the viewing deck: Edinburgh City Tour 3rd part; on the Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Edinburgh City Tour 3rd part; on the Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat

5 Days Winter Solo Travel in Scotland (United Kingdom)
December 05 to 09, 2014

Edinburgh City Tour 2nd part; short hike to Capital View Walk

How to go to Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat;
From Prince Street (bus station on left side of Edinburgh train station exit), Calton Hill is just 10min walking distance going to the right side, just along the Prince Street. Arthur's Seat is just infront of the Calton Hill with 10mins distance walk also, inside Holyrood Park. Free admission, photography and video taking is both permitted inside the park.

Gouged by glaciers during ice age, Calton Hill has a long and fascinating history. Today, Calton Hill is part of the Old and New Towns od Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Take the easy climb to the top and you will be rewarded with spectacular views over the city and the Forth. Explore the many monuments built to commemorate some of Scotland's leading figures, climb the 143 steps to the top of the Nelson monument, or follow the network of paths which still lead round the hill.

Calton Hill together with Arthur's Seat and the Castle rock was formed by volcanic activity about 340 million years ago. Around 2.5 million years ago the first of many Ice Ages began in Scotland, and Edinburgh was buried under a massive ice sheet, hundreds of thick. Throughout each Ice Age when the glaciers were at heaviest.

Edinburgh owes its existence to a volcanic past. Arthur's Seat is the remains of a 350 million year old volcano. Hiking the Arthur's Seat with highest elevation of 251masl on a hike for 2 hrs. From the Holyrood Palace car park, take the red paved path which climbs gently away from the road (not the steep path to Salisbury Crags). Take the left fork and head towards the St Anthony’s Chapel ruins.