Guide To Walking Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh

Walking Arthur’s Seat is a must-do if visiting Edinburgh. Located in the beautiful Holyrood Park, this 650-acre royal park is not only the home to the tallest hill, but also to lochs, glens, and ancient ruins.

This fantastic extinct volcano is said to be the mythical location of King Arthur’s Camelot. If you are not a history or fantasy buff, then you can still appreciate the sheer beauty of the park and the panoramic views.

This walking guide will provide you with the necessary details to complete this epic walk in one of the more scenic areas in Edinburgh.

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Arthur’s Seat Trail Information

• Distance: 4km (if you explore further)
• Elevation Gain: 260m
• Trail type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
• Washroom Facilities: There are no public washrooms at Holyrood Park but some can be found at the Holyrood Park Education Centre. Alternatively, there are various pubs and restaurants around the area. Dunsapie Loch has port-a-potties at the car park.

Guided or Independent Walking

Arthur’s Seat is an easy hike that can be done both independently or with a guided tour. I walked this with my husband, as it wasn’t overly difficult to navigate.

Those wanting to explore and learn about the fascinating history of the site, may benefit from a guided tour.

Check out some Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat guided tours here

Best Time to Walk Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat can be walked year-round. That being said, snow can accumulate at the peak and may make for a slightly more difficult descent during the winter season.

For best hiking temperatures and clearer skies, aim for June-August. While this time may be busier, you will more likely encounter pleasant daytime temperatures and less rain. As with any season in Scotland, always bring layers and a raincoat.

I walked this trail in June and found it a little chilly and windy at the top. I managed to avoid the rains, but temperatures still felt cool, and I required multiple layers.

Parking near Arthur’s Seat

There are four car parks located around Holyrood Park: Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch, Duddingston Loch, and Dunsapie Loch.

Broad Pavement is located on Queen’s Drive and directly across from the northwest entrance of Holyrood Park. This is a paid parking lot and designated for the Palace and visitors to the park. This car park has a fee of £1 per hour between Monday to Friday. Parking is free however on weekends, Christmas, New Years, and Easter.

St Margaret’s Loch is located on the north end of the park, a short distance down Queen’s Drive and is free to visitors. Duddingston Loch car park, on the southeast side of the park, is also free.

Dunsapie Loch is another option free for parking, however it’s only opened on Tuesdays to Thursdays, from 09:30-15:00. This car park is a short distance north of Duddingston Loch.

As I was staying nearby, I chose to walk to Holyrood Park along Queen’s Drive. I accessed the park between the parking lots of Broad Pavement and St Margaret’s Loch.

Parkopedia is an excellent source for finding parking in Edinburgh. It which provides prices, availability, and directions of various parking areas around the city, including Holyrood Park.

Arthur’s Seat Walking Route

Across from the car park on Queen’s Drive, head towards Holyrood and proceed along the red asphalt walkway. There are many different routes you can take throughout to reach Arthur’s Seat and surrounding areas, each varying in difficulty. Some may be closed, so watch out for signage along the trail.

As you pass St Margaret’s Well, the trail begins to split. Stick to the path on the left, as this will provide views of St Margaret’s Loch and ancient ruins. This man-made loch was built in the mid-1800s.

St. Anthony’s Chapel Ruins

Further along this route, you will come across an optional detour on the left-hand side. I highly recommend taking this trail, as it will lead to the ancient ruins of St. Anthony’s Chapel. These ruins, believed to be from the 15th century, stand upon a rocky outcrop, providing views of the below lochs and city and coast.

Reconnecting with the path, the trail widens and takes a steep incline as the ascent to the main peak begins. After a gradual curve around the left side of the main peak, there is a large flat area where many people stop to take a breather.

This area provides a clear view far into the sea to the east which was previous blocked by the hill itself. The remainder of the hike to the peak is much steeper than anything up to this point. There are several winding paths between the rocks, and each should only take a few minutes to reach the top.

The views at the top of Arthur’s Seat are vast and beautiful. Your reward will be panoramic views of Edinburgh, Crow Hill and Firth of Forth.

Walking The Salisbury Crag

While it’s perfectly fine to descend the way you came, there are a few different directions you can choose to go from the peak. Heading south will take you to a large outcrop and provide you with a wonderful view of the city.

Looping around to the west will bring you to a steep descent with a tight set of stairs zigzagging through the trees. This path is very narrow but is generally used far less than the main approach from the north.

Reaching the bottom will bring you upon a crossroads leading in every direction, including a southwestern exit to the park if you so choose.

To return to the northwestern exit there are two primary paths which lead through an area called Salisbury Crags. The first path to the immediate right is a very slow and easy descent running along the bottom perimeter of the main hill. It provides a nice relaxing stroll to cap off the hike and reconnects with the main path shortly before St Anthony’s Chapel.

The second path further to the right is slightly more adventurous. This trail heads upwards along the Salisbury Crag cliff line, which provides some nice views of the neighborhoods to the west and the core of downtown in the distance.

The path itself isn’t as dramatic of an ascent as Arthur’s Seat but the sheer drop of the cliffs is still a long way down.

This path continues down gently down the hill and reconnects with the main route once again.

Places to Stay Near Arthur’s Seat

Edinburgh is a very walkable city, with attractions located close to one another. I’d recommend ditching the car if you can and explore by foot. I stayed at the Hanover 71 Suites during my stay in Edinburgh. The hotel was fantastic and was a short walk (30 minutes) to Arthur’s Seat.

Hanover 71 Suites: Beautifully decorated historic building in central Edinburgh. Free WiFi, onsite cafe and offers family rooms as well- CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

Below are some other hotels within a 2km walking distance from the Queen’s Drive entrance of Holyrood Park.

The Salisbury Hotel: 4 star hotel with classic Georgian decor. Close to bus stops and offers WiFi and room service-CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

The Brewers Room: Free WiFI and kitchenette. There is a coffee shop onsite and it’s less than 1km to Holyrood Park-CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

Further Exploring in Scotland

Scotland is an incredible country to explore and experience, with a wide range of hiking opportunities.

If you have extra time and want something more adventurous, try the West Highland Way This 3 day journey starts in Bridge of Orchy and ends in Fort William.