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TheArthur's Seat footpaths are a series of walking routes withinHolyrood Park inEdinburgh, providing access toArthur's Seat through trails of varying lengths and difficulty. They offer panoramic views of the city and allow visitors to explore the park throughout the year, although some sections include steep slopes and slippery rock where caution is required.[1] They are located within a rugged landscape formed by the ancient Arthur's Seat volcano. The park's cliffs, craggy peaks and grassy valleys reflect the long geological history of eruptions, magma intrusions and erosion that shaped this area at the heart of Scotland's capital.
The Arthur's Seat footpaths are significant for both recreation andtourism, offering year-round public access to the highest point in Edinburgh. They attract locals, students, and visitors from around the world who seek hiking opportunities, panoramic views over the city, and a natural escape from the urban environment. The trails also complement the cultural attractions of the area, including Holyrood Palace and theScottish Parliament, making the park a central part of Edinburgh's visitor experience.[2][3]
The morphology of the Arthur's Seat footpaths reflects the park's volcanic origins, with steep slopes and friable rock formed by ancient lava flows and magma intrusions. This geological history has created the rugged terrain, cliffs, and uneven surfaces that define the trails and contribute to both their scenic appeal and the need for careful navigation.[4]
Holyrood Park has several entrances, but the most common approaches on foot are:[1]
| Lenght | Duration | Difficulty | Ascent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 miles (4 km) | approx. 2 hours | moderate | 230 m |
The main summit route begins on Queen's Drive next to Holyrood Palace, at Broad Pavement, EH8 8AZ. Parking is available at £1 per hour (no weekend charge), and the route is accessible via public transport, with Lothian Buses service no. 35 running to Canongate Kirk, a short walk from the start (traveline.scot). Salisbury Crags are immediately visible from the start. From here, walkers take the trail to the left, which soon forks; the main path continues to the left as an earthen singletrack trail with a steady, gradual climb. The lower sections can be very muddy and wet.[5]
The path passes close to the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, perched on a rocky spur below Whinny Hill. This is the only building within Holyrood Park and is believed to have fallen into disrepair after the Reformation of 1560. Beyond the chapel, the trail becomes steeper and rockier, with some slippery sections when wet. A metal chain railing assists climbers as they approach the summit.
The Arthur's Seat summit, at 251 metres, is often exposed to strong winds. From the top, there are panoramic views over Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth to the north, and the Bass Rock to the east. The remains of two volcanic vents, the Lion's Head and the Lion's Haunch, are visible on the summit.
The descent retraces the steep section to a path intersection, continuing past Whinny Hill along a gently climbing grassy route west of the hill, offering views of the Firth of Forth and walking through gorse bushes. The path then veers right, descending towards St Margaret's Loch on the left, before returning to Queen's Drive and back to the starting point near Holyrood Palace.
Terrain: Earth and rock, grassy slopes, muddy lower sections
Views: Panoramic city and sea views, volcanic features
Hazards: Slippery rocks when wet, exposed summit often windy
| Lenght | Duration | Difficulty | Elevation gain | Route type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 km | 1-1.5 hour | moderate | 156 m | loop |
The Salisbury Crags circular trail is a loop trail starting nearHolyrood Palace that provides scenic views of Edinburgh's historic centre with less effort than the full ascent to Arthur's Seat. The route begins on a surfaced path before joining rougher trails leading toSalisbury Crags, winding along the cliff edge. Walkers then descend to The Hawse and return to the start via grassy paths below the cliffs.[6]
The terrain varies between paved sections, grassy paths, and rough, rocky ground. In wet conditions, the rougher sections can become muddy and slippery, and in icy weather, they may be slick. Appropriate footwear and warm layers are recommended, particularly in windy conditions.
The trailhead includes a pay-and-display car park, which can become very busy in good weather. The route offers panoramic views over the city, following the line of the cliffs and incorporating part of the Radical Road, before descending via the lower loop near St Margaret's Loch.
Terrain: Paved, grassy, and rocky sections
Views: Panoramic city and cliff-edge views
Hazards: Muddy or slippery ground in wet or icy conditions
| Lenght | Difficulty | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 km | Moderate-challenging | Closed |
The Radical Road is a historic and scenic path that winds along the cliffs of Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. The route offers panoramic views over the city, including the Scottish Parliament, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the surrounding landscape, and has been celebrated in literature and art for centuries. The path was originally constructed in the aftermath of theRadical War of 1820, when unemployed weavers from the west of Scotland were put to work paving the track, a plan suggested by Sir Walter Scott.
The path also holds geological significance: near Hutton's Section, the geologist James Hutton, considered the father of modern geology, made observations that contributed to his theory of the Earth's age and formation.[7][8][9]
The Radical Road has been closed since 2018 following a 50-tonne rockfall. Previous closures due to rockfalls have occurred throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, including a 100-tonne fall in 2011. Engineering assessments indicate that sections of the path, present a high risk of rockfall, with potential fatality in extreme cases.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), responsible for the park, has undertaken inspections, rock trajectory modelling, ecological surveys, and conservation work across the park, with plans to partially reopen sections of the Radical Road in early 2026, coinciding with the 300th anniversary of James Hutton's birth. Until reopening, access is only possible via pre-booked ranger-led tours.
Holyrood Park receives an estimated two million visits annually, placing significant pressure on maintenance and management resources.[citation needed]
Holyrood Park offers several marked walking routes, each distinguished by color to help visitors choose according to difficulty and interest:[1]
Holyrood Park faces growing pressure from unprecedented visitor numbers, driven both by Edinburgh’s status as a major tourist hub and by the city’s recent rise in international accessibility. Although no precise counts exist, anecdotal estimates suggest that annual visits could reachseveral million, a figure visible in the heavy use of the main paths such as the Arthur’s Seat summit route and the trails along Salisbury Crags[10][11]The increasing footfall produces severesoil compaction: heavily trodden surfaces lose their natural drainage capacity, becoming saturated after rainfall and turning to mud. As walkers begin to avoid wet or churned-up sections, adjacent ground is pressed into service, widening the established footpaths and creating new informal desire lines[11][12]. This is especially evident on the steeper gradients of Arthur’s Seat, on the grassy slopes surrounding Whinny Hill, and along the base of Salisbury Crags, where the volcanic soils are particularly prone to erosion[10][13]. The cumulative effect is the gradual degradation of the terrain and the loss of the park’s characteristic wild aesthetic.
Climate change acts as an accelerating force on all existing pressures. Recent data shows a 21% increase in rainfall across Scotland, indicating a shift toward more frequent and more intense wet-weather events.[11] In Holyrood Park, where slopes are steep and rock types include friable volcanic deposits, these conditions have produced a “perfect storm” of erosion risk.[10] Once the soil has been compacted by visitors, even moderate rainfall can generate surface run-off that strips away remaining topsoil. Over time, these processes expose bedrock, destabilise walking routes and increase the likelihood of slips on wet or icy days—issues already often noted along the summit approaches, at the Radical Road, and on grassy sections near St Margaret’s Loch.[12][13] The interaction between human impact and climate-driven saturation means that path degradation now occurs more quickly than maintenance works can be scheduled. This dynamic is particularly visible on informal shortcuts and unmaintained segments branching from the main coloured routes, where repeated footfall continues to push walkers into increasingly vulnerable areas.[10]
Despite its dramatic appearance, much of Holyrood Park’s archaeological landscape is subtle, poorly understood, and highly vulnerable.[11][12] Many features—such as ancient cultivation terraces, hillfort traces, earth and stone banks, and areas with potential buried deposits—are not readily recognised by casual visitors. This lack of public awareness heightens the risk of accidental damage, as walkers, runners and dog-walkers unknowingly cross sensitive zones, contributing to erosion that may remove archaeological layers entirely.[11][10] The challenge is compounded by the scale of the park and the limited staff resources available. While the Ranger Service provides guided walks, educational outreach and interpretive material, it is infeasible to have staff present throughout the park to communicate the significance of these features.[13] Management strategies therefore rely heavily on maintaining the core footpath network—such as the Red, Blue and Purple routes—and encouraging visitors to remain on these designated paths.[10] Specialist contractors carry out phased repairs using geologically matched materials, but the absence of a broader strategic plan means that issues away from the maintained routes continue to escalate.[11][13]
Looking forward, the park requires a holistic management plan that balances public access, environmental protection, and archaeological conservation. Climate pressures, budget constraints, and the sheer diversity of user groups make this a complex task. Nonetheless, recent initiatives—such as the new information hub, updated signage, and efforts to engage local stakeholders—indicate a growing recognition that stewardship must be shared between managers, residents, and visitors.[12][13] Campaigns promoting responsible use, together with better interpretation and awareness-raising, are viewed as essential steps to mitigate the ongoing erosion of Holyrood Park’s natural and cultural heritage.[11][10]