Edinburgh city walk – Photo supplied by Stephen C Dickson
| Start/Finish | Category | Distance | Estimated Walking Time |
| Waverley station / Edinburgh Castle esplanade | History and Architecture, Tourism | 2.7 km | 40 min* |
Summary
The Edinburgh city walk starts at Waverley train station and takes in some of the most iconic sites of Edinburgh including Holyroodhouse and St Giles Cathedral before finishing at Edinburgh Castle.
Public transport
Catch a train to Edinburgh Waverley station. Ends close to Princess St tram station.
Directions
Starting point – Waverley station
The Edinburgh city walk starts outside the Carlton Rd entrance to the Edinburgh Waverley train station. Walk in an easterly direction under the Carlton Rd bridge until you get to the end of Carlton Rd. Cross over at the roundabout and walk up Abbey Strand to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Holyroodhouse, also referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland. The Palace has its origins as a guest house for Holyrood Abbey, which it adjoins. The Palace of Holyroodhouse was built between 1671 and 1678, with the exception of the north-west tower built by James V in 1536. The Palace is a classical style building consisting of three levels plus attic and is a must see for visitors to Edinburgh.
From Holyroodhouse, turn around and go back in the direction of the Waverley train station but this time travelling up Canongate. Here you will pass the Scottish Parliament, which opened in 2004. In contrast to Holyroodhouse the building is postmodern in style. Its most notable feature is a roof supported by a structure of laminated oak beams. Unlike most parliamentary buildings where government members face the opposition, the debating chamber is horseshoe in shape, with the governing party sitting in the middle and opposition parties on either side.
From the Parliament building continue west down Cananogate. Further down the road is Canongate Kirk, a church completed in 1691. On the opposite side of the road is the Museum of Edinburgh, which houses a collection of material relating to the town’s origins, history and legends. Entry to the museum is free.
Canongate Kirk
Image: Canongate Kirk church, photo supplied by Kim Traynor
From here continue west along Canongate, which turns into the High St. Along High St you will pass St Giles Cathedral, a medieval church with origins going back to the 12th century. The first church of St Giles’ was a Romanesque structure, which was replaced by the current building in the late 14th and early 16th centuries.
Finish – Edinburgh Castle esplanade
Continuing walking west down Lawnmarket and then Castlehill you will reach the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade where the walk ends. Edinburgh Castle is a historic building and stands on castle rock. The castle, built in the 11th century, is Scotland most visited tourist site and the backdrop to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tatoo during the annual Edinburgh festival. To get home you can walk back to Waverley train station or catch a tram on Princess St, just north of the castle.
Edinburgh city walk – GPX file
To access to the GPX file for this walk click on the download button below.
Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google maps on your phone can be found here.
Edinburgh city walk – Map
Start – Waverley Station (Calton Rd entrance)
- Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Scottish Parliament
- Canongate Kirk
- Museum of Edinburgh
- Royal Mile
- St Giles Cathedral
- Edinburgh Castle
End – Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
