Scott Monument

About Scott Monument

The Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world. It commemorates Sir Walter Scott.

There are 287 steps to the top of the Scott Monument, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. Find out about Sir Walter Scott and the monument in the museum room.

The monument was designed by George Meikle Kemp (1795 - 1844) who was inspired by the architecture of Melrose Abbey and Roslin Chapel. It is over 200 feet (61 metres) high, with 287 steps to four levels from which you can have spectacular views. The foundation stone was laid on August 15th 1840, Scott's birthday, and the inauguration ceremony was held six years later on the same date.

Look out for the 64 statues of characters from the books of Sir Walter Scott, the Edinburgh-born writer famous for his historical novels. Learn more of his story and how George Meikle Kemp designed this amazing Gothic structure - a prodigious building feat of its time. Some of the earliest photographs ever taken show the building of the monument in the 1840s.

The statue at the base of the monument is of Scott, with his dog Maida, by sculptor Sir John Steell, who carved it from Italian Carrara marble.

During adverse weather conditions (high winds especially) please check our Twitter feed @EdinCulture before travelling as the monument may be closed at short notice for safety reasons.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact. We take every opportunity to ensure the details for Scott Monument are accurate, please contact us at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk if any of the above information is incorrect.

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