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As a child I spent many a summer holiday with my grandparents in Edinburgh. One of the delights was going to Princes St Gardens to feed the pigeons. They were so tame they pecked the lentils straight out of my hand - which I loved but the thought of which fills my younger daughter with dread. Not sure what went wrong with her upbringing.
Another delight from those days was seeing Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat from just about anywhere in the city. A favourite walk was up Blackford Hill where my grandfather would tell me about the crouching lion and the legend of King Arthur sitting up there. To me it was a magical thing to have a mini mountain smack in the middle of a city and I guess a love of high places lay dormant all those years until I finally started climbing them.
This iconic Edinburgh landmark was produced by volcanic activity which erosion and glaciation reduced to its current size.
Arthur's Seat from Blackford Hill
The first set of photos were taken on 3rd September 2012 during a walk part of the way up Arthur's Seat but on that occasion not to the summit.
Parked near Scottish Parliament on Queen's Drive
Dynamic Earth, Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace
Old Royal High School and Calton Hill
Old Town and Edinburgh Castle
We took the path that traverses the slopes below Salisbury Crags. This path became known as the Radical Road after it was paved in the aftermath of the Radical War of 1820, using the labour of unemployed weavers from the west of Scotland at the suggestion of Walter Scott as a form of work relief.
Being a sunny day at Festival time the path was heaving with overseas tourists - as well as dog walkers, family groups and mums pushing prams. The path rises them falls to the gap between the crags and Arthur's Seat.
Radical Road descending almost to Queen's Drive
At the foot of Arthur's Seat
Eroded zigzag path up steep west side (not recommended by WH)
My better half reminded me that today's walk was meant to be on the level so we turned away from the path up and followed the path that heads back to the car park on the hidden side of the crags. I'd been up Arthur's Seat before so didn't mind too much and made a mental note to return.
Jack having a wallow in pool in area known as Hunter's Bog
Two years later and we're back in Auld Reekie for the birth of our eleventh grandchild - a beautiful little girl who arrived with a bang on Fireworks Night.
We'd been spending time doing stuff with her 2 year old brother but on this occasion we were out with just the dogs so I suggested a return to Holyrood Park. This time we took the less steep approach from Queen's Drive on the east side of the hill.
Hazy view south to Pentlands from Queen's Drive
There's a parking area (which we didn't use) near Dunsapie Loch and several grassy paths start uphill opposite the loch.
Dunsapie Loch
Summit from gentler east side
This was easy walking uphill but a lady coming downhill towards us had an unscheduled sit down when her feet went from under her.
Sunshine on Leith
There's a level area before the final steep push where visitors from the Far East were tucking into noodles for lunch so I put the dogs on lead incase it occurred to them to offer to join in.
The path up the steep section is like a stone staircase in places and there's a metal chain hand rail which will be useful when it's icy. Nearer the top there are several paths to choose from and we ended up on a slightly scrambly one on the west side so didn't go down that way.
View west from near top
Rocky summit
It was busy and we had to wait our turn to get up to the trig point (as you do on Ben Nevis). The rock is worn smooth with many years of many feet (my uncle carved his initials in the rock as a young lad about 80 years ago but I didn't find them!) and when it's wet care is needed. Jack has 65 Munros and a clutch of Corbetts under his belt and knows exactly what we're doing. He's slowed down a lot this year and has arthritis but was very chuffed to have climbed this hill and sat down at the trig point for me to take his photo. So I couldn't disappoint the old boy!
Jack sitting on Arthur's Seat
Surveying his kingdom towards Musselburgh and Firth of Forth
Path down towards steep section
Zoomed to level spot where Pete got chatting to a lovely couple from Singapore who asked him to take their photo
Grassy slope down to Loch Dunsapie with an ancient fort on the crag above
Swans, mallards and gulls on the loch
It didn't take long but was a fabulous way to celebrate the birth of our newest grandchild.