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Plan your trip to Arthur’s Seat Edinburgh, iconic landmark of Scotland Highland
Catalogue
- Reaching your destination
- Race to the top
- Places to stay
- Explore Edinburg
- Indulgence at its best
- A little fun on the way along
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Considered to be providing one of the best views of the Edinburgh landscape, sitting 251 m (823 ft) above the sea level, Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano and the main peak of the Edinburgh group of hills. One of the best places to go for a hike and to enjoy the most beautiful scenic views of the whole city, makes it a must-visit place in Scotland. A quick getaway from the humdrum of the city to sit and enjoy some quality time with yourself, Arthur’s Seat is what calls to the attention.
This place should definitely be on your list while visiting Edinburgh in Scotland as this extinct volcano which was last erupted about 350 million years ago, offers some of the best views of Edinburgh. It is said that nature can cure everything and what better way to establish that with the most beautiful picturesque setting on the peak of Arthur’s Seat. Situated within Holyrood Park at the very center of Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat can be accessed in many ways possible.
Reaching your destination is quite easy since it is mostly hiking up to the summit above. With many trails heading up named on different colors, your main destination would be to reach the Holyrood Park first and then make your way to Arthur’s Seat. Public transportations are always available, and you can get access to them anytime you wish to since the park is open throughout the day, and there are no admission charges. An easy walk from the city center to the bottom of the Royal Mile should help you get there in no time which is situated just outside Holyrood Palace. You can always access buses with the numbers 35 and 36 which pass by or stop at the Parliament. However, if you take the Lothian buses, the numbers 2, 14, 30, 33 and 48 should take you up from where you can trek to Arthur’s seat. It takes around thirty to sixty minutes to reach the top of Arthur’s seat depending on the route that you are taking, but you must give yourself around an hour or two to have the full experience of the trek. The round trip may take around two hours. However, if you are wondering at what time of the year to visit Arthur’s seat, you can do it anytime you wish to.
With varied options on reaching to the top of the hill, you can choose a trail that suits your convenience. The easy ones may provide you with scenic beauty but may not be a picturesque one, whereas the difficult trails provide the most beautiful sceneries for you to take in. You will find maps all over the internet on how to reach the peak of Arthur’s seat. However, for the best view, you need to start near Holyrood Park where you can reach via car or bus. Once you reach Salisbury Crags, you will face two trailheads. Follow the route to the left, most commonly known as the Green route to climb up to the peak. This trail will lead you to another fork in the trail where you need to head left on this one as well. This will take you up to Arthur’s seat. However, if you wish to take the trail on the right commonly known as the Pink trail, it is also a very easy walk through the park to reach the summit. The climb up is steady and moderate. There are no steep rises in these trails and are very convenient for kids as well. Since the road is paved with dirt, it is advisable to wear sturdy shoes while you are climbing. If you are up for an adventure, take the Red route which is a much steeper climb to the peaks of Arthur’s Seat with the most breathtaking views of Scotland that one can ask for.
Well, once you reach the top, you will realize that your journey was not in vain. The beauty from up above is phenomenal and is bound to take your breath away. With an all-around view of 360°, you are bound to fall in love with the beauty that nature presents in itself. It is always windy on the top of Arthur’s Seat which may come in the way of you filming or taking photographs. It is always advised to go prepared and dress according to the weather. You may not need a map to reach the peak as the trails are pretty easy for everyone to follow. However, if you want the best experience of Arthur’s seat, the best time to visit is during the sunrise and the sunset. The beauty that will greet you is bound to make you stand shell shock as you take in the full glory of Mother Nature at its best. Even though the trail is accessible always, it is advised not to trek during the rainy season as many mishaps might take place and you will be able to enjoy the scenic beauty
If you are wondering at what time of the year to visit Arthur’s Seat, you can do it anytime you wish to. It gives the same breathtaking view every time you visit the place. But it is always advised not to go up hiking up the trail during a downpour as mishaps might happen during the slippery weather. Thus, if you want to visit the place and go up on a hike taking the more dangerous and beautiful trails, do so when it is dry and is less likely for you to slip and have an accident.
Since you have to go up the trail and have your trek through Holyrood Park, you can always pack a picnic and carry it up along with you. There may be family members who are not comfortable with the hike. You can always leave your belongings at the park with them and go climb up Arthur’s seat. Holyrood Park is a beautiful place, and you should always have a look around since Arthur’s seat is situated in the middle of it. Make sure that you always carry a bottle of water with you if you are going up for a hike as it takes quite a lot of walking to reach the top. However, you can always carry a picnic basket up the top if you wish so, but it is advised not to. You get a full view of Holyrood Park from the top, and it is magnificent. Your trek can always leave you hungry, and a small bite in the park with the beauty all around will only add to your collection of favorites.
There are plenty of hotels that are there in Edinburg. You can take apartments which can be helpful to you if you are going in a group. You can check the classical Apartment on the Royal Mile. The location is itself very beautiful, and you can have your morning tea sitting beside the window, enjoying the beauty of nature. If you want to stay in hotels, then there are a lot of options. You can check in the Residence Inn by Marriot which is located in the heart of the city. This hotel has all the amenities that can satisfy you. You can choose luxurious hotels as well as hotels which are budget-friendly. You can check the Cherry Tree villa guest house which can be quite pocket-friendly and the services are also very good. If you want to stay near the sight scene locations, then you need to spend a bit more money than the other hotels and apartments. It is advisable to stay in hotels which are not too far from the locations. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for you to travel to the locations through ground transport and on top of that it will be a little bit of tiring and time consuming too.
Even though Arthur’s seat itself is an adventure, there are other places surrounding it that might catch your attention. One of them is Dr. Neil’s Garden which is a mere 0.9km away from Arthur’s seat. With a varied range of animals and birds that you can spot, it is not exaggerating to say that this place is not less than a treat to the eyes and a balm of calm over your senses. You can buy plants, donate, and sometimes coffee or tea and cakes are served by volunteers to raise funds. If you are one of those who love throwing things, then this is a place you will fall in love with. Head to the Black Axe Throwing Co., and you will never want to return from there. If Game of Thrones is up to your forte, then this is the place for you. With very friendly instructors who will guide you through the whole process. You can learn and know the basics of ax throwing. Holyrood Park is the main attraction after the peak, which is a mere 1.2 km away from Arthur’s seat. You can also visit the Palace of Holyrood House and also Holyrood Abbey if you are religious. You can even visit the Surgeons’ Hall Museum and also Calton Hill, which are very close to Arthur’s seat. It is not always about visiting the place; it is also about knowing it and feeling the essence the place has to offer. You can visit for the scenic beauty or the history or maybe food, where ever you go, you can continue enjoying it is what matters the most.
Food is the only thing that can satisfy a person to his core. However, it is very common that you will be hungry after a two-hour trek to Arthur’s seat and that you need to appease your growling stomach. Which is why there are some really nice places which serve up mouth-watering Scottish delicacies which you will never forget. Head out to Rhubarb, Apiary, Blonde restaurant, etc. and provide your taste buds the feast that they desire. Pickering’s Gin distillery is a mere 1.3 km away from Arthur’s seat. It is 150 years old, and you can find the best-handcrafted gin here. You can even book a tour and see how everything is made from scratch and also sample their three different kinds of gin. If you are more of a sweet tooth kind of person, then head out to the Fudge Kitchen which is 1.6 km away from your destination. If you are hunting for souvenirs to take back to, then you can always head out to Cranachan & Crowdie which is 1.5 km away from Arthur’s seat. There’s also Cadenhead’s for the same if you are looking. If you are feeling thirsty after all these charades, then head out to Clarinda’s Tea Room for some teat and melt in the mouth treats which you are never to forget. You can also book your way into a three hour Edinburgh Secret Food Tour where you will go through the streets of Edinburgh and taste the delicacies that Scotland is made up of. You will be going around with a small tour group, and you will have a guide to help you out along with tales of history. If you are staying in apartments, then you can cook food of your own choice and can enjoy your meal with your loved once. The supermarkets are located in every nook and corners that are packed with all the necessary items you can talk about. The hotels also serve a lot of delicious local cuisines. After coming back from the hectic tour, you can order some mouth-watering local delicacies and enjoy the beauty of night sky of Edinburg.
Arthur's seat provides you with the lavish beauty of nature which you will never get enough of. But there are things which you can enjoy after having a climb up to the summit and a nice picnic at Holyrood Park. What you wouldn't want to miss would be the Taste of Scotland- The Scottish Show, that takes place very near to Arthur's seat. You can get a glimpse of the history of Scotland and marvel at the live entertainment that the kids and artists provide for you. Held at the Dinner Theatres, you can have a meal that you will fall in love with while enjoying the show throughout. You will never be able to get enough of the entertainment these people will provide you and can also have a peek into the history of Scotland in a more fun and entertaining way. Well, this doesn't stop here. If you are someone who loves some comedy and entertainment over a drink, then head out to the Monkey Barrel Comedy where you will cry out of laughter.
There are a lot of places which are famous for adventure. However, Arthur’s seat is still the main attraction, and people who love adventure, trekking, and like to know about the history behind this extinct volcano, can come running to this place — paying homage to the picturesque beauty that Mother Nature has painted in Edinburg.
This place will welcome you with its wide arms and will give you a vacation full of heavenly views, exciting activities, adventure, fun, and memories, which you will cherish for years to come.
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