Calton Hill
Calton Hill, with its volcanic rockbase and gorse-strewn hillface, is one of Edinburgh's main hills, set right in the city centre. It is unmistakable with its Athenian acropolis poking above the skyline.
The top of Calton hill is a usually quiet place to come on any day, with its grassy slopes and panoramic views of the city, including down the length of Princes street (the main shopping thoroughfare) and Edinburgh Castle. There is a good view North of the ruddy-coloured cliffs of Salisbury Crags, Arthur's Seat, and the undulating slopes of Holyrood Park.
There is a jumble of historic buildings and structures on top including two observatories - the Old Observatory House, designed by New Town architect James Craig in 1792, and the City Observatory, built in 1818, which has exhibitions and viewings of the night sky. As well as the Acropolis there is also Nelson's Monument which has a famous timeball mechanism by which ships used to set their chronometres.
Calton Hill is still very much revered as a common ground to many residents. Attempts, in recent years, to create a theme park and railway up the hill have met with a chorus of protest.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill, with its volcanic rockbase and gorse-strewn hillface, is one of Edinburgh's main hills, set right in the city centre. It is unmistakable with its Athenian acropolis poking above the skyline.
The top of Calton hill is a usually quiet place to come on any day, with its grassy slopes and panoramic views of the city, including down the length of Princes street (the main shopping thoroughfare) and Edinburgh Castle. There is a good view North of the ruddy-coloured cliffs of Salisbury Crags, Arthur's Seat, and the undulating slopes of Holyrood Park.
There is a jumble of historic buildings and structures on top including two observatories - the Old Observatory House, designed by New Town architect James Craig in 1792, and the City Observatory, built in 1818, which has exhibitions and viewings of the night sky. As well as the Acropolis there is also Nelson's Monument which has a famous timeball mechanism by which ships used to set their chronometres.
Calton Hill is still very much revered as a common ground to many residents. Attempts, in recent years, to create a theme park and railway up the hill have met with a chorus of protest.