What difficulty is Arthur's Seat?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Arthur's Seat comes in at 1/5 — easy. Underfoot: Volcanic basalt outcrops, short urban parkland grass and paved or eroded paths.

What is Arthur's Seat's prominence?

174m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Arthur's Seat to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

Where do I park for Arthur's Seat?

Most walkers start from NT 26900 73600. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.

When is the best time to climb Arthur's Seat?

most of the year give the most reliable conditions on Arthur's Seat. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Arthur's Seat dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary Innes

Photo: Iain Lees / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Borders

Arthur's Seat

The ancient volcano rising 251m above central Edinburgh, sitting inside Holyrood Park within walking distance of the Royal Mile. Carboniferous basalt forms the rugged summit crown and the dramatic Salisbury Crags below.

Quick facts

Height: 251m/ 823ft
Prominence: 174 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NT 27534 72942
Parking: NT 26900 73600
Nearest city: Edinburgh· 2km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

volcanic basalt 55% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 15%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Several paths climb from the Holyrood Palace car park and Dunsapie Loch — the eastern route from Dunsapie is the gentlest, the western scramble past Salisbury Crags the most scenic. The summit cairn can be reached in 30-60 minutes from any entry point.

Terrain

Volcanic basalt outcrops, short urban parkland grass and paved or eroded paths. Busy with walkers, runners and tourists in all seasons.

In winter

Snow rarely lingers thanks to the urban setting, but the rocky summit and Salisbury Crags can be slippery in frost. Microspikes useful after ice events.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 49m
Edinburgh0h 4m

Parking: NT 26900 73600

OS maps: OS Landranger 66, OS Explorer 350

Mobile signal: Excellent. Edinburgh city centre; all networks.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

17h 51mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 05:13
Sunset: 21:26
Civil dawn: 04:24
Civil dusk: 22:15

NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026

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Around Arthur's Seat on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Glenkinchie

Pencaitland — Edinburgh's neighbour; light, grassy Lowlander

15km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Arthur's Seat — common questions

What difficulty is Arthur's Seat?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Arthur's Seat comes in at 1/5 — easy. Underfoot: Volcanic basalt outcrops, short urban parkland grass and paved or eroded paths.
What is Arthur's Seat's prominence?: 174m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Arthur's Seat to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
Where do I park for Arthur's Seat?: Most walkers start from NT 26900 73600. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
When is the best time to climb Arthur's Seat?: most of the year give the most reliable conditions on Arthur's Seat. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Arthur's Seat dog-friendly?: Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
Is there mobile signal on Arthur's Seat?: Excellent. Edinburgh city centre; all networks.
Is Arthur's Seat safe in winter?: Snow rarely lingers thanks to the urban setting, but the rocky summit and Salisbury Crags can be slippery in frost. Microspikes useful after ice events.

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