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Arthur's Seat from North approach to the Crag's
  Arthur's Seat from northern approach to the Crag's
© 1998-04 Firstcity Publications
HOLYROOD PARK

Six hundred and fifty acres of probably the most natural city centre park in all of Europe.

The park contains two of Edinburgh's most impressive natural features, Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crag's. Arthur's Seat stands an impressive (and very walkable) 823 feet above sea level and provides an inspiring view of the City, as do the equally stunning but smaller Crag's.

Arthur's Seat is the remnants of a volcano that erupted between 350 to 400 million years ago, but current residents and visitors have no need to worry since they've been extinct for a few million years now.

View of Edinburgh Castle from Crag's highest point
View from the Crag's highest point
© 1998-04 Firstcity Publications
One of the best ways to experience the space is to walk from the north part of the park which provides a gentle climb from behind the Salisbury Crag's rockface.

On a good day it gives the feeling of being out in the remote highlands with Arthur's seat to the left and the gently rising crag's to your right giving an Erie shelter from the noise of the City. It's only when you look over your shoulder that you see Leith and north Edinburgh stretching down to the Firth of Forth. Depending on the weather you get an impressive view of the wandering coastline.

Once you've reached the face of the Crag's you can turn right and rise gently to their highest point, or walk back down the Radical Road at the bottom of the face, both paths affording an impressive view of the Edinburgh City scape and Arthur's Seat. You'll see all of Edinburgh's differing architecture and contours in all their splendour.

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Information © 1998-04 Firstcity Publications. Design © 2000 Douglas Mutch.