Calton Hill

About this place

Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, at the east end of Princes Street, about 1 km from the city centre in a straight line. It is part of Edinburgh's UNESCO World Heritage Site, and views of and from it appear in countless photographs and paintings of the city. The Scottish Government's headquarters stand on its steep southern slope, and the Scottish Parliament building and the Palace of Holyroodhouse lie near its foot. On top stand several monuments and buildings, including the circular colonnaded Dugald Stewart Monument to a Scottish philosopher, the City Observatory and the old Royal High School. The hill appears in city records as far back as 1456. From the summit opens one of Edinburgh's most famous views: Princes Street and the Old Town with its spires and castle, the volcanic hill of Arthur's Seat to the south, and the stone New Town. The Dugald Stewart Monument in the foreground frames the classic city photograph. Visitors climb the hill in minutes on short paths from the city centre. Entry is free. Sunset, when the city glows gold, and early morning before the crowds are the best times.