Holyrood Park

Holyrood Park is a royal park in central Edinburgh adjacent to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament, notable for its volcanic landforms and central location.

The park’s principal attractions include Arthur’s Seat, the highest hill in the park at 251 metres, and the Salisbury Crags escarpment. Walkers use a network of paths to reach viewpoints that provide wide panoramas over the city, the Firth of Forth and surrounding hills. The site also contains small water bodies and ruined historic structures that are visited on short circuits.

Geologically the landscape is dominated by ancient volcanic rock and cliffs that form the hill and crag features. The area has been shaped by natural processes over millions of years and by human use since the medieval period.

Holyrood Park sits immediately east of Edinburgh’s Old Town, directly beside the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace, within walking distance of the city centre and served by city buses and short ferry or walking connections from central piers.

• Arthur's Seat height: Summit height is 251 metres, making Arthur's Seat the highest point in the park and the most reliable viewpoint for city panoramas.
• Best viewing times: Access on foot from the Royal Mile and surrounding streets; clear days around sunrise and sunset provide the best visibility for long-distance views.

What to See #

• Arthur's Seat: The park's highest point, a volcanic hill whose summit reaches 251 metres, giving panoramic views across Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth.
• Salisbury Crags: A steep escarpment of volcanic rock that forms a prominent cliff line used by walkers and for geological interest.
• St Margaret's Loch: A small ornamental loch framed by parkland and walking paths, often visited on short circuits around the crags.