Holyrood Park Reviews Summary

Accessibility and Parking

Pros:

• "Free limited parking."
• "There are various small car parks all the way round and ample parking."
• "Plenty of free parking was available from the bottom of the climb and sufficient parking further up."
• "Free parking beside Holyrood Palace at the weekend."
• "The place is lovely, plenty of local parking and not far from a public bus route to get there."
• "Parking is also available at the starting point below the hill."
• "Free parking too."

Cons:

• "They quite often close parts to cars meaning you can't get to the side of the park you want to."
• "Hard to find place for car. Parking is always full or closed."
• "We've driven through the park a few times recently and are disappointed and annoyed to see we still can't drive further up Arthur's Seat as there are barriers in place."
• "It was lovely to be able to drive up to Dunaspie Loch but I must admit, it is increasingly disappointing that access to this 'road' is restricted to mid week day hours."

Views and Nature

Pros:

• "Just beautiful and worth going place overall."
• "Perfect birds eye views of the landscape of Edinburgh and surrounds, Leith, the coast and the distant hills."
• "The views at every level are magnificent and there are always people going up and down the hills, so you're never alone!"
• "Great views from the summit with views of the Stirlingshire hills and the Highlands beyond."
• "The views from the top (and even from part way up) were fantastic and let you see the whole town and out to the sea."
• "Amazing views over Edinburgh, sea, country side and East Lothian."
• "The views are tremendous."

Cons:

• "There was a day of major fog and the rocks were a bit slippery- I didn't make it to the top that day."
• "Not the best place to visit when it's rainy."
• "Be aware that it can be slippery during winter, wear good shoes and layer up to protect yourself against the icy wind!"
• "The path under Salisbury Crags currently closed due to danger of falling rocks."
• "Northern side of Arthur's seat very icy during winter months, accident waiting to happen because of no warning signs."

Wildlife and Environment

Pros:

• "It's steep cliffs and flower meadow valleys are sanctuary for nationally important wildlife."
• "The loch has plenty of wildlife and the biggest group of swans I have every seen."
• "You can catch sight of ducks and swan in the water body inside the park."
• "The ponds around the lower slopes are teeming with birds."
• "You can see seagulls, ducks and swans easily. Sometimes fox or beaver if you are lucky."
• "Great views and rich wildlife."
• "Rolling grassy hills full of pheasants for those who don't want to walk up to the cliffs."

Cons:

• "Keep them out of the water, the dreaded green algie is back."
• "Dog-poo bags, litter left at the summit - glass bottles and coffee cups... Shame that too many litterlouts spoil the place for the rest of us."
• "Unfortunately there are too many irresponsible dog owners letting dogs run lose even though there are signs everywhere asking them not to as the park is nature reserve for ground nesting birds."

Facilities and Amenities

Pros:

• "Great place for an afternoon out and ice-cream Van's if you fancy a wee treat."
• "No refreshments in the park as such but lots around the various bits on the edge of the park."
• "Nice, clean facilities."
• "Clean public toilets towards the back of the palace."
• "Bathrooms near the education centre. 4 different car parks."
• "Very cool to see a water dispenser there too."

Cons:

• "Not much in terms of catering, just a few ice cream vans so be sure to bring a picnic."
• "No toilets that we saw but the town is near by if you really need to go."
• "Take your own provisions there isn't any on offer, but also do take your own rubbish away with you (not too many bins up there!)"
• "The only thing that lets it down is there are no public toilets open in the evening time."
• "I did not notice any restrooms while on the trails."

Safety and Accessibility

Pros:

• "Completely safe as there are no wild animals roaming around."
• "Different routes to the top give access to people of all abilities."
• "From main car park there is disabled access to lower walk."
• "There are so many different trails that, no matter your fitness level, you can always find one that suits you."
• "There are paths for all level of fitness, top section quite eroded and the summit rocks are very slippery even when dry."
• "All levels of accessibility & fitness can be enjoyed here at the park."

Cons:

• "Rockfalls are also a hazard."
• "The climb up to Arthurs Seat is not that easy walkable so take care that you use the correct footwear and leave strollers at home."
• "It is very open so if you have younger children it is a good idea to keep tight hold of them as it can get very windy up there."
• "Nothing is paved so good footwear is an absolute must."
• "There are some hard areas to navigate so be prepared with appropriate footwear."
• "Be careful which trail you take back down and try stick to main trail as it can be more confusing coming back down."
• "Children should be carefully attended to as there are drop offs and strong wind gusts on the hilltops."

Experience and Enjoyment

Pros:

• "Holyrood Park is such a beautiful area to explore, and what a treat it is to have it on the door step of the city centre!"
• "Always a lovely place to walk the dog."
• "A lovely green space in Edinburgh with lots of walking tracks and the opportunity to climb closeby Arthurs Seat. Lots of dog walking locals and tourists from all over the world."
• "Nice 5 km circular walk around main roads which are helpfully closed to traffic on Sunday making the walk very pleasant."
• "Such an underrated place! Right in the heart of the city, you can easily escape into the wilderness."
• "A piece of typical Scottish hill just a few steps from the city centre. Great for a walk, a run, some orienteering."
• "A very pleasant experience to walk through and experience the quiet nature in the centre of Edinburgh."

Cons:

• "The big downside is the price to see the Palace, £21.50 each, come on Lizzie do you not have enough cash, we kept our money and it helped pay for dinner."
• "It's very windy, but worth the trek."
• "Please note it is very very windy up there and cold all seasons."
• "It's a bit crowded, mostly at the top, but the view from Arthur's Seat is astounding."
• "The strong wind and the amount of people at the top, and the screaming children among them, didn't totally ruin the great views for us."
• "If you are terrified of heights I would advise not to visit, very windy at the top."
• "Just don't try and climb up here when the weather is too hot."