I remember when I was little, I hated going on “scenic walks”, because I hate walking, and I also hate going to “just see the nature.” Unlike my parents, I did not see what was pretty about it. Fast forward a decade, I’m going on walks by myself to those so called scenic hidden gems in Edinburgh. (But also University gym membership is quite expensive, so this is my form of exercise.)
Arthur’s Seat
The very first place I went to during welcome week in September was Arthur’s Seat. Arthur’s seat is the highest point of an extinct volcano. No one actually knows how this hill got its name. Some believe that the name is derived from legends pertaining to King Arthur, but others think that the name was a twist of the Gaelic term Àrd-na-Said (“Height of Arrows”). Also, Arthur’s Seat is seen in many films over the years, including One Day (2011).
Calton HIll
Calton Hill is where you must go if you want to see a panoramic view of Edinburgh. As one of the main hills of Edinburgh, it houses many monuments and is also where the headquarters of the Scottish Government is. Edinburgh has always been known as “Athens of the North”, so to literally make that true, in 1826, work began on creating a replica of the Parthenon in Athens. However, funds ran out and there were no support to continue building the replica, the National Monument remains incomplete to this day.
Dean village
For centuries, this isolated village was known as “Water of Leith Village.” It is hidden area on the east end of Princes Street, which is the main shopping street full of tourists. Rows of Victorian housing are built along one of the most powerful rivers. The water mills provided power to mill grains for the growing population in Edinburgh.
Portobello Beach
You were probably wondering why there would be beaches in Edinburgh since it is such a windy city. Honestly, I don’t think this beach serves the same purpose as those in California.
Cramond Beach/Island
What is special about this island is that you can only reach it during low tides. Before leaving my dorm, I double and triple checked the low tide times. I was super nervous that I will be stuck on the island due to high tides, so I basically fast walked the 6 miles to the beach (very unnecessary). The walkway to the island is 1 mile long and quite slippery. The view was amazing and I think this is definitely one of the best scenic locations in Edinburgh.
Corstorphine HIll
When I first saw this on google maps, I was confused why it sounds like a pain-killer medication. Because of the name, I got super interested in checking out this hill. It was raining/snowing/icing whole afternoon yesterday, so when I went to the hill this morning, everything was muddy. Obviously about 5 minutes in, I slipped walking up the hill and had mud all over my pants. I was on the verge of going home, but decided that I should keep going. The “Rest and Be Thankful Viewpoint” had a little view, but cannot compare to many other scenic places I went. I made the best decision to keep going because I walked into a French bulldog meet-up. No wonder this is a “pain-killing” adventure!
