Arthur's Seat

Tip top of Edinburgh (Arthur's Seat summit)

After yesterday's excursions, I felt accomplished with my trip to Edinburgh. I had successfully crossed off everything I had planned. However I still had another day left in the city. Last night I was frustrated because I felt like if I didn't have any sort of agenda, I would be bored during my last full day here. I turned to "tourist-y" websites online and all of them seemed to agree that one's trip to Edinburgh would not be complete without a hike up to Arthur's seat. So I thought, "Meh, sure. Ok, I guess I'll give into these other tourists who think they're travel experts." I decided if I had just one plan, I'd be good. So I became set on climbing Arthur's seat the next morning.

After my breakfast, I set off back to Holyroodhouse which lies next to Holyrood Park (and Arthur's seat). And then...I started walking. Soon everything that surrounded me was hill, and Edinburgh lay below. Yesterday at Calton Hill I was able to get a pretty good view of the city and I felt pretty satisfied with the many aerial type views I've had in the last few days. I was mainly hesitant to climb Arthur's Seat because I thought it was just going to be another view of the same thing. But I was happily surprised to be wrong.

There's a reason this is talked about on "tourist-y" websites: it's amazing. It's such a beautiful, pleasant, and natural place, but yet, in the busy city. I think I also enjoyed myself so much because I've missed the "green" and nature that lacks from living amongst the busy city streets.

The farther I traveled up, the more cold it got (duh) and the ground became more and more covered with ice/snow. I got kinda nervous because my tennis shoes did not have the sort of traction that hiking boots do (and being prone to falling didn't help). But I kept climbing, stopping to take lots of pictures. I'll finish this post with pictures of the journey. Besides describing the cold and the fact that I was wearing two pairs of wool socks, I think the journey is best shown by the pictures I took:

After just beginning the walk

Um, yes this was taken using self timer...

What lay behind me

What lay in front of me

I've reached more snow! (Almost there)

Gorgeous! Just as I was approaching the summit.

After hiking back down and walking around the rest of the park.

Looking at where I was earlier