Holyrood Park Gate

Rising before you is a miniature highland landscape in the middle of a capital city: Holyrood Park, crowned by Arthur's Seat, 251 metres above sea level. Like Castle Rock, it's the remains of a volcano extinct for hundreds of millions of years, sculpted by Ice Age glaciers into its distinctive lion-like profile. Along its western flank run the dramatic Salisbury Crags — clearly visible from where you're standing — where pioneering geologist James Hutton studied the rock formations in the 18th century and helped prove the Earth was vastly older than anyone imagined, effectively founding modern geology on that very hillside. Now, a word of honesty: the climb to the summit is a proper hill walk, not a stroll — 40 to 60 minutes each way on steep, uneven and sometimes slippery paths, so you'll want sturdy shoes, water and a spare hour or two. If your legs are up for it, a special reward awaits at the top — this guide will meet you there. If not, no matter: enjoy the view of the crags from right here, and simply carry on with the tour towards the Grassmarket. Edinburgh looks after walkers of every pace. Either way, a word about the walk ahead. Our next stop, the Grassmarket, is around two kilometres from this gate — twenty-five to thirty minutes on foot, and gently uphill most of the way. We'll take the low road: Holyrood Road, straight on into the Cowgate, which runs beneath the Old Town you walked earlier today. There's a stop along the way, about eighteen minutes from here, so you won't be walking in silence. Set off whenever you're ready.