If you’re visiting Edinburgh and want to take on the challlenge of climbing this small but steep hill, then this guide to the Arthur’s Seat walk will answer all your questions! I share my top tips for the Arthur’s Seat walk, route maps, a little bit of history and an FAQ.
Arthur’s Seat Walk In Edinburgh Quick Guide
Arthur’s Seat is number one in our Quick Guide to The Seven Hills of Edinburgh series. Check out the full series here: The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh: A Quick Guide
For more travel tips on visiting Edinburgh and Scotland, have a look at my Scotland Travel Guide.
Arthur’s Seat Walk In Edinburgh
Being just around a mile (1.6km) to the east of Edinburgh Castle in city centre, spending time doing the Arthur’s Seat walk is a great way to experience the Scottish outdoors on your visit to Edinburgh.
Arthur’s Seat is in Holyrood Park and there are several walking trails to enjoy. There are also several interesting features in the park. Besides the Palace of Holyrood House, there are several lakes and bogs, old chapel ruins, and the dramatic Salisbury Crags.
If you make the climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat, there is a viewpoint from where you can see all around Edinburgh and the Lothians. The panoramic views from Arthur’s Seat are truly spectacular!
Is Arthur’s Seat Hard To Climb And A Difficult Walk? How Steep Is Arthur’s Seat?
The Arthur’s Seat walk is relatively easy and can be accomplished by most people.
You will need a reasonable level of fitness as the trails to the summit of Arthur’s Seat are quite steep in places, especially the direct climbing route to the top.
However there are several routes to the summit of Arthur’s Seat and easy varies in terms of difficulty. If you want a direct route to the top it will be quicker but steeper. An alternative route takes a more gradual approach but will take longer.
Do You Need Walking Boots To Climb Arthur’s Seat? What Should You Wear To Walk Arthur’s Seat?
You do not necessarily need hiking boots to climb Arthur’s Seat, but I recommend wearing good walking boots or shoes for the Arthur’s Seat walk. It is better to be prepared because there are quite lot of rocks on the trail and it is quite steep.
If you don’t have walking boots then you can wear a good pair of trainers/sneakers.
Towards the top there are rocky areas so you will need to be careful with your footing. The paths around Arthur’s Seat can also get muddy due to Scotland’s frequent wet weather!
It is a good idea to do the Arthur’s Seat walk on a sunny or cloudy day if possible. If there is a lot of rain then there can be a lot of mud on the trails and potential to slip.
You will also want good weather so that you can get the best views possible from the top!
There is no shelter on the Arthur’s Seat walk and it is usually very windy. I recommend taking a wind/waterproof jacket. Wearing layers for the walk is also a good idea, because you might get very hot climbing to the top!
Arthur’s Seat Walk Packing List
Here is a list of items you should pack to take on a walk up Arthur’s Seat:
- Good walking shoes or boots (trainers/sneakers will be fine on dry days)
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Water
- Snacks or picnic
- Camera for the views
Which Route To Take For The Arthur’s Seat Walk
There are many routes to climb the Seat, from almost any direction in Holyrood Park.
The most direct is from the Scottish Parliament and follow the trail (summit path route) up past St Margaret’s Well and the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel.
How Long Does It Take To Walk Up Arthur’s Seat In Edinburgh?
It will take around 40-60 minutes to climb, depending on your fitness and speed.
Arthur’s Seat Hike Distance
The Arthur’s Seat hike along the most direct trail is only around 1 mile in distance.
Arthur’s Seat Edinburgh Walk Trail Map
Arthur’s Seat View
At The Top Of Arthur’s Seat In Edinburgh
At the top of Arthur’s Seat are lots of large rocks and green spaces – a good place for a picnic!
Which Way To Go Down Arthur’s Seat
For your descent, you have a variety of options and can return the way you came up or try a new route.
Some interesting sites around the Seat to check out are the Salisbury Crags, Radical Road (a path beneath the Crags), Duddingston Loch, St Margaret’s Loch and the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel.
Arthur’s Seat FAQ
Why Is It Called Arthur’s Seat?
There are many different theories about why it is called Arthur’s Seat – it could possibly be derived from King Arthur, a legendary leader of medieval Britain, or a modification of the Gaelic Ard-na-Said, meaning “Height of Arrows”, or Ard-thir Suidhe meaning “place on high ground”.
Is Arthur’s Seat An Extinct Volcano?
Arthur’s Seat is formed of an extinct volcano from around 300 million years ago.
It was then eroded by a glacier, creating the cool (pun intended) basalt cliffs of the Salisbury Crags which dramatically drop between Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh’s city centre.
Is Arthur’s Seat In Edinburgh Free?
Yes, Arthur’s Seat is free! The hill is located in a public park that is open 24/7 and is free for everyone to enjoy.
When Is The Best Time To Go To Arthur’s Seat?
Arthur’s Seat can be walked at any time of the year. But some times of the year are better than others.
Scotland being Scotland, it rains a lot and it can get pretty cold in the winter. Occassionally it will snow at the top of Arthur’s Seat in the winter, and be very icy.
Therefore, it is best to walk Arthur’s Seat in the spring, summer or autumn months (March – November) and avoid the winter.
But if you are visiting at that time of year, there’s no reason why you can’t do the Arthur’s Seat walk in winter (I’ve done it)! You’ll just need to make sure that you are well prepared with warm layers, including a good jacket, hat, scarf and gloves.
Best Time Of Day To Do Arthur’s Seat Walk And What Times To Avoid
The best time of day to do the Arthur’s Seat walk is first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon/early evening. If you visit at these times, then the trail will be quieter.
You will also have a chance of seeing beautiful views for sunrise or sunset! The golden hour glow in Edinburgh is particularly magical!
If you want to avoid crowds at Arthur’s Seat then I would suggest not doing the walk in the middle of the afternoon (between 12 noon and 4 pm). These hours are when most people are doing the Arthur’s Seat walk and it can be incredibly busy on the trail.
The summit of Arthur’s Seat is a rocky area and it is actually quite a small space. It can get very crowded there at busy times and it can be a little scary as there isn’t much space to stand and move around!
Is Arthur’s Seat Worth It?
Arthur’s Seat is a very popular tourist attraction in Edinburgh. The hill is also incredibly popular with Edinburgh locals. The Holyrood Park is a recreation area for Edinburgh residents and a public park.
If you want to experience how locals get outdoors in Edinburgh, then taking the Arthur’s Seat walk is a good way to do this.
It is also worth doing the Arthur’s Seat walk to get a great view of Edinburgh from the top.
The hill is close to Edinburgh city centre, so if your accommodation is in the centre then you likely won’t have to travel very far to do this walk.
On the other hand, there are several hills in Edinburgh (including the famous Seven Hills of Edinburgh) that offer amazing outdoor experiences. These other walking locations offer beautiful views of Edinburgh, as well as their own unique history and attractions, that are different to Arthur’s Seat.
Calton Hill – An Alternative To Arthur’s Seat
Another popular hill to walk in Edinburgh is Calton Hill. If you’re short on time, or do not feel like you have a fitness level enough to walk Arthur’s Seat, then you could try the Calton Hill walk. Calton Hill is a great alternative to doing the Arthur’s Seat walk and offers:
- Great views of Edinburgh (the most famous view, in fact)
- It is close to the city centre (just 5-minutes from Princes St and Waverley Train Station)
- Calton Hill is not as high as Arthur’s Seat so the walk is a lot shorter (but it is still quite steep).
Other Beautiful Hill Walks In Edinburgh (That Are Not Arthur’s Seat)
If you want to do something different and not just follow the path well travelled to the top of Arthur’s Seat, then here are recommendations of other walks to do in Edinburgh:
- A Walk Around The Braid Hills In Edinburgh – Your Complete Guide
- Blackford Hill & The Hermitage Of Braid In Edinburgh – Quick Guide
- 5 Reasons Why I Love Corstorphine Hill In Edinburgh
- Calton Hill Guide: Easy Walk & Famous View Of Edinburgh
How To Get To Arthur’s Seat In Edinburgh
Getting to Arthur’s Seat is easy from Edinburgh city centre. There are options for walking to Arthur’s Seat, taking public transport (the bus) or driving.
Where To Start Arthur’s Seat Walk
The best location to start the Arthur’s Seat walk is on the Queen’s Drive road next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish Parliament and Dynamic Earth. These prominent landmarks and sightseeing attractions will help you to locate the start of the Arthur’s Seat walk.
Walk To Arthur’s Seat From Edinburgh
You can easily walk from the city centre. From Edinburgh Castle follow the Royal Mile to reach the area which has Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish Parliament and Dynamic Earth.
The walk to from Edinburgh Castle to Arthur’s Seat down the Royal Mile will take about 20 minutes. The road is going down hill the whole way, as Edinburgh Castle is located on another hill – Castle Rock!
How To Get To Arthur’s Seat By Bus
There are two ways to take the bus to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
Firstly, you can take the public bus system called Lothian Bus. You can get to Arthur’s Seat by taking Lothian Bus numbers 300 or 6 from Princes Street to the Palace of Holyrood House.
The second option is to get tickets for the Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus Tour (available on Get Your Guide). This hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour bus that makes a stop at the Palace of Holyrood House.
With tickets to this bus tour you can explore Edinburgh at your own pace with a 24-hour ticket for unlimited journeys on the hop-on and hop-off bus. The open-top sightseeing bus allows you to relax and enjoy the views. The bus goes to all major sightseeing attractions in Edinburgh city centre and the onboard commentary tells you information about Edinburgh and its history along the way.
From the bus stop at Palace of Holyroodhouse you are at the entrance to Holyrood Park and an easy, short walk to the start of the Arthur’s Seat walk.
Arthur’s Seat In Edinburgh Walk Guide – Thanks For Reading!
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Arthur’s Seat is No. 1 in our Quick Guide to The Seven Hills of Edinburgh series. Check out the full series here: The Seven Hills Of Edinburgh: A Quick Guide
Looking for more awesome stuff to do in Edinburgh? Check out these posts:
Lauren | Wild Lovely World
Lauren is a coffee and cat obsessed travel writer from the U.K., specialising in travelling on a budget as a solo female and in a couple. She moved to Australia solo at age 19 and has since lived in 7 different countries around the world, including teaching English in Japan, living in a campervan in New Zealand and hiking all across Scotland. Her style is travelling slow and she is an expert on moving abroad and long-term travel. She spends a lot of time working on her blog WildLovelyWorld.com, cuddling her partner Fiachra and day-dreaming of her next trip.
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