Dunsapie Loch sits in a hollow about 110 metres up on the east side of Arthur’s Seat, where Queen’s Drive reaches its highest point. Like St Margaret’s Loch it is artificial, made in 1844, but it has long since settled into the landscape, and its geese and ducks behave as though it has always been here.
Above the loch rises Dunsapie Crag, crowned by the faint ramparts of a prehistoric hill fort. It is one of four forts in Holyrood Park, probably occupied around 2,000 years ago; others lie on Arthur’s Seat itself and above Samson’s Ribs. On the slopes facing the loch, long horizontal ridges show where the hillside was once terraced and ploughed.
For most visitors, though, Dunsapie matters for one reason: it is the start of the easiest route to the summit, a broad grass slope with barely 140 metres of climbing.
Top things to do at Dunsapie Loch & the Hill Forts
Take the gentle route to the summit
From the car park a wide grassy path heads straight up the eastern slope. It is steady and obvious, with a short rocky scramble only in the last couple of minutes. Fit walkers reach the top in 15 minutes; families should allow 25–30.
Look for the cultivation terraces
With the low sun of morning or evening, the east flank of Arthur’s Seat shows a ladder of parallel banks. These are cultivation terraces, thought to be medieval or older — the clearest ancient farming remains in the city.
Climb Dunsapie Crag
A five-minute scramble from the lochside takes you to the top of the crag and the outline of its fort, with a wide view east along the coast to North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock.
Walk down to Duddingston
From the road just south of the loch, the long flight of steps called Jacob’s Ladder drops to Duddingston village and the Sheep Heid Inn — an excellent way to end a walk over the hill.
How to get to Dunsapie Loch & the Hill Forts
- On foot: about 25–30 minutes from Holyrood Palace, following Queen’s Drive past St Margaret’s Loch and uphill; or 15 minutes up Jacob’s Ladder from Duddingston.
- By car: there is a small free car park at the loch, reached by the one-way upper loop of Queen’s Drive (the “High Road”). This road is closed to vehicles at certain times, traditionally including Sundays — check current arrangements with Historic Environment Scotland before relying on it.
- By taxi: when the High Road is open, a taxi from the Old Town to Dunsapie takes about ten minutes and saves most of the climb.
Insider tips
- The car park is small and fills early on fine weekends. Have a plan B.
- This is the best route for young children, and for anyone who wants the view with the least effort.
- It is still a hill: the last section is rocky, and the wind on the east side can be fierce.
Best tours & tickets for Dunsapie Loch & the Hill Forts
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Dunsapie Loch & the Hill Forts:
Guided hike from €24 Edinburgh: Hill & Nature Hike with a Local
A relaxed four-hour walk with a local who knows the city’s wilder corners: more time, more nature and more conversation than the two-hour summit tours. The exact route varies — read the listing to see which hills are included on your date.
- A longer, slower half-day on Edinburgh’s hills
- Wildlife, plants and local knowledge
- Very good value
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
