While there are certainly many things to do in Edinburgh, including seeing the Royal Mile, climbing Arthur's Seat, walking around Edinburgh Castle, and even just touring the city, one of the lesser known things to do is climbing Scott's Monument. The Scott Monument is located in central Edinburgh, within sight of the Castle, and makes for a great landmark when walking around the city. As its name states, the Scott Monument is a memorial for Sir Walter Scott, a writer who was born in Scotland and used the folk tales of the Borders to inspire his stories and poetry. As written on a plaque outside the Monument, "Almost single-handedly, he rehabilitated the international image of Scotland- at a time when many considered it dangerous and backwards. In many ways, the romantic image of Scotland that many people around the world hold today is a result of Scott's genius."
The Monument, at 61 meters tall, is the tallest monument in the world dedicated to a writer and costs 5 Pounds to climb. There are over 500 stairs arranged into spiral staircases. As you go higher, the stairs get more and more narrow, and at the top, my friend could barely get through with her bag! You have to listen for other people coming up or down the stairs, so go at a time where it's not too busy. The Monument is divided into 5 platforms, at varying heights, so you can track your ascent and get amazing views of the city. This is truly why I say that you feel as if you are on top of the world at the top of this Monument. At the highest you can climb, you're about level with Edinburgh Castle, which towers over the city center. You can even see all the way to the ocean on a clear day! With the city sprawled out beneath you, as you walk around the narrow pathways, you truly feel as though you are on top of the world.
