Holyrood Park's Beloved Radical Road Shuttered for Years Amid Rockfall Risks

In 2025, Edinburgh's iconic Radical Road, a historic hiking path offering breathtaking views of the city, remains shuttered after being closed in 2018 due to a 50-ton rockfall. The closure has sparked years of rancor and indecision over how to safely reopen the beloved trail.

The Radical Road, set high along the cliffs of Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, has long been a draw for visitors to Holyrood Park, Edinburgh's most important open public space. But the narrow, rocky path has faced recurring rockfall issues, with a 100-ton fall in 2011 and five temporary closures in the two years before the 2018 incident.

After the 2018 closure, park operator Historic Environment Scotland (HES) lacked a clear policy on acceptable rockfall risks. A new risk assessment in 2024 found that three sections of the Radical Road presented unacceptable danger, with one area having a one-in-4,886 probability of a fatal rockfall.

To address the safety concerns, HES plans a partial reopening of the Radical Road in 2026. This will restore access to the geologically significant areas where pioneering geologist James Hutton developed his theories. However, the full 0.8-mile route will require up to £2.4M in rockfall mitigation measures, including fencing and earth embankments.

The prolonged closure has taken a toll on Holyrood Park, with the wider trail network becoming "highly degraded" from increased visitor numbers. Rangers have also seen a surge in incidents, dealing with 314 issues in 2023 compared to 162 in 2018. Campaigners have criticized the slow progress, urging HES to urgently deliver a plan to fully reopen the Radical Road and improve the park's trail system.