Scott Monument View

Perhaps the only thing more striking than the Scott Monument is the view from the top. This elevated open air lookout sweeps south-west across Princes Street Gardens and the National Gallery to the castle which sits roughly at eye level upon its volcanic plinth. Reaching the upper viewing areas involves a guided tour operated by Historic Scotland and 287 steps to the top. Tours can be booked at the entry to the monument and last for an hour in total which means limited time for photography.

Looking roughly south-west, this daytime composition works best in the morning before the sun has moved into the frame. The earlier you go, the more light will fall onto the castle and east facing sides of the National Gallery and Royal Scottish Academy. Once those buildings are in shade it will dramatically change the overall look of the composition. This is not so much of an issue on an overcast day, but still something to consider. A polarising filter on a bright day will deepen the sky and help to lift the greens. There are viewing platforms on all sides of the monument so walk around and try different compositions and views at various focal lengths. Visiting the monument is by small group tour only. The positive side of this is that numbers are limited so the lookouts are not congested, but conversely time is limited, so you have to work fast. Summer is best when trees are in full bloom.