Burns Monument

Burns Monument is a Greek Revival memorial to Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, at 1759 Regent Road in Edinburgh. The small circular temple sits on a terrace overlooking Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, with broad views across the city. Look for the Corinthian columns and the sculpture of three griffins around a central urn. The setting suits a quiet pause, an architectural stop or a photo break; you can also use the monument as a starting point for a walk up Calton Hill.

A temple in tribute to Robert Burns

The Burns Monument commemorates Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. It was built in 1830 with money raised through public subscriptions from his admirers. Rather than a statue of the poet, it is an architectural memorial: a small circular temple set on a terrace above the road.

Its Greek Revival design includes a square base, a solid circular structure and a colonnade of Corinthian columns. Above the temple, three griffins place their paws around a central urn. The classical form gives the memorial a distinct presence against the open hillside.

Views over Holyrood Park and Edinburgh

The monument’s position looks out over Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, as well as the southern parts of Edinburgh. It makes a useful place to pause for a city view or take photographs from beside the road. The setting is quiet and exposed, so a jacket is useful on a breezy day.

The site is a little away from the main residential area, and reaching it can involve uneven or challenging terrain for people with mobility concerns. From here, you can continue on foot toward Calton Hill.