A LARGE GORSE fire has broken out at the popular Arthur's Seat landmark in Edinburgh.
Plumes of smoke and flames could be seen spreading rapidly across the hill from the city's Holyrood Park shortly after 4pm on Sunday.
The fire, which can be seen for miles, appeared to originate at Crow Hill.
BREAKING: A grass fire is raging across Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/N3g2aBhtkz
— The National (@ScotNational) August 10, 2025
According to witnesses at the scene, local residents assisted emergency services with evacuations.
Meanwhile, supporters at the Hibernian v Kilmarnock game were told to avoid the Willowbrae, Duddingston and Holyrood areas when leaving the Easter Road stadium.
There are no reported casualties.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Emergency services are responding to a fire at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area."
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service provided an update at 7.20pm, where they said crews were still extinguishing a fire affecting a large area of gorse.
A SFRS spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh.
"Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.
"There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene."
What is Arthur's seat?
Arthur's seat is one of the most well-known landmarks in the country, located in Edinburgh.
Climbing it has become a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike.
It stands at 251m tall.
Where is Arthur's Seat?
Arthur's seat is situated to the east of Edinburgh city centre, in the Holyrood area.
It is located within Holyrood Park, which sits not far from the bottom of the historic Royal Mile.
Is Arthur's Seat a volcano?
Yes, Arthur's Seat is an ancient, extinct volcano.
Much like the rock which Edinburgh Castle was also built on - which is located at the top of the Royal Mile - Arthur's Seat was formed millions of years during the Carboniferous period.
Its dramatic landscape is a result of volcanic activity and subsequent geological processes, including erosion by glaciers during the Ice Age.
Lava samples from the site have been dated at 341 to 335 million years old.
Arthur's Seat is not an active volcano and therefore poses no threat to the public.
Why is it called Arthur's Seat?
There is no definitive explanation for the name Arthur's Seat.
A popular legend around the landmark's name is that it could be the potential location for Camelot, the castle and court of King Arthur.
Another theory connects it to the Gaelic phrase "Ard-na-Said," meaning "Height of Arrows," which could refer to the hill's use as a strategic location for archers.
