Arthur's Seat may be the UK's most beautiful walk but it can also be dangerous – Helen Martin

Arthur’s Seat is the most wonderful and dominant summit in Edinburgh.
Arthur's Seat has been ranked as the most beautiful walk in the UK (Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)Arthur's Seat has been ranked as the most beautiful walk in the UK (Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Arthur's Seat has been ranked as the most beautiful walk in the UK (Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

It’s admired by tourists and by thousands of residents in and around the city who can view it from their gardens and windows. Those who reach the top can take up 360-degree views of Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Now, according to Tripadvisor reviews, it’s been rated as the most beautiful walk in the whole UK. While it’s number one, with its highest peak at 822 feet, even Ben Nevis is down at number 17.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the outdoor specialists Millets added, it has several routes to walk suitable for every level of walker, from the grassy slope from the east to the steep climbing path at the end of Salisbury Crags.

Read More
Tripadvisor names Arthur's Seat the most beautiful walk in the UK

But what most of us in the city know is that it can be a dangerous place too. This year there were two injuries when people used the slopes for sledging in February. In May a man walking over a rocky, single-track path injured his leg and even a helicopter couldn’t pick him up because of the dense fog surrounding the Seat – at 10pm. And in June, another man was found injured at the bottom of Arthur’s Seat.

There have been several injuries over the last few years but in July 2018, a 12-year-old schoolboy plunged to his death. Others have died over the years.

For careful walkers and climbers, it’s great. But it’s certainly not the best place for a boozy gathering, or naïve grandparents and grand-kids who drift from the grassy slope.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.