Ruth McAllister

Ruth McAllister

Watch the Sunrise from Arthur's Seat

05/08/16

When strolling the city streets of Edinburgh you'd never quite appreciate that you're actually by the sea. The curving streets of Old Town as they hug the contours of the castle hill obscure the fact until you reach the wide avenues of the new town looking down to Leith and out to the sea. Get yourself to the top of Arthur's Seat and it all becomes perfectly clear. Track the shoreline to the disused power station and beyond, especially if you're running the marathon - you might just be able to see the 20-mile turnaround point before it heads back to the finish at Musselborough. Pick out the hive-like modern architecture of the Scottish Parliament building, the University, Blackdown Hills, the beach at Portobello, the columns atop Carlton and if you're lucky you might hear a full brass band practising their repertoire from the parklands below. It's an easy climb. The rocks at the top are smooth from treading. Find a niche away from the wind and enjoy. There's very few cities in the UK that offer such an obtainable, outdoors, majestic view.

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