On a shelf of rock above St Margaret’s Loch, in the north of the park, stand the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel: one tall gable, part of a side wall and the stump of a storehouse or hermitage. It is the only building on Arthur’s Seat, and it has stood empty since the Reformation.
Very little is known for certain. The chapel was probably built in the early 1400s or before — a papal grant for its repair is recorded in 1426 — and may have been linked to Kelso Abbey, or to the Preceptory of St Anthony at Leith, whose monks cared for sufferers of “St Anthony’s fire”. One old story says a light burned in its tower to guide ships on the Forth.
Below it, St Margaret’s Loch looks ancient but is not: it was dug in 1856 as part of Prince Albert’s improvements to the park. Today it is home to mute swans, greylag geese and a great many ducks, and it is the most popular spot in the park for families.
Top things to do at St Anthony’s Chapel & St Margaret’s Loch
Climb to the ruins
A clear path zigzags up from the lochside to the chapel in under ten minutes. Walk through the surviving doorway, look up at the springing of the vaulted roof, and then turn round: the view over the loch to Leith and the Forth is the reward.
Find St Anthony’s Well
On the path below the chapel a carved stone basin beneath a boulder marks St Anthony’s Well, once a place of pilgrimage and May Day ritual. The spring is usually dry now, but the stone is easy to spot.
Walk round the loch
A flat, surfaced path follows the shore — suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Please do not feed the swans bread; it harms them and fouls the water.
Carry on to the summit
From the chapel a path continues up the grassy valley of the Dry Dam to the top of Arthur’s Seat. It is the classic ascent from Holyrood, steady rather than steep until the final rocky pull. Allow 35–45 minutes from the ruins.
How to get to St Anthony’s Chapel & St Margaret’s Loch
- On foot from Holyrood Palace: follow Queen’s Drive east (left, with the palace behind you) for about ten minutes to St Margaret’s Loch.
- By car: there is a small car park beside the loch. Park roads are closed to vehicles at certain times — see getting here.
- By bus: services along London Road and through Meadowbank stop within ten minutes’ walk of the loch; check the Lothian Buses app for current routes.
Insider tips
- This is the best short outing in the park if you do not want to climb the whole hill: half an hour is enough.
- Sunrise and sunset light on the ruin is superb, and the chapel is a favourite with photographers.
- The ground around the chapel is steep and uneven, with a sharp drop on the north side. Keep hold of small children.
Best tours & tickets for St Anthony’s Chapel & St Margaret’s Loch
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to St Anthony’s Chapel & St Margaret’s Loch:
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 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
