Calton Hill

The hill was used from ancient times as a place of execution. Most famously Major Weir the self-confessed Edinburgh warlock, was executed here. The hill was originally part of the Barony of Calton which was abolished in 1856. King James II of Scotland allowed the residents of Edinburgh to use the North West slope of the hill for "tilts and tournaments"in 1456.This natural amphitheatre was also used for open-air theatre and saw the first performance of the early Scots play "The Three Estaites". The Carmelite friars (based locally at South Queensferry) built a monastery on the western side of the hill in 1518.

Isn't Wikipedia wonderful. There is a lot of history around this hill and definitely worth a read.