Holyrood Park

At the base of Arthur’s Seat and surrounding it in all directions is Holyrood Park, a wide expanse of grassy space disrupted only by the occasional jogger, path, or other physical fitness junkie. It seems that families make up a large proportion of those who enjoy spending time in Holyrood Park.

Nearby, Holyrood Palace offers creature comforts like a cafe and toilets, while the park’s peaks of the Salisbury Craigs and Arthur’s Seat allow unique views back on down to the city – views that cannot be experienced anywhere else in Edinburgh, and which are unparalleled in both their beauty and their call for human achievement.

Nightly view over Holyrood Park with illuminated Edinburgh skyline.

[image credit: will likes tea and biscuits]

There are few such strenuously reached peaks in Edinburgh, and Arthur’s Seat is one of the most easily accessible peaks around Edinburgh, although at under 3,000 feet, it gains the distinction of being a Marilyn rather than a Munro.

Physical Fitness Is Key

Whether climbing Arthur’s Seat or making the rounds of Holyrood’s borders, a visit to Holyrood Park is a great way to expend copious physical energy and improve one’s wellness. The park stretches from the center of Edinburgh to some of its near suburbs, and is a beautiful setting for a group outing or a private journey through athletic silence.

At its far south end, Holyrood Park shows its visitors lakes full of Scottish wildlife in avian form, small hamlets which are rare destinations for those not from the area, and grand Scottish landscapes which stretch out for miles.

One of Her Majesty's swans in a regal pose with St Anthony's Chapel in the background.

[image credit: piglicker]

Busy Birds on the hunt for a few breadcrumbs in St. Margaret's Loch, Holyrood Park

[image credit: hockadilly]

Holyrood Park is one of the few areas in Edinburgh which can rival some of the nature reserves in other places in the country. In the North its easy accessibility from the city centre, which is continued along bus routes that trace its outer limits, make this a place where almost anyone can go to enjoy the natural wonder and beauty of Edinburgh without leaving the center of town.