Destination: Edinburgh
Top Ten
1 Arthur's Seat
2 Dynamic Earth
3 Edinburgh Castle
4 Museum of Scotland
5 National Gallery of Scotland
6 The New Town
7 Palace of Holyroodhouse
8 Royal Botanic Garden
9 The Royal Mile
10 Scott Monument
10 Scott Monument

Fine views to the castle and Princes Street from one of the most grandiose memorials to a writer ever built make the climb well worth while.

Worn out with excessive work in an attempt to pay off his creditors and those of his bankrupt publishers and printers, Sir Walter Scott died at his home, Abbotsford, in 1832. He was regarded by his contemporaries as one of Scotland's greatest writers, and no time was lost in erecting a fitting monument to his genius. The architect was George Meikle Kemp, a self-taught draughtsman, who won a competition for the memorial's design in 1838. The 61m-high monument went up between 1840 and 1846, a riot of ornate Gothicism with a seated statue of Scott beneath the central vault. In contrast to the sandstone of the building, the statue is carved from white Carrara marble, the block from which it was sculpted happily having survived falling into Livorno harbour on its way from Italy to Leith. Scott is shown draped in a plaid, with his favourite deerhound, Maida. The monument's 64 niches contain statues that represent many of the characters from Scott's works - fans of the Waverley novels can identify their favourites.

Climb right to the top of the Monument for sweeping views over the city centre; the ticket price includes a certificate to prove that you really did it. If the prospect of the 287 steps seems rather daunting, you could go as far as the first level only. Here you'll find a small room that displays information about Scott's life and work, and there are also headphones which you can use to listen to readings and musical settings of his novels.



Address: East Princes Street Gardens
Phone: 0131 529 4068/3993
Open: Mar-May and Oct, daily 10-6; Jun-Sep Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-6; Nov-Feb 10-4
Restaurant: Refreshment kiosk in East Princes Gardens (Inexpensive)
Bus: 3, 11, 21 44
Admission: moderate
Other: National Gallery of Scotland; Calton Hill; Hanover Street; The Mound; Princes Street; Princes Street Gardens; Register House Royal Scottish Academy; Waverley Market
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