| Salisbury Crags (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Salisbury Crags
Photographer Description of Salisbury Crags
Panorama showing the face of Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh. The picture was taken from near the highest point of the path that curves around the face of the crags, but does not actually go directly to the top. It is a very steep climb.Salisbury Crags - Further Information
Salisbury Crags lie under a mile from the center of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle in Holyrood Park and provide striking views over the city. The crags are look like an ideal place to build a fortress, had the city not an even better site for its castle on Castle Rock. It has a shear cliff face to the west with steep hills providing access from the east, and climbing them is popular with both locals and tourists alike. Behind the crags lies Arthur's Seat, the highest point in the city.Salisbury Crags are made of dolerite and columnar basalt carved by glaciation. The cliffs are up to 46-metre (150 ft) high and are popular for rock climbing. A steep talus (scree) slope descends from the base of the cliffs to the floor of Hoylrood Park, where there is a running and cycle track.
Walking up Salisbury Crags is a very popular pass time. A broad, but steep, wide gravel track ascends from southern end, near to the Scottish Parliament and Palace of Holyroodhouse. This track follows the base of the cliffs before descending to a car park at the northern end of the ridge. It does not ascend directly to the top of the crags, this is done via other paths in Holyrood Park.
Once at the top, visitors are rewarded with stunning views over much of Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and far beyond.
