Calton Hill

A less well-known view of the hill, taken from the northwest, showing three of the four main buildings.

To the left is Old Observatory House, an impressive 18th century building, designed and once inhabited by New Town architect James Craig. Built as a family house, the building was used by astronomers for a short period as the Old Observatory until William Playfair built his Old Observatory building nearby in 1818., (not to be confused with the Royal Observatory, which is on Blackford Hill).

Just appearing behind the trees, in the middle is the Nelson Monument, built between 1807 and 1816 to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. in 1852 a time ball was added to the top to enable ships moored in the Firth of Forth to set their time-pieces accurately.

To the right is the Dugald Stewart Monument, which features on many an Edinburgh calendar, built in 1831 by the architect William Henry Playfair .

And above them all is a blue sky!