Thursday, September 25


Today we did some walking. First to the top of Calton Hill.  The view from the top of Calton Hill was recommended to us when we had Sunday Roast at the local pub.  It was not so far from where we are staying in Broughton. The summit had a 360-degree view of Edinburgh, including  Arthur's Seat - our next objective.  

Calton was a bit crowded with monuments including:

- The National Monument, a replica of the Parthenon in Athens built to commemorate Scottish soldiers who died in the Napoleonic Wars. Construction stopped in 1829 due to a lack of funds, leaving it unfinished.

- The Nelson Monument, a tower built to recognize Vice Admiral Lord Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.  Built between 1807 and 1815, it once signaled the time to ships in the Firth of Forth.


There was also a rock cairn.  The cairn was built by the keepers of the "Vigil for a Scottish Parliament" on the hill.  The Vigil began on April 10, 1992 and ended on September 11, 1997 when Scotland voted to have its own Parliament. 

Next we walked on to the top of Arthur's Seat.  Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano outcrop and the highest point in Holyrood Park, offering panoramic views of the city. The trail up begins near the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse - both located a short walk downhill from Calton Hill.

Afterwards, we visited the Museum of Edinburgh.  The museum has exhibits on the history of the city from its origins to the present day. It is located in Huntly House, a collection of 16th to 18th-century buildings.

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