Scott Monument, Edinburgh (must see)
Sir Walter Scott-Scotland鈥檚 literary darling, national treasure, and master of the pen-was so loved by the country that they figured one statue for him wasn't enough. Instead, they built him a giant Gothic spire right in Princes Street Gardens-the Scott Monument. Because, indeed, what better way to honour a writer than with a stone rocket aimed at the heavens?
When Scott passed away in 1832, the city held a grand design competition for his monument. Out of the great many prestigious architects who entered, the winning design came from... a draughtsman with zero architectural credentials. George Meikle Kemp, feeling cheeky, submitted his entry under the pseudonym 鈥淛ohn Morvo,鈥� borrowing the name of a 15th-century stonemason to boost his street cred. And it worked.
Now, if you鈥檙e up for a challenge, you can tackle the 61-metre-tall monument that has several viewing platforms accessed by narrow winding stairways. The highest of them is only 287 steps away. Yes, 287. But rest assured-if your legs don鈥檛 give out en route to the top, you鈥檒l be rewarded with sweeping city views and an actual certificate for surviving the climb. Bragging rights included.
The whole structure is made of Binny Sandstone, a material with a peculiar talent: it is so oily that it attracts dirt almost immediately. Just one year after its completion, the monument looked like it had been standing there for centuries. American writer Bill Bryson once lovingly described it as a 鈥淕othic rocket-ship鈥�-which, honestly, is spot-on.
Inside the base, you鈥檒l find a marble statue of Sir Walter himself, complete with quill, paper, and his loyal dog Maida. Scattered across the monument are 64 statues of characters from his novels, plus a healthy dose of grotesques-those wonderfully creepy Gothic faces that the architect deliberately added to his design to make the monument look more 鈥渁ncient鈥� and moodier than it is.
For the ease of it, you can admire the monument casually from the safety of the grass. Otherwise, go full adventurer and climb for a 360-degree panoramic view-just don鈥檛 expect a lift-and note a fee attached to that.
Tip:
The staircase gets narrow and twisty, and yes, you鈥檒l likely meet people coming down as you're going up. Not particularly recommended for the fainthearted... or the claustrophobic.
When Scott passed away in 1832, the city held a grand design competition for his monument. Out of the great many prestigious architects who entered, the winning design came from... a draughtsman with zero architectural credentials. George Meikle Kemp, feeling cheeky, submitted his entry under the pseudonym 鈥淛ohn Morvo,鈥� borrowing the name of a 15th-century stonemason to boost his street cred. And it worked.
Now, if you鈥檙e up for a challenge, you can tackle the 61-metre-tall monument that has several viewing platforms accessed by narrow winding stairways. The highest of them is only 287 steps away. Yes, 287. But rest assured-if your legs don鈥檛 give out en route to the top, you鈥檒l be rewarded with sweeping city views and an actual certificate for surviving the climb. Bragging rights included.
The whole structure is made of Binny Sandstone, a material with a peculiar talent: it is so oily that it attracts dirt almost immediately. Just one year after its completion, the monument looked like it had been standing there for centuries. American writer Bill Bryson once lovingly described it as a 鈥淕othic rocket-ship鈥�-which, honestly, is spot-on.
Inside the base, you鈥檒l find a marble statue of Sir Walter himself, complete with quill, paper, and his loyal dog Maida. Scattered across the monument are 64 statues of characters from his novels, plus a healthy dose of grotesques-those wonderfully creepy Gothic faces that the architect deliberately added to his design to make the monument look more 鈥渁ncient鈥� and moodier than it is.
For the ease of it, you can admire the monument casually from the safety of the grass. Otherwise, go full adventurer and climb for a 360-degree panoramic view-just don鈥檛 expect a lift-and note a fee attached to that.
Tip:
The staircase gets narrow and twisty, and yes, you鈥檒l likely meet people coming down as you're going up. Not particularly recommended for the fainthearted... or the claustrophobic.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Edinburgh. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Scott Monument on Map
Sight Name: Scott Monument
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Edinburgh
Creating your own self-guided walk in Edinburgh is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Harry Potter Trail
Years after the last Harry Potter book hit the shelves and the last movie rolled its credits, the cultural phenomenon of Harry Potter doesn't seem to fade away, and the fandom continues strong as ever. Although by now Harry Potter has become a household name across the globe, his literary roots are right here in Edinburgh.
Indeed, J.K. Rowling wrote much of the saga in Scotland鈥檚... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Indeed, J.K. Rowling wrote much of the saga in Scotland鈥檚... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Famous Squares and Streets Walking Tour
Being in Edinburgh, it is only natural to be curious about the avenues, boulevards, and streets leading to (or stemming from) the city's picturesque squares. There, you can find a copious amount of historic and religious sites, fashion stores, classy restaurants, and marketplaces, not to mention some hidden gems, exploring which is well worth the time spent.
One of Edinburgh's most... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
One of Edinburgh's most... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Edinburgh Introduction Walking Tour
If you like cities with a split personality, Edinburgh is definitely one such, featuring a striking mix of medieval and Georgian architecture. Indeed, here medieval grit meets Enlightenment wit, and every cobbled incline has a story to tell-whether your legs are ready for it or not. Perched (or more like wedged) across volcanic hills, the city has been Scotland鈥檚 capital since the 15th century... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
New Town Walking Tour
Rightly regarded as the historic masterpiece of city planning, the New Town of Edinburgh has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The area forms a significant part of the Scottish capital and is known for its elegant Georgian architecture, abundant shopping opportunities, and many other delights firmly associated with this city.
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Literary Landmarks Tour
For centuries, Edinburgh has been home to numerous writers. The likes of Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and JK Rowling, just to name a few, have given pride to this city. Fortunately, the tradition doesn't seem to die out any time soon, as Edinburgh keeps producing more and more authors and literary heroes in whose footsteps people still wish to tread.
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Royal Mile Walking Tour
The Royal Mile, a steep thoroughfare in the heart of Edinburgh, has served as the city鈥檚 backbone since the medieval period. Carved along a volcanic ridge called Castle Rock, this spine of the Old Town slopes down from the mighty Edinburgh Castle at one end to the Holyroodhouse Palace and the weathered ruins of Holyrood Abbey at the other. The distance is almost exactly one Scots mile (hence the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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