Visiting Calton Hill Edinbugh - the things on and from the Hill to spot
Calton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is no ordinary hill. It has national monuments and, as you must have seen in a zillion photos of the place, it is where you should head for a fabulous view of the city’s skyline. Don’t forget to take binoculars!
On Calton Hill is-
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| The National Monument is on the left; the Nelson Monument is on the right |
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| The Nelson Monument |
The Dugald Stewart Monument, in memory of Dugald Stewart, the Scottish philosopher and Professor at the University of Edinburgh.
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| The Dugald Stewart Monument |
The blue-domed astronomical observatory, known as the City Observatory.
A Portuguese cannon.
A commemorative cairn.
A Historical Peek
Yes, history can be boring! Nevertheless, you may be keen to get an interesting peek into the archives of history about Calton Hill…
As
per the information given on a large signboard, this hill popped up due to
volcanic activity and over multiple Ice Ages, multiple hills were created.
While festivals and tournaments were hosted here in the 1400s, about two
hundred years later it was also the grim site of public executions.
It was in 1724 that the Town Council bought the property
and thus was born the largest public park in Britain. Thanks to the foresight
of David Hume, a well-known philosopher, pathways were put in for walking.
Appropriately, there is a 'Hume Walk' at Calton Hill. Another person to be
thankful to is the painter and photographer David Octavius Hill and his partner
Robert Adamson, for capturing photos of Calton Hill in their era. Located at the
foot of Calton Hill is David’s home, called Rock House, which also was home to
the Hill & Adamson studio.
From the top of the Hill
What you can see at the top of Calton Hill towards the horizon are-
Edinburgh Castle, to which you can get access with a ticket.
The Old Town section where the Castle is located. In this section is also the popular Royal Mile street packed with shops, pubs, and, of course, tourists!
The famous clock tower of the Balmoral Hotel.
Arthur’s Seat, which is an extinct volcano that is visile in the southern direction from Calton Hill, that is, between the National Monument of Scotland and the Nelson Monument. From here, too, is visible the Salisbury crags. Both, Arthur’s Seat, and the Salisbury crags, are part of Holyrood Park.
The port district of Leith and the Firth of Forth (the
estuary of the River Forth).
(You can look for more wonderful sights to spot from other online sources.)
So here is a final photo from the top of Calton Hill to add to the zillion on the Net-
Useful information for visitors
Specific location: The east end of Princess Street in the
centre of Edinburgh city.
The nearest station: The Edinburgh Waverly Station.
Going up: There are various paths or use the staircase. No vehicles; only
walking.
The ground: Grassy, so it could be a bit mushy if it rains.
Clothing: We visited in July when it was windy, cold
weather so it is advisable to wear thick, warm and waterproof jackets and footwear if you are visiting during this season. In summer, it is advisable to wear a hat.
Timings: Any time, it is open round the clock, including
at night, but do check if any fest is ongoing before you visit, in which case
it may be closed.
An informative resource: Learn about the Edinbrugh heritage sites and watch the informative video on the home page.
Nearby- If you are interested, you can go and see the Burns Monument at the foot of Calton Hill on Regent Street, set up in honour of the well-known poet Robert Burns.
Before you go…
Here's a map of Calton Hill that was on the signboard-
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| Calton Hill Map |
On the prominent signboard there are the following fun
instructions-
Use your eyes, look around
Up in the air, and down on the ground. Can you find…?
A dolphin hiding somewhere on Calton Hill. Hint: look for
a cannon.
Part of Robert Bruce’s Castle on Calton Hill. Hint: look
for a cairn.
In fact, this signboard is what you should read in detail as it tells you precisely what you should not miss!
And if you have time, don't miss visiting Dundee for its smile-a-minute streetscape and superb design museum. You can reach Dundee within just over an hour by train from Edinburgh (Waverly) station.
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