Calton Hill

Where it is & how to get there

• On foot: About 10 minutes from Waverley Station via Regent Road steps.
• From Princes Street: Walk east along Waterloo Place.
• Monuments: Nelson Monument can be climbed for a small fee.

The story of Calton Hill

Calton Hill rises at the east end of Edinburgh's New Town. Its unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens, was begun in the 1820s and earned the city the nickname "Athens of the North".

From the Dugald Stewart Monument you get the famous view along Princes Street to the castle, the Old Town and Arthur's Seat.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Go for sunset, it's a short walk from Princes Street.
• Shoot the classic view from beside the Dugald Stewart Monument.
• Climb the Nelson Monument for an even higher view.

What's around Calton Hill

• National MonumentUnfinished Parthenon replica.
• Nelson MonumentTelescope-shaped tower.
• Holyrood Park15 minutes' walk.
• Princes StreetMain shopping street.

Questions travellers ask