An Extinct Volcano and A Glacial Rock Formation
Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags are twin rock formations to the north-east of Edinburgh City Centre, in the grounds of the Royal Holyrood Park. There are numerous walks over and around these geographical features, of varying degrees of length and difficulty, each one however offering magnificent views across the city and beyond.
Contents
What you will find on this site
Several Hundred Million Years Ago...
A volcano erupted
Arthur's Seat is the largest of what is actually a group of hills, forming a large part of The Royal Park, and stands at a little over 800 feet tall. The name is said by some to refer in some fashion to King Arthur - of Camelot fame - but perhaps more realistically, is thought by others to have derived from "Archer's Hill," in reference to the fact that it would have made an excellent point for strategic defence of the city. Arthur's Seat is actually the remains of a volcano which became extinct some 350 million years ago, shaped over millenia by glacial erosion.
There is substantial evidence of human habitation around Arthur's Seat believed to date back at least 1,500 years. Some of the hill forts constructed can still be clearly discerned. There is also a big mystery surrounding the hill in that, in the year 1836, in a small cave near the summit, 17 small coffins were found containing carved wooden figurines. The origins or significance of this discovery has never been established. Then Much, Much Later...
A glacier came along
Salisbury Crags are a series of cliffs, reaching up to 150 feet in height. They collectively form what geologists would call a crag and tail, a common feature of glacial erosion. It occurs when a glacier passes over a piece of rock which is much harder than that immediately surrounding it and it is quite literally carved out of the landscape. The crags were formed approximately 340 million years ago, around about the same time as Arthur's Seat, give or take ten million years!
Climbing the cliffs is now regulated by the Park Authorities but a licence can be obtained free from charge from the education centre. There is a track, however, which runs along the base of the cliffs, though still some way up from the ground (see photographs) called the Radical Road and provides free access to all. It is so named because it was built by unemployed radical weavers at the suggestion of Sir Walter Scott. Be warned, however, that in parts it is no place for anyone who suffers from vertigo... Keep the Cold at Bay!
Holyrood Park can be a chilly place to visit
Don't let a sudden chill spoil your enjoyment as you walk through this beautiful park. Make sure that you have something warm to put on in the event of an abrupt change in the weather conditions - it is Scotland, after all! Click here to visit the superb online store where you can purchase this fabulous, Lion Rampant sweatshirt for the incredible, bargain price of just $31.19 (£16.00) today, as well as a whole host of Scottish branded garments and souvenirs. Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat
An in depth guide
A Guide to Holyrood Park & Arthur's Seat
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A Look at Edinburgh in General
Click on any of the photos below to enlarge the image
The Scott Monument
The Balmoral Hotel and Calton Hill
St Giles' Cathedral
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh City Chambers
Edinburgh Castle
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