For some of the best views of the city, Carlton Hill is a superb vantage point if you want to find your bearings and see Edinburgh from a different perspective. Reaching 171 metres above sea level, it takes just a few minutes to reach the summit of the hill. Head up the steps on Calton Hill's south side for a more relaxed climb.
Then when you reach the top, pause for a while and just enjoy the view. To the south you'll see the Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat, while if you gaze westwards, you'll see all the way from the Royal Mile to the castle. To the north meanwhile you'll see all the way to the Fife coast and the Forth Estuary.
To see even more, stop off at the public viewing gallery at Nelson's Monument. This 30-metre high telescope-like tower is the tallest structure you'll see on the hill and is dedicated to Horatio Nelson and his naval victory at Trafalgar. It is complemented by a large time ball which drops from the mast at the top of the monument to coincide with the firing of the One O'Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle. Ships once used this to set their chronometers.
Here you can also explore the National Monument, a replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Building work began back in 1826 but it was never completed as the project simply ran out of funds. It was originally intended to be a monument to the Scottish troops who died fighting Napoleon.
You’ll also see the Burns Monument here dedicated to famous Scots poet Robert Burns and the Art Deco St. Andrew's House on the south side of the hill, where the Scottish government is currently based.
Reaching Carlton Hill is easy from the centre of town. It takes about five minutes on foot from the east side of Princes Street. If you're driving, you can pay to park by the south and east entrances to the hill.
