Scott Monument

Come and admire this huge spire monument dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland's greatest historical novelists. You can do so either from the ground, or you can climb up 287 stairs to the top and enjoy spectacular views of the city from above.

Its construction began in August of 1840, during the anniversary of Scott's birthday, and was completed four years later. It is over 60 meters high and there are 64 statues on the monument, representing mostly characters from Scott's historical novels, but also some figures from Scottish history. It is definitely worth the visit even if you're not a fan of literature.

The monument is accessible from Princes Street. Beware that the steps are quite narrow, so this might not be your thing if you don't feel comfortable in such spaces. There are 4 floors where you can stop and look around in total, so you don't need to ascend all the stairs at once.