Should You Hike in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh offers two main hiking experiences: the easy, volcanic Arthur’s Seat right in the city centre and full-day trips into the Highlands. Arthur’s Seat gives you a steep but short climb (about 1–2 hours round-trip) with surprisingly good views over the city, the Firth of Forth, and the Pentland Hills. Highland day tours involve long drives, a couple of shorter walks, and stops at lochs or glens. Expect changeable weather, muddy paths after rain, and crowds on Arthur’s Seat in summer. The city hike feels more like a brisk park walk with a summit; the Highland trips deliver bigger scenery but a lot of time sitting in a minibus.

The best time is May to September when days are long and the hills are driest. April and October can be fine but expect wind and rain. In winter it gets dark early, paths can ice over, and many Highland operators cut back. Expect to pay around £45–£65 for a guided Arthur’s Seat walk and £85–£130 for a full-day Highlands minibus tour with one or two short walks included. Entry to Holyrood Park is free if you go alone.

Pick a small-group guided walk up Arthur’s Seat if it’s your first visit; the local guide’s context makes the hour far more interesting than slogging up alone. Skip the cheapest large-coach Highland tours unless you just want to see the landscape from a window – they rush the stops and the “walks” are often only 20 minutes. Bring proper footwear and a waterproof layer no matter what you choose.