A huge plume of white smoke could be seen as far away as Fife on Sunday evening after a fire broke out on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. The blaze ignited below Salisbury Crags at around 18:40, close to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and quickly tore through gorse – a yellow flowering shrub covering the hillside. Six appliances from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched, with firefighters seen dousing the flames. Police Scotland closed Queens Drive from the roundabout near Pollock Halls down to Dynamic Earth, urging drivers to use alternative routes. No casualties were reported, and officials asked the public not to call operations control about the incident.
The fire comes during a prolonged dry spell that has already triggered a major wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, where six square kilometres of land have been scorched and homes, campsites and a ski resort evacuated. That blaze, burning since Wednesday, is now described as “largely surrounded” by park bosses, though the situation remains live. On Arthur’s Seat, witness Tasha, who filmed the fire and shared it on X, said: “We were actually finishing up our dinner and leaving the city when we saw the smoke. I hope it’s under control now, as it seemed to be spreading so fast when we were there.” Chris Murray, MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, posted a warning on X: “Very worried to see the fire in Holyrood Park on Arthur’s Seat. Please take care everyone and stay away from the fire. I understand the fire brigade are aware.”
“Fire crews battle blaze on Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat as smoke visible from Fife, with no casualties reported.”
The same area of Arthur’s Seat was scorched in August 2025, when firefighters tackled that blaze for at least six days. The cause of Sunday’s fire has not been specified, but officials noted that the UK is facing what experts describe as a “firewave” – a cluster of wildfires near towns and cities, often ignited by human activity such as discarded cigarettes or arson. Crews remained at the scene on Sunday night, and the situation continues to develop.
