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The Scottish capital of Edinburgh is widely known as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Smaller and less industrial than Glasgow, its neighbour to the west, Edinburgh attracts tourists in their thousands every year. Popular sights include the dark streets of the medieval Old Town, the handsome Georgian architecture of the New Town and the many cultural offerings on show during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which is held every August. However, Edinburgh is also well-known for its hilly topography and its attractive city-centre peaks. If you're on holiday in Edinburgh, here's a quick guide to which hills offer the best views of the city.
Edinburgh's most famous peak is undoubtedly Castle Rock, at the top of which sits the majestic Edinburgh Castle. One of the city's most popular attractions, entrance fees into the Castle are pricey and queues can be long. However, you only need to walk up to its spacious esplanade at the top of the Royal Mile to really get an appreciation of how beautiful this city is. On one side, the Castle looks over the New Town and the view offers a good appreciation of the careful planning that went into designing this grand area of the city. The view from the other side of the esplanade is less scenic but certainly offers a romantic aspect of Edinburgh's Grassmarket and the busy Lothian Road area.
On the east side of Princes Street, Edinburgh's main shopping area, you'll find Calton Hill which rises spectacularly over the top of Leith Walk. This busy thoroughfare connects Edinburgh city centre to the historic port of Leith, which has seen rapid redevelopment in recent years. Indeed, the gentle climb up Calton Hill (just over 100m tall), offers one of the most awe-striking panoramic views of a city that you're likely to see. Artfully placed benches let climbers sit down and survey a complete vista of Edinburgh's dramatic city scape. The dark, Gothic attractions of the Old Town and the Castle lie on one side, with Leith and the Firth of Forth on the other. One a clear day, it's also possible to see the iconic Forth Road Bridge in the distance or sneak a glimpse of Fife across the water.
Perhaps the most popular hill for climbing in Edinburgh is Arthur's Seat, which is especially favoured by students, residents in the south of the city and people on Edinburgh city breaks. Sitting in the middle of the picturesque Holyrood Park, Arthur's Seat is over 250 metres tall. There are a few different paths to the top of this hill which range in difficulty, so there's a route to suit all climbers. Since it's much higher than Calton Hill, it's harder to see the detail of Edinburgh's architectural styles at the summit of Arthur's Seat. However, it offers a much more complete view of the city centre and its surrounding regions, as well as a vast sweep of the Forth. It's also a favourable vantage point for the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood, whose innovative design caused much controversy on its opening in 2004.
These peaks are far from the only ones in Edinburgh. Other excellent views of the city can be found at the top of Blackford Hill (which is also home to the Royal Observatory) and the Braid Hills in the south-west, while the Pentland Hills are just a short bus ride away.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.
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Edinburgh city breaks, edinburgh hills, Arthurs Seat, Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle, best Edinburgh views,
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