Edinburgh from Calton Hill
As Edinburgh grew, the city’s elders wanted to create a cultural area for walking and this park was the result. It’s a great place to come for some time out from the busy Princes Street shopping area below and you’ll get some panoramic views of Edinburgh from the top. The monuments here add to the experience and they’ve become a much loved part of the Edinburgh skyline. Most visible is the unfinished “National Monument”, based on the Parthenon in Athens. Access to Calton Hill is a short walk from the end of Princes Street where it becomes Waterloo Place and then Regent Road. This is an extract from our free Edinburgh Ciry Guide.
The Parthenon-style monument at Calton Hill
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EDINBURGH’S CALTON HILL
Some of the other buildings and monuments on Calton Hill are an observatory within its own walled area including Observatory House, the Nelson monument which you can climb to the top of and the Dugald Stewart Monument (pictured above). There is a common theme with both Nelson’s monument and the National Monument – the money to construct them ran out. The National Monument was never finished, but when the funds dried up for Nelson’s Monument in 1808, the structure was alomost complete anyway. The tower is supposed to represent a telescope. One of the most impressive things about Calton Hill is simply the view you get of Edinburgh. Take a seat on the bench by the Observatory House and get a terrific view of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens, walk to the northern side and see the Firth of Forth and Ocean Terminal (where the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored) and from the southern side get a brilliant view of Holyrood House, Holyrood Abbey and the Scottish Parliament.
EDINBURGH CALTON HILL LINKS
Hotels near Calton Hill – Great rates from Hotels.com
Undiscovered Scotland
Wikipedia
More hotels in Edinburgh – Up to 30% off from Expedia.co.uk
Books on Calton Hill - Amazon.co.uk
