Before I went to Scotland, I had tried to find out if hiking Arthur’s Seat would be safe to do as solo female traveler. All of the photos I could find online made it look like it was so isolated. Well, silly me. Not only is the city of Edinburgh safe, but hiking Arthur’s Seat is also safe for a solo female traveler! I mean, really, why did I worry so much?
How to Get There
First, Arthur’s Seat is really easy to find. Not only can it be seen from almost everywhere in Edinburgh, but it’s not far away from the city either. If you walk to the bottom of the Royal Mile (to Holyrood Palace), the beginning of the hike is only a short 2-5 minute walk away.
For my 2 days in Edinburgh, I hadn’t planned to hike Arthur’s Seat initially (I know, crazy right?!). But, while I was walking down the Royal Mile and reached Holyrood Palace, there it was! So how could I deny fate?
Suggested Reading: If you plan to spend more than 2 days in Edinburgh, here is an itinerary for what to do for 3 days!
What to Expect hiking Arthur’s Seat
The path is well-marked, but it does get quite rocky closer to the top so watch your footing! There’s a main path that loops around, but also a lot of little trails off to the side that people took as short cuts.
It will take about an hour to reach the top. And it’s alllll up-hill so prepare to sweat!
The path is busy too. Don’t worry about being alone and vulnerable, because the chance that no one else in Edinburgh decided to hike up Arthur’s Seat is slim to none. So many people were hiking alone too!
The views are stunning the entire way up. On a clear day you get 360 degree views of Edinburgh. There’s rolling grassy hills everywhere, so take your time exploring the top once you get there.
Tips
- Bring snacks and water. Even though I hadn’t planned to hike Arthur’s Seat, I was already prepared since I had been walking around Edinburgh earlier that day. I had a donut, a banana and a bottle of water just by accident so luckily I was able to have a snack at the top.
- Wear sunscreen. There is little shade, so I was happy to have some on hand!
- Take your time. Take your time climbing up AND when you get to the top. At the top, and you manage to find a place to sit among everyone else who hiked that day, have a seat and just enjoy the view! It’s amazing.
And there you have it! My experience hiking Arthur’s Seat as a solo female traveler, and why it’s such a fun – and safe! – activity to do while visiting Edinburgh, Scotland. Have you hiked Arthur’s Seat before, or are planning to? Let me know in the comments below!
Good information.
This makes me feel a lot better about my trip this August. Going solo & this is as in my list but was a little apprehensive. Thank you!!
Hi, great information. May I know how about hiking it before dawn and waiting for the sunrise at the top? Is it safe to do so for a solo female traveler? Thank you.