Photo Post: Early-Morning Hike

This weekend, I took an early-morning (as in right around dawn, which I suppose isn't so early here in October!) through Holyrood Park (previous post). It was a glorious morning, as I hope the photos below can attest. Quite a luxury, having a place like this nearby!

The entrance to Holyrood Park, by Pollock Halls and the Commonwealth Pool:

I learned the other day that this suspiciously flat-topped little hillock (Dunsapie Hill) just below the summit is actually the site of an iron-age hill fort:

 

Looking out over the southern edge of Edinburgh towards Craigmillar Park and the Pentland Hills:

The Hunter's Bog, which is the valley between Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags:

The path along the top of the Salisbury Crags offers some of the best views of the city. Here's Holyrood Palace (lower right) and the Scottish Parliament (lower left), with Calton Hill in the background (left). Oh, and my shadow:

 

A tighter shot of Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, with Dynamic Earth (a kind of science museum) at the lower left:

 

Old Town and the Castle:

 

And again:

 

Our neighborhood, with Craigmillar Park and the Pentland Hills behind:

 

Some fall foliage on Salisbury Road: