Calton Hill

Calton Hill is a small volcanic hill about 100 metres high at the eastern end of Edinburgh's New Town, a short walk from Waverley station and Princes Street. Its summit is dotted with monuments that earned Edinburgh the nickname Athens of the North. The unfinished National Monument, begun in 1826 as a memorial to Scottish soldiers killed in the Napoleonic Wars, resembles part of the Parthenon, its columns standing against the sky. Nearby are the Dugald Stewart Monument, a circular Greek-style temple, the Nelson Monument, a tower commemorating Admiral Nelson with a time ball that drops at 13:00, and the City Observatory. Visitors who climb the Nelson Monument, which may have a small charge, gain further height. From the paths, the views take in the Old Town skyline with Edinburgh Castle, the spire of the Scott Monument, Arthur's Seat and the Firth of Forth. A visit takes one to one and a half hours including photos. The hill is a public park, open at all times, with gravel and grass paths and a short climb from Regent Road or the stepped route from Calton Road. It is busiest at sunset, particularly on clear summer evenings, and during events such as Beltane in spring and Hogmanay. Mornings are quiet and give clear views over the city. Because the hill is exposed, a windproof layer is advisable, and care is needed on the steps and uneven ground in the dark.