Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Holyrood Park, also known as Queen's Park, is an area of wild natural beauty representing all the features traditionally associated with the Scottish landscape, such as craggy mountains, lochs, fields of heather, glens and marshland. It contains Arthur's Seat (an extinct volcano), Holyroodhouse Palace, and a bird sanctuary. It was a Royal hunting ground in the 12th century and then became a Royal park in the 16th century, but the 650 acre site is now public. Take care, because the paths are steep. They form a slightly tricky yet delightful walk and the view from the top always makes the climb worth the effort.