Arthur’s Seat is what is left of a volcano that erupted around 340 million years ago, long before there was a Scotland, let alone an Edinburgh. Ice sheets later ground it down and tilted it into the shape people have compared to a crouching lion: the summit is the Lion’s Head, the lower top to the south the Lion’s Haunch. At 251 metres (823 feet) it is the highest of the city’s seven hills and the centrepiece of Holyrood Park.
The top is a knuckle of bare, foot-polished rock with a white trig pillar and a metal view indicator naming everything you can see: Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town to the west, Calton Hill and Leith to the north, the Firth of Forth with its three bridges, the hills of Fife, North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock to the east, and the Pentland Hills to the south. On a clear day the southern edge of the Highlands is visible.
There is no ticket, gate or opening time. The climb is short but it is a real hill — steep in places, rocky at the top and far windier than the streets below. Our routes guide compares every way up.
Top things to do at Arthur’s Seat Summit
Touch the trig pillar and read the view
The concrete pillar marks the true summit; the indicator plate beside it points out landmarks in every direction. Give yourself at least fifteen minutes on top — and step a few metres down from the crowd on the east side for a quieter seat out of the wind.
Come for sunrise or sunset
The summit faces everything: the sun rises over the sea and sets behind the castle. Sunset is sociable, sunrise almost private. Either way, carry a torch for the walk in the dark — the paths are unlit — or join a guided sunset or sunrise hike.
Wash your face in the May dew
For centuries Edinburgh people have climbed the hill before dawn on 1 May to wash their faces in the dew, which is supposed to bring beauty for the year. A few hundred still do, and there is often a short service at the top at sunrise.
Continue over the Lion’s Haunch
Most walkers go up and down the same way. Instead, drop south-west from the summit to the broad grassy top of the Lion’s Haunch (Nether Hill), with its fine view back to the summit rocks, and descend from there towards Hunter’s Bog or Dunsapie Loch to make a loop.
How to get to Arthur’s Seat Summit
- From Holyrood (the classic start): walk to the foot of the Royal Mile, cross Queen’s Drive beside the palace and follow the broad path that climbs past St Margaret’s Loch and St Anthony’s Chapel. Allow 45–60 minutes to the top at a steady pace.
- From Dunsapie Loch (the easy start): a grassy path leads from the little car park by the loch to the summit in 15–25 minutes. The road up to the loch is closed to vehicles at certain times, so you may need to walk there.
- From the city: Holyrood is 15–20 minutes’ walk downhill from Waverley station. See getting here for buses, the airport tram and parking.
Insider tips
- Wear shoes with grip. The last few metres are bare rock polished smooth by millions of feet, and it is slippery when wet.
- It is always windier and colder on top than in town. Bring a windproof layer even in July.
- There are no toilets, taps, bins or shelter on the hill. Carry water and take your litter down with you.
- In poor visibility or strong wind, turn back — the hill will be there tomorrow.
Best tours & tickets for Arthur’s Seat Summit
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Arthur’s Seat Summit:
Guided hike from €28 Edinburgh: Guided Hike to Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park
The straightforward way to climb the hill with someone who knows it: a two-hour guided walk from Holyrood through the park to the summit and back, with the story of the volcano, the royal park and the city laid out below you. Rated 4.9 by well over a hundred walkers and one of the lowest-priced guided hikes in Edinburgh.
- The summit of Arthur’s Seat at 251 m
- Volcano geology, history and legends explained
- Small group, limited to about 10 walkers
Guided hike from €56 Edinburgh: Arthur’s Seat Sunset Hike
An evening ascent timed so you reach the top as the sun drops behind the castle and the Old Town skyline. The guide picks quieter paths and, importantly, gets you down again safely in fading light. A perfect five-star rating from more than eighty guests.
- Timed for golden hour over the city
- Led by a qualified guide on quieter paths
- Safe descent as the light fades
Guided hike from €56 Edinburgh: Arthur’s Seat Hike with Mountain Guide
A two-hour climb with a qualified mountain guide who takes the less-trodden lines up the hill and treats it as what it is — a small piece of the Highlands inside the city. Departure times vary through the year, including early starts for sunrise; check the listing.
- Qualified mountain guide
- Quieter trails away from the crowds
- Early or daytime departures, depending on date
