Arthurs Seat - in glorious sun

[GillC]

We were off on a 'glamping' weekend to Kirkhill Mansion,,nr Gorebridge/Midlothian.

Being the only 2 travelling on public transport, we wanted to make the most of our trip and also some time we had on our own before meeting up with our fellow glampers. Since we were switching buses in Edinburgh,,Arthurs Seat was a convenient trip to make. Originally, our intention was to pack our weekend stuff, sleeping bags etc in our packs and just take them up the hill, but on the day, sun/warmth and sheer weight of the packs meant we ended up just using the left luggage compartment in the bus station. Well worth a couple of £ each.

At what was the end of a freakishly hot week, the temperature had dropped slightly but still dry with whispy clouds and bright blue skies.

We took our time walking through the city, down the Royal Mile to Holyrood, avoided the ice-cream van and headed straight up the path round Salisbury Crags.

Margaret on the lower path under Salisbury Crags, oh what a lovely day!

Lots of people heading up and down, families, students, tourists, us! Amazing rock formations at the crags,,reminded me of the much larger formations on Skye. Arthurs Seat is classed as a Marylin, under 2000 and is no great struggle but has lots of steep rocky areas if you prefer more of a challenge.

Honest,,we dont plan the matching outfits!!

There are lots of interweaving paths, rocky, grassy, steep and more relaxed so this is a great wee hill that most people could get up one way or another.

View over to the Castle

We reached the top and were surrounded by AMAZING views over the Pentlands, Edinburgh, over to Fife, out to the Bass Rock and the conical shape of Berwick Law .

View to Berwick Law, Bass Rocks out there somewhere too

We could see over the flat lands of East Lothian and down to the border. There were dozens of people there,,some sitting simply enjoying the weather, some clambering for photos on the top trigpoint.

M flying high,,with some random tourist lol

Just making sure im RIGHT on top

There is a smaller cairn with one of those 'oh so handy' guides and directions to landmarks on the horizon.

Cairntop guide - looking over to the Forth Bridges

We identified Bens Ledi & Lomond,,looking much closer than I would have thought they actually were, but just shows that when things seem remote, theyre not so far away in this great wee green country.

St Anthonys Chapel on the lower hill,,and Fife , over the Forth

On our way down, we took a well worn path, down towards what I think is St Margarets Loch.

Overlooking St Margarets Loch

We also passed beside the ruins of St Anthonys Chapel and St Margarets Well, an ancient source of clean water in the area.

Thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon, weather just capped it all. If you're in the capital,,take a few hours out, if you can get views like we got,,all the better.

Afternoon sun on the wee Loch and Arthurs Seat on the right

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[Vick1]

Hoping to drag my kids up there next week

[LaurenAlexandra]

Oh, is THAT what that wee hill way over to the east is? Berwick Law? I've always thought it looks like a zit, rising inexplicably from the otherwise flat landscape of East Lothian.

[GillC]

yeah, i thought it was a misplaced coal bing lol its on the guide plate on the wee cairn though, glad I looked it up.

[morag1]

A really special place, always great to see a report for the Seat