Edinburgh Castle Group Walks | Join a Walk
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Elevation
131m
430 ft
Prominence
63m
Coordinates
55.9488, -3.2001
NT251735
OS Map
66
Explorer: 350
At the summit, you'll find the iconic Crown Square, the St. Margaret's Chapel, and the National War Museum, surrounded by stunning views of Edinburgh.
The Castle is built on Castle Rock, a volcanic plug formed over 340 million years ago, providing a solid foundation with sheer cliffs on three sides.
A breathtaking panorama of Edinburgh, including Arthur's Seat, the Firth of Forth, and the rolling hills of the Pentlands.
The name 'Edinburgh' derives from the Old English 'Eiden's burgh', meaning Eiden's fort.
Edinburgh Castle is a symbol of Scotland's national identity and has played a pivotal role in the country's history since at least the 12th century.
This is the most popular route to Edinburgh Castle, starting at the Royal Mile and following the Castle Esplanade. The route involves a steady ascent along the cobbled streets, culminating in the dramatic entrance to the castle. It offers excellent views over Edinburgh's Old Town and beyond.
This route starts at the Grassmarket, a historic market square, and ascends via West Port and Johnston Terrace to reach Edinburgh Castle. It provides a picturesque journey through the heart of Edinburgh, with opportunities to explore shops and cafes along the way. The final stretch involves a steep incline.
This route begins in Princes Street Gardens, offering a peaceful walk through the green space beneath the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The route ascends via The Mound, providing stunning views of the castle and the city. A relatively short but steep walk to the castle entrance.
This slightly longer route starts at Calton Hill, offering panoramic views of the city, before descending through the New Town and climbing towards the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle. This route combines urban exploration with some moderate ascents, making it ideal for those wanting a slightly longer walk.
This challenging and scenic route starts at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh's iconic hill, and traverses through Holyrood Park, the Royal Mile, and finally up to Edinburgh Castle. It combines natural beauty with urban exploration and provides a full-day adventure for experienced walkers.
There is limited parking in the surrounding streets; the closest car parks include Q-Park on Castle Terrace.
Tram service to St Andrew Square and multiple buses stop near the Castle.
Cafés and restaurants in the nearby Old Town, as well as public toilets at the Castle entrance.
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Some common questions about the hills answered
Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Edinburgh Castle through the maps
Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Edinburgh Castle search or of course create your own walk for Edinburgh Castle
Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.
If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Edinburgh Castle.
There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.
Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.
Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Edinburgh Castle here
We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible
Grid Ref: NT251735
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