Arthur’s Seat in Infrared

The steps are part of the footpath from Holyrood Park Road. These monochrome pictures were taken on a digital camera using a Hoya R72 infrared filter which blocks visible light up to 650nm. (Nothing is visible through the camera's viewfinder. Later IR pictures were taken on the specially modified Pentax *ist DSLR)

This view is at the south end of Radical Road. To compose infrared shots it's best to do so on a tripod before attaching an R72 filter. Handheld shots will be hit or miss even with wide angle lenses, almost impossible with telephoto ones.

This is also at the south end of Radical Road but facing back towards the start of the walk from the Queen's Drive road.

Twin roundabouts connect Queen's Drive (foreground) and Holyrood Park Road. It's obvious from these photos that plants reflect more infrared light than inanimate surfaces.

A similar view in normal colour for reference.

On the way to Arthur's Seat, past the Commonwealth Pool, on the other side of the road. The trees contrast with the smoked glass windows of the Scottish Widows building.

The old building at Pollock Halls with Arthur's Seat behind. (Student pranksters often change the P to a B in signs.)

A concealed carpark for the insurance company staff off the side of Holyrood Park Road.

Previously photographed as well as videos of me skating through it down to Duddingston Loch.

Our walk this day was along the top of Salisbury Crags then circling round via Hunters Bog, returning via the path pictured here descending gently from left to right. The zigzag path going up the front of the hill is popular with visitors climbing to the top.

Looking down from the top of Salisbury Crags to the Radical Road. The footpath appears to have suffered some erosion, causing walkers to take a tricky diversion nearer the base of the cliff.

A moment or two later and the walkers are climbing gingerly down the rocky slope.

The first group made it down. The next four proceed with caution.

The woman with the striped top is taking no chances.

Looks like the man with the Nike rucksack is coming back up to provide assistance.

From the same vantage point on top of Salisbury Crags I turned round and pointed my lens at the zigzag path up Arthur's Seat. Walkers are dotted about the path from the bottom to the top

A gap in the cliff face gives a glimpse of the Radical Road and the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle.

Zoomed in the Radical Road and Edinburgh Castle. The seating on the castle esplanade will be dismantled and stored away ready for next year's Edinburgh Festival.

The dark hexagons of the Scottish Widows building contrast with the trees which are apparently glowing white because they're reflecting infrared light, all other wavelengths being filtered out.

Zoomed in the the path seen at the top of picture 21. The path is less steep from here up but care is still needed.

Queen's Drive circles clockwise round Arthur's Seat. The two blocks of flats are at Craigmillar. The footpath at the bottom leads to the mouth of the valley called Hunters Bog.

Looking back over this gap in the crags. There are rough paths along the cliff edge and the lady with the dog is keeping it on a leash.

(2nd photo of this) Twin roundabouts connect Queen's Drive at front and Old Church Lane at the rear. The latter leads to Duddingston Village. Holyrood Park Road is hidden behind the trees on the right.

The trees on Corstophine Hill provide the background for this view of Edinburgh Castle.

Nestling among the trees is this footpath from Queen's Drive to the St Leonard's / Dumbiedykes area.

Blackford Hill is in sunshine, as are some of the Pentland Hills. On the left the T Woods stand in front of the scree slopes of Caerketton Hill. In shadow, in the middle, are the Braid Hills.

The strangeness of the area around the Scottish Parliament is featured here.

Zoomed in on part of the parliament building behind Dynamic Earth.

People and ponds in front of Horse Wynd.

Turning the camera round to the right give this view. A group of people are walking down in the direction of St Margaret's Loch and the rocky outcrop known as Haggis Knowe.

Queen's Drive passes on the left of St Margaret's Loch then turns right through the trees on its clockwise route round Arthur's Seat. Continuing straight on leads to London Road near Meadowbank.

Across Hunters Bog to the east are these smaller crags. Later, our route will be take us along the sloping paths in the middle.

As we descend into Hunters Bog we get this view of Arthur's Seat's summit which is very busy with walkers today (Saturday 11th August 2012).

Zoomed in on the crowds of people on the summit.

The start of the path along the western slopes of the main hill, on the east side of Hunter's Bog.

The path leads past a small volcanic sill on the right and heads uphill. Higher up, it branches left to the summit or right, back to our starting point today.

The volcanic sill shows where a glacier scraped rocks across its surface creating gouges and grooves. Grass grows in the cracks.

Left of centre, beside a small tree, is the path where today's walk began. Right of centre, about five people perch on the part of Salisbury Crags seen in picture 31 above.

Calton Hill is in sunshine behind the north end of Salisbury Crags. A man and dog are walking down the clifftop path.

Looking across Hunters Bog to the sloping top of the volcanic sill whose top edge forms Salisbury Crags. There are people on the path down below as well as on the clifftop path. A ray of sunshine catches some of the little trees dotted about the slope.

Looking back to the north. The curved building near the front is at Abbey Lane beside the disused railway line. Its green copper walls are dark in infrared. Persevere Court and Citadel Court are the blocks of flats at Leith. Across in Fife the Craigkelly transmitter mast towers over Burntisland.

Sunshine picks out the detail in the path through the long grass.

A broad view of the south end of Hunters Bog.

Delicate contrast in these thistles under infrared. The bee sees well under ultraviolet at the other side of the visible spectrum. Bees, like swifts, are worryingly rare this year.

Our path has branched to the right, roughly following the contour.

The path joins up with this path to the summit as it continues to the south.

Wooden railway sleepers protecting the path from water erosion seem to be occasionally thought to be steps at the start of an impossibly steep path by some deluded visitors.

Care should be taken here, despite the path being level and smooth. People and dogs can fall down steep slopes with jaggy bushes.

Never having seen a persistent puddle here before, I recorded the event.

Photographed from beside the roundabout in picture 32. Arthur's Seat reflected in a puddle.

A long lens view of the main path up the hill showing a few visitors enjoying the sunshine and the tremendous views.

Another long lens view from the Radical Road, showing the steps featured in the first picture on this page. The multistorey flats at Craigmillar are further away than they appear. (1.78km or 1.1miles from the steps)

Walking up the Radical Road from the south east end. Part of Salisbury Crags is visible at the top.

Looking up over the crags at the walkers on Arthur's Seat's skyline.

Corstorphine Hill and Edinburgh Castle are visible on the left of the Radical Road.

Same standpoint but showing more of the crags.

I wanted to compare this view with a shot I took in 1969 when there were no trees.

In 1969 when I took this photo of St Leonard's there were no trees.

From lower down the steep slope is this view of the old James Clerk's school and Queen's Drive.

Queen's Drive and the steps which appear in the photos taken from the Radical Road.

Queen's Drive swings round to the left towards the south east end of the Radical Road. Traffic must turn right however, at the roundabout shown near the top of this page. The high road around Arthur's Seat is clockwise only.

2015 May 22 Another visit equipped with my modified Pentax *ist DL, this time fitted with a Tamron 18mm-200mm lens. This picture is of the entrance to Holyrood Park from the similarly named road past the Commonwealth pool.

Taken from the south end of Radical Road near the south end of Hunters Bog.

A little further up the more gentle slope at the south end.

The line of cars on Queen's Drive are parked there while their drivers go for a walk.

Higher up the path and Salisbury Crags are in view.

The same viewpoint as the previous picture but zoomed in more.

Further up the path now. There's a hollow to the right behind the gorse bushes.

The Meadows park is obscured by trees but the open space beyond is Bruntsfield Links. The spire is Bruntsfield Evangelical Church with Boroughmuir High School behind.

Below on the left the edge of the park is visible. Edinburgh Castle is central in this wider shot. Some walkers approach from the top of the hill.

Both roundabouts are pictured here. Queen's Drive circles Arthur's Seat and is the road at the foot of the photograph.

A car travels up the slope of Queen's Drive. The footpath leads up the steps to St Leonard's Bank.

Zoomed in on Bruntsfield Links. The blocky buildings in the middle distance are the Sighthill multistorey flats.

Edinburgh Castle stands in front of Corstorphine Hill. St Mary's Cathedral is left of the castle.

A similar picture to Queen's Dr 8 above but with no cars.

Looking across at Calton Hill. The former Royal High School is on the lower slopes at the right of the picture, beside Regent Road. The tower is the Nelson Monument.

After passing the highest point the path curves more to the east.

The view is magnificent from the higher parts of Radical Road. Holyrood Palace is below on the left and some of the ornamental ponds next to the parliament building can be seen.

Another view of Calton Hill from further round the path.

A wider view opposite Holyrood Gait roundabout showing Holyrood Road at the back.

Zoomed in closer on the roundabout from a little further on.

Nearer still to the palace and lower down.

Saint Andrew's House.

Radical Road descends steeply here as it approaches the north end near the palace.

Some views of the grassy areas near the parliament building.

This area is very popular with political events. See my Yes Scotland Flickr album.

A wider view showing more of the trees and ponds.

This shows the Scottish Parliament on the left. Holyrood Palace is at the upper right corner.