Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Scotland
Arthur's Seat is the world's most impressive urban hill — an ancient volcano rising 251 m from the centre of Edinburgh. On a clear day the view from the top is extraordinary. On a wet day, the paths are treacherous. RambleMetric tells you which kind of day it is.
About Arthur's Seat
RambleMetric is a real-time conditions app for Arthur's Seat — Edinburgh's extinct volcano and one of the world's finest urban hills. The 251 m summit provides 360° views of the city, the Forth Estuary, the Bass Rock and the Highland skyline. Check path conditions before ascending — the volcanic rock is treacherous when wet.
Arthur's Seat is a real hill within a city park. The volcanic rock paths become extremely slippery in wet conditions — particularly the steep descent routes. Edinburgh haar (sea fret) can arrive from the Forth within minutes, drastically reducing summit visibility. Children should be closely supervised near the Salisbury Crags and the east face drop.
Walking Routes
Check the live Visit Score before you set out — conditions here change fast.
From Holyrood car park to the 251 m summit via the main southern path. Edinburgh and Forth views from the top. Wet volcanic rock is very slippery — use footwear with grip.
Plan Your Visit
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Key Features
The 251 m summit of an ancient 350-million-year-old volcano — the most dramatic urban hill in Europe. The views from the top take in Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Bridges, Fife and the Highland skyline.
The 46 m basalt cliffs below Arthur's Seat were where James Hutton (1726–1797) discovered unconformities in the rock — the first evidence of 'deep time' and the foundation of modern geology.
The King's official Scottish residence at the foot of the Royal Mile — used for State visits and the Edinburgh Garden Party. Historic Royal Palaces — entry charge.
Live Data
All data is fetched from authoritative UK sources and recalculated every few minutes.
Safety Information
The main path from the Holyrood car park via the Guttit Haddie (Volunteer's Walk) is the easiest route. The Gutted Haddie direct route and the routes via Salisbury Crags are steeper — use footwear with grip. The summit can be windswept in any weather. The park is managed by Historic Environment Scotland — dogs allowed but must be under control near livestock grazing areas.
All data, scores and recommendations are for informational purposes only. The Visit Score is an algorithmic estimate — not a substitute for your own judgement, local signage or official guidance.
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