Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park. It is situated just to the east of the city centre, about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east of Edinburgh Castle. The hill rises to 250.5 m (822 ft) and provides excellent panoramic views of the city. It is an extinct volcano, which erupted around 350 million years ago. Its last major eruptions took place in the Carboniferous period. The volcano's dramatic landscape, including Salisbury Crags, was carved by glaciers flowing west to east during the ice ages, exposing the basaltic rocks and creating the distinctive landforms we see today. Arthur's Seat is relatively easy to climb, and is popular for hillwalking. There are several routes to the top, ranging from fairly gentle grassy slopes to more challenging rocky ascents. Once at the summit, hikers are rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views stretching across Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, and the surrounding countryside.