Arthur's Seat

probably the most iconic landscape of Edinburgh

Jan 21, 2026

I’ve lived in Edinburgh for many years now, having first come to the city as a student. In my first year as a student, back in the 1980s, I lived in Pollock Halls, the student accomodation that lies close to Arthur’s Seat, probably the most iconic landscape in Edinburgh.

Arthur’s Seat on a misty day in June 2016

All these years later, I still regularly walk round Arthur’s Seat and the surrounding area of Holyrood Park, including the magnificent Salisbury Crags.

Arthur’s Seat looks over Duddingston Loch, where, up until a few years ago, quite a lot of Grey Herons used to nest in the trees (how many nests can you see in the photo below, taken in April 2016?) Not so many these days, I’ve no idea why numbers seem to have decreased so rapidly.

Grey Herons in their nests on an island in Duddingston Loch, Edinburgh

There are two small lochs on Arthur’s Seat, the lower one, St Margaret’s Loch, is often occupied by numerous Mute Swans

Mute Swans on St Margaret’s Loch, Edinburgh, 2021

Further up the hill is Dunsapie Loch

The whole area is well-known for its wildlife, including Ravens that make their homes on inaccessible rocky outcrops. Ravens are large members of the crow family, recognisable by their diamond shaped tails when in flight.

Raven flying above Arthur’s Seat, May 2025

The whole area of Holyrood Park is full of wildlife and well worth walking around. It seems like a very natural place (apart from the road running through it!) but that is far from the reality. The Edinburgh Inquirer recently posted an excellent post about the impact of humans on Arthur’s Seat

The Edinburgh Inquirer

A very human hill: how we shaped Arthur’s Seat and its surroundings over six millenia

“If I were to choose a spot from which the rising or setting sun could be seen to the greatest possible advantage, it would be that wild path winding around the foot of the high belt of semi-circular rock, called Salisbury Crags…

2 months ago · 11 likes · Sarah McArthur

Take Part

If you’re in the UK, sign up for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, happening this weekend! If you don’t have a garden, you can count birds in your local park or other greenspace! Find out more here.

We live in a top floor flat and don’t have a garden. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t see birds! On New Year’s Day, we saw a Sparrowhawk and a flock of Waxwings from our living room window.