Edinburgh - Arthur's Seat

As a forward, I apologize for the lack of nice photos in this post.  I don't have my camera USB with me, so I can only post pictures from my iPhone, of which are lesser in quality, and are many less to choose from.  I'm afraid I don't do the hill justice. I will post better pictures when I return to Leeds, in the same way I did for Dumbleton Hall Hotel.

Edinburgh – Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat has been by far the highlight of my trip to Edinburgh so far.  The experience was whimsical, and almost magical, despite it raining on me the entire climb.

Despite the ominous grey clouds, and the falling rain, I knew that this was something I needed to do in Edinburgh.  It took me quite a long walk just to reach the base of the hill, so I was already fairly damp before I had even begun.  I approached it from the west side, with steps leading up to the trail.  It was a very steep beginning, so even after five minutes I was already impressed with the altitude I had gained.  Shortly up the way, I ran into a women looking at snails, and quickly discovered that she is an environmental geochemist from Massachusetts.  She had a printout guide from one of the local universities, and together we explored the different geological features of the extinct volcano. 

We walked along the Salisbury Crags, pausing whenever we noticed contacts between the sedimentary bedrock and the intrusive sill.  The heat and pressure from the intrusion caused some notable deformation in the underlying strata, and we took pictures of some of the folding, (on my camera,).

The Hutton Section!

We then came across Hutton’s Rock, named for the conservation efforts supported by James Hutton, (father of modern geology), in preserving the crags from the quarrying that was taking place.  The government halted the quarrying, and the hematite vein which intruded the sill remains today.

Next, we walked over the Hutton Section, which was one of the most exciting features for both of us  We might have missed it, were it not for a plaque.  The Hutton Section is one of the areas where there is visible disruption of the sandstone due to the intrusion of the volcanic sill.  He wrote about these observations when formulating his theories of uniformitarianism, and thereby disproving the previous doctrine.

SO COOL!  -Squee!-

After that we parted ways.  She wanted to investigate some ripple marks and desiccation cracks (NOT syneresis cracks, Dr. MacEachern), while I wanted to climb up to the summit.

So I did.

The other geologist lady went over there

But I was determined to get up there

The stones were slippery, the hills were grassy and wet, the wind became stronger each step I took, and oddly the fields were covered in herbivore droppings.  But I made it.  The grassy areas came as a relief after the treacherous slippery bedrock.  To climb the finally summit, I needed to climb the wet bedrock again, this time with little to no path.  I went up eroded waterways, which were actively draining the rainfall.  I climbed on, and as I did, heavy clouds and fog rolled in.  When I made it to the top, I was surrounded by cloud, unable to see any of the city below me, nor even the grassy hill I had just left.  Wind howled past my ears as I stood alone and a bit cold, rain still coming down.  My boots [and pants (TROUSERS)] had gotten wet by this point, and I had left my waterproof coat back in Leeds.  But, I wasn’t cold enough to be miserable, which was very much appreciated.  An old man climbed up the way I did, acknowledged me, told me I should have something on my head, and hiked down over the other side.  I couldn’t see where we went, as the cloud was too thick. 

I dared not go down an unfamiliar route, so I very carefully stepped slowly down the rock face I had just climbed.  I needed to use my hands to prevent slipping (and splattering my head on the stone), and carefully made my way back down.  From there I climbed the second highest point, which was much easier due to the grass and less steep incline.  I decide to head back down from the East, as I remember reading that it is an easier trail.  As I start my decline, I see nice stone steps leading up to the first summit from the other side.  

Bugger.

I continue down, thankful for the soft vegetation, which was much more welcoming in the case of a fall, and take my time to admire the sights.  The cloud begins to clear somewhat (though still raining) and I have a wonderful panoramic view of Edinburgh. 

I suppose it helps add to the wonder the fact that I just started to read, The Fellowship of the Ring and the rolling hills of Scotland definitely feel like the Shire.  I also saw a bunny hop by me!  I barely saw the flash of its white tail, before bounding into the bush. I looked for him, and saw him briefly before he hopped further into the shrubbery. 

Beautiful Rolling hills

Ruins!

I felt very joyous during the descent, and then gasped with glee (yes, really,) when I came across the ruins of a chapel.  I felt even more awesome when I realized that these must be the ruins that Robin and Bryan came across on their trip to Edinburgh.  I wanted to climb into the window, and pose like Robin’s Facebook picture, but 

1) it was very, very slippery,

and

2) I had no one to take my picture even if I did.

So, I set the 10 second timer on my camera, and took some pictures of me in the doorway of the ruins. 

Hiking down further, I saw the bright green raincoat of the women I met before, and hurried to catch up with her.  We swapped stories of the desiccation cracks she saw, and the climb and ruins I enjoyed, and I walked back with her to the train station, before heading back to Kaitlyn’s flat to warm up. 

Happy.

Today was awesome.