"A hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design"
- Robert Louis Stevenson (describing Arthur's Seat)
You know how movies show the END at the beginning? That is exactly what this picture is all about. Here I am, at the very peak of Arthur's Seat, holding onto the stone pillar that marks the top.
I am so excited and thrilled and very proud of Debbie for persevering and climbing to the very top.
It took us about an hour and fifteen minutes to ascend. But we might have taken one of the more difficult routes that are more vertical.....accidentally.
Ooops.
The story begins.......
We waiting patiently for a dry day with maybe a wee bit of sun. I think everyone did as well.
Holyrood Park was so busy with families, dog walkers, runners, and two Canucks who want to climb Arthur's Seat.
"Follow the wide paved path on the left" says Rick Steves the travel guy....so we did.
There are many different paths as you can see in my photo below? We asked two young Scottish men who pointed us in the right direction.
Off we go.....
The ruins of St. Anthony's Chapel. It is nearer to the bottom of Arthur's Seat, on its own little perch on the edge of a hill. Believed to have been built between the 15th and 16th century.
This path with the rock steps leads to the Salisbury Crags which we hope to get back to. We enjoyed the hike so much that we are planning on heading out there again.
That speck at the top is a hiker. Looks a bit steep?
Below is actually where we thought we would be climbing today. The Salisbury Crags are a group of 151 feet high cliffs that surround Arthur's Seat which rises in the middle of the Holyrood Park. From where we were looking, (and the photos I have been posting) they hide Arthur's Seat from vision.
We are climbing much higher than we thought we were?
Yikes!
And up we continue. Below me is the valley and we are following a well marked path that intersects the hill back and forth. The sun was shining brightly and it was beautiful.
Happy runners, coming through the tall grass, leaping from rock to rock, making their way down Arthur's Seat.
Debbie making her way. Taking breaks made the difference between being successful or not.
Slow and steady wins the race.....
And when that fails, I start humming the "Chariots of Fire" music to encourage us on.
Puppy fix galore. A family with three dogs, two are 7 years old and one was 17 years old. They were in their glory and they seemed to know the way.
A lovely family, so friendly and polite.
Doesn't this fellow look like Benji?
The city of Edinburgh so far in the distance now. This is a halfway point for us. A nice pitstop chatting to new friends of Debbie's.
That little white spot is one of the dogs from the pictures previously. He is looking over the valley we just came from and he is running to.
Arthur's Seat is the biggest peak of a group of 'hills' that are located in Holyrood Park which neighbours onto the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace.
It towers 822 feet high.
It was formed by an extinct volcano.
Just like Frodo and Sam, we can see it, but it seems farther than it looks.
Come on Debbie....a little farther. You can do it.
Again....the specks on top are climbers and hikers.
This is the last path up and we will be there. Very rough, loose rocks, erosion, and it is quite steep at the very last part.
I start humming the "Rocky" theme song now.
Oh my gosh!!!
WE MADE IT!!!!!!
The massive rewards were the panoramic views from the top.
Although this is a zoomed in photo of the Edinburgh Castle. The tall black pointy tower on the right side of it, is the Scott Monument.
The green cliff you see at the bottom of the picture is a great shot of the Salisbury Crags with little speck that are hikers and climbers again.
Note to self: do not climb the Salisbury Crags if there are strong gusts of wind! I don't want to go over the side.
On May Day, traditionally, young girls climb the slopes of the hill to bathe their faces in the dew....the belief is that it will make them more beautiful.
"On May-day, in a fairy ring,
We've seen them round St. Anthony's Spring,
Frae grass the cauler dew draps wring
To weet their een,
And water clear as crystal spring
To synd them clean."
- Robert Fergusson 1773, and excerpt from the poem 'Auld Reekie' written about the May Day tradition.
Arthur's Seat, is also known as a possible location of the mythical Camelot, the legendary castle, the court and King Arthur himself.
To be honest, I wasn't sure if we would both be on the very top together. Deb worked really hard to get up here and she actually seemed to get her second wind for the push to the top.
She is out of control.
First Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat....next
Africa's Kilimanjaro??
Zoomed in shot of Holyrood Palace and the Abbey. It can be seen on the right in the middle of the photo.
Green, green and more green here.
Does he look like he is on the edge?
Edinburgh city with the sea behind.
Loved the way the birds were flying within the gusts of wind up at the top.
I actually held on to the cement pillar when I first arrived at the top, because the wind was extremely intimidating to me.
A Canadian took this picture of us. Sean, Nicky and baby Ruby, were visiting from Vancouver. Nicky lived here for three years and everyone is having a wee visit.
A RAINBOW!!
It happened a few times during our ascent and then while we were basking at the top....a beauty.
Deb found a wee spot to jump out at climbers.....no not really.
I AM QUEEN OF THE WOOOORRRRLLLLDDDD!!!
Time to head down. Following the other hikers we took a leisurely stroll over the rocks, mud and slippery grass until we made it to the more civilized path.
Love it.
The other side of Arthur's Seat and another valley below. This is the easier path to follow....we didn't walk far enough at the beginning. But we certainly do not regret the route we took. It was incredible.
And down.....and down.....
and down......and down......
These bushes are located everywhere along our journey in Holyrood Park. Very serious thorns on those. I could actually feel them through my jeans a few times.
Shorts?? I don't think so.
That's right....Deb is pointing back to the peak of Arthur's Seat....
We did that!!!
Along the top of this mountain ridge are what's called 'Samson's Ribs.' A rock formation called columnar basalt.
When the sun shone on it, I was reminded of the Grand Canyon formations we saw a few years ago.
Burrs....pretty to photo, but don't touch.
We have yet to discover the Roman ruins at the top of Calton Hill.
On the night of the Torch Procession, everyone headed there, and the fireworks began.
As well on New Years Eve, fireworks came from Calton Hill and Edinburgh Castle simultaneously.
Debbie needs a lift back to level ground.
And down......and down....
I can see the path. We are almost back to the entrance of Holyrood Park.
Yipppppeeeee!!!
We made it back and you might never get the smiles off our faces!!
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