Calton Hill

Last Sunday we took a hike up to the top of Calton Hill, which sits just behind our house. Several interesting buildings and structures sit upon the hill, and it offers a gorgeous view of the city when you reach the top. The New Parliament House is pictured here, and can be seen from a distance from the balcony of our flat. In a historical city like Edinburgh, the term "new" can be a bit misleading. This New Parliament House was actually built in the 1820's and proposed as the new site for the Scottish Parliament which was located on the upper end of the Royal Mile at the time. Similarly, there are distinctions here between Old Town and New Town. We live in Old Town where tenement buildings were rapidly put up as the population of Edinburgh increased exponentially between the 15th and 18th centuries. Overcrowding had led to fire, safety, and hygenic problems and plans were drawn up to expand the city across the bridge. Thus "New" Town actually dates back to the late 1700's. But I digress...here is the New Parliament building on Calton Hill.
These columns are the only finished component of a monument designed to honor those who died in the Napoleonic wars. Funding apparently ran out after these columns were erected so this is all that ever came of the monument project. Still a pretty impressive sight!



You can see most every part of the city from the top of Calton Hill. Here's Tony at the top of the hill with Old Town on the left and New Town on the right:

Here's a view out towards Old Town highlighting a church called Canongate's Kirk. This church is just a few doors up from our flat and hosts the graves of many famous Edinburgh citizens, including Adam Smith.

This is a view of Arthur's Seat, a peak (or hill to us Colorado folk!) that provides an excellent view over the city. Our flat is in the lower left-hand corner of the picture. This is the tail end of Arthur's Seat that wraps around to the Firth of Forth.
And here a view of the Firth of Forth and the city sprawling right out to the shores: And finally, Tony indicating that he is ready for me to stop taking pictures and head home!!