Taking A Seat

Walking around Edinburgh is an easy way to get in shape. No matter where you go, your journey will probably involve climbing a hill. But the best natural exercise in the city comes from climbing Arthur’s Seat, a dormant volcano southeast of Old Town.

Determined to get some pretty pictures of the ocean and church spires, I decided to climb the rocky peak. There is a gradually sloping path that leads in a wide circle around the mountain, but I was stupid and tried to take an extremely steep shortcut. The path was well-trodden, and there were muddy steps the whole way up. It basically felt like using the Stairmaster on the hardest level possible. Every time I looked back I had a more spectacular view of the city, the Firth of Forth, and the injuries I would endure if I slipped.

It was so incredibly windy when I got to the top that I was afraid my jacket would act as a parachute and sweep me off the cliff. I lay down on some cushiony moss and soaked in the breathtaking scenery.

The only thing more difficult that climbing up the steep side of the mountain is getting back down. I decided that constantly looking down at the hundreds of feet below me would be too unnerving, so I instead took a leisurely stroll down the gentle incline on the other side of the mountain. If you decide you want to summit the Seat, save yourself some pain and take the easy path both ways.