What to do · Edinburgh
Calton Hill, the monument-topped viewpoint over the New Town
Information
- Price
- Free · the Nelson Monument is paid separately
- Duration
- 1 h
- Season
- All year; at sunset, the light falls on the Old Town
- Who it's for
- All ages; the Waterloo Place steps are short
- With a dog
- On a lead in the park; inside the buildings only assistance dogs
What you see from the top
Calton Hill is a 103-metre hill at the end of Princes Street, on the edge of the New Town. It takes ten minutes to climb and from the top you get the view that appears in every photo of Edinburgh: the Old Town stepping up to the castle, the spire of the Scott Monument, Arthur's Seat on the other side of the valley, and to the north Leith and the Firth of Forth. It's a public park, free and always open, within the city's World Heritage Site.
For the classic photo, stand by the Dugald Stewart monument, the round temple on the south slope: you have it in the foreground with the castle behind.
The monuments on the hill
- The National Monument. Twelve roofless columns. It was meant to be a copy of the Parthenon honouring the Scots who died in the Napoleonic Wars; construction began in 1826 and stopped halfway in 1829, when the money ran out. That's why it was called "Edinburgh's disgrace". You can climb onto the base and sit among the columns.
- The Nelson Monument. A tower shaped like an upturned telescope, built between 1807 and 1815 for the victory at Trafalgar. At the top it has an 1853 time ball that drops every day at one o'clock, at the same time as the gun at the castle. It opens daily from 10:00 to 15:30 and there's a charge to climb the tower; check the price on the Culture Edinburgh website.
- The City Observatory. The old observatory is now Collective, a contemporary art centre with free entry, open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. It has a coffee kiosk and, next door, a restaurant with a terrace.
- The Old Calton Burial Ground, at the foot of the hill on Waterloo Place, with the Political Martyrs' Monument.
How to get up
The shortest climb is the Waterloo Place steps, five minutes from Waverley station and the St Andrew Square tram stop. You can also go up via Royal Terrace, from the north. There's no car access except for people with disabilities; taxis can drop you at the top via the service road. Pushchairs manage fine on the tarmac path.
Tips
- Go up for sunset With the sun going down behind the castle, the Old Town stands out in silhouette. In winter it happens before four.
- And first thing If you're short of time in the afternoon, early morning has good light on Arthur's Seat and hardly anyone at the top.
- Wrap up It's a bare hill: the wind blows harder than below and there's no shelter outside the observatory.
- The night of 30 April The Beltane festival takes place, with fire and drums, and thousands of people go up. If you're looking for calm, that night isn't it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go up Calton Hill?
Nothing. It's a public park that's always open. You only pay to climb the Nelson Monument tower.
How long does it take?
Ten minutes' climb from Princes Street up the Waterloo Place steps. Allow an hour at a relaxed pace to walk around the hill.
Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat?
Calton Hill is shorter and easier, and has the castle in the photo. Arthur's Seat is a proper walk with wider views. If you're short on time, Calton Hill.
Can you go with a pushchair?
Yes. There are steps at Waterloo Place, but the access road, the same one taxis use, reaches the top without stairs.
As a familyWith teenagersWith a dogWith friends
