I’d like to talk about a stunning viewpoint on top of a rocky hill overlooking Edinburgh, which I visited a couple of years ago during a short autumn holiday. A close friend and I had spent the afternoon wandering through the historic centre, and someone in a local café recommended that we hike up there just before dusk to catch the sunset.
The walk up was quite steep and exposed to the elements, but once we reached the summit, the scenery was truly breath-taking. Looking out, you had a complete three-hundred-and-sixty-degree panorama of the entire city. Below us lay the sprawling medieval Old Town with its winding alleys, and right in the middle, the ancient castle perched high on its volcanic rock. Further out towards the horizon, you could see the modern docks and the sparkling waters of the Firth of Forth stretching out towards the sea.
What made such a lasting impression on me was the sheer contrast between the bustling urban life below and the utter stillness up on the hill. As the sun began to dip below the skyline, the whole city was bathed in a warm, golden glow, and you could see the streetlights gradually flickering on across the different neighbourhoods. It really gave me a sense of perspective on how the city had evolved over hundreds of years alongside its natural landscape. It was one of those rare moments where you just want to put your phone away and take it all in.