Convenience at a Cost? Calton Hill, the National Monument, and the Question of Dignity

Calton Hill is one of Edinburgh’s most celebrated public spaces. Open to the public since 1724, it is among the oldest parks in Britain and today forms part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is admired for its panoramic views over the city, from Edinburgh Castle to Arthur’s Seat and the Firth of Forth, and is consistently listed in travel guides and visitor reviews as a “must-see” attraction. Its monuments reinforce its importance: the Nelson Monument commemorates Admiral Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, the Dugald Stewart Monument honours the Enlightenment philosopher, and the National Monument, begun in 1822 as a memorial to those who died in the Napoleonic Wars, stands as an unfinished icon of the city. These, together with the City Observatory and open landscape, have long secured Calton Hill’s reputation as part of the “Athens of the North.”

The hill has also been a stage for civic life, from Chartist rallies in the nineteenth century to astronomical research and today’s Beltane Fire Festival. Its layered history makes it one of the city’s most significant civic spaces. It is therefore no surprise that when portable toilets were placed at the base of the National Monument in summer 2025, the decision prompted strong criticism. The Cockburn Association described the siting as “crass and disrespectful,” warning that temporary measures risk undermining the dignity of a national war memorial. The question is not whether Calton Hill should have facilities, with thousands of weekly visitors, particularly in the festival season, they are essential, but how and where they are provided.

The controversy highlights a deeper problem. Toilets do exist on the hill, but they are not open to the public. Despite its global profile, Calton Hill has lacked adequate, accessible permanent facilities for years. The decision to rely on portable units was not the outcome of long-term planning but a short-term response to mounting pressure. Calton Hill is one of Edinburgh’s most popular destinations, consistently ranked among the city’s top attractions in guidebooks and on platforms such as Tripadvisor. Its combination of monuments, history, and panoramic views makes it a place that visitors and residents alike expect to be managed to the highest standard. The absence of adequate public facilities is therefore at odds with its reputation and importance.

This lack of provision is particularly disappointing given the major restoration projects undertaken on the hill in recent decades. The Nelson Monument and City Observatory complex, for example, have benefited from significant heritage investment. These projects were opportunities to incorporate accessible public toilets into refurbished facilities, yet they were missed. As a result, Calton Hill has been left without the basic amenities expected at a site of its stature, and the current reliance on portable units only underscores the shortcomings of past planning.

Temporary toilets placed beside the National Monument show the risks of expediency. A war memorial conceived in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars should not be reduced to the backdrop for plastic cabins. Choices about how visitors are accommodated on such sites influence perceptions of Edinburgh’s respect for its own heritage. If convenience overrides dignity here, it risks eroding public confidence in how the city manages its most valued landscapes.

Other cities demonstrate that heritage and practicality can coexist. In Bruges, public toilets in historic areas such as the Provincial Court on Market Square are integrated into restored heritage buildings, ensuring accessibility while respecting the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status. In Paris, amenities along the UNESCO-protected Banks of the Seine use sympathetic materials to blend into historic parks and boulevards, maintaining the integrity of world-renowned vistas. These examples illustrate that it is possible to meet visitor needs without compromising cultural value. On Calton Hill, permanent facilities could be built near the car park or adapted from existing non-heritage structures, designed in consultation with conservation architects and fully accessible to the public. While such investment is significant, it would be more sustainable than recurring reliance on temporary units and would align with the city’s obligations as steward of a World Heritage Site.

Heritage is not only about monuments but about how spaces are managed and experienced. Small decisions, such as the placement of toilets, send strong signals about civic priorities. The controversy of summer 2025 is therefore not a minor issue but emblematic of Edinburgh’s wider challenge in balancing visitor needs with respect for heritage. Calton Hill has been a civic park for three centuries, is home to some of the city’s most iconic monuments, and remains one of its most visited attractions. Its management should reflect that importance.

The city now has an opportunity to demonstrate that it can move beyond stopgap measures. Permanent, sensitively designed facilities would meet visitor needs while protecting the dignity of the site. They would signal civic pride, respect for the past, and foresight in planning for the future. Calton Hill deserves nothing less than a solution that ensures convenience and dignity go hand in hand, a model for how Edinburgh should manage its most treasured places.

Sources & Further Reading

• Portable toilets at Calton Hill war monument ‘crass and disrespectful’ – The Times, August 2025
• Cockburn Association, statement on Calton Hill (X/Twitter, 12 August 2025)
• Historic Environment Scotland, Calton Hill Conservation Area Character Appraisal
• UNESCO, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site
• City of Edinburgh Council, Parks and Green Spaces Strategy
• Visit Bruges, Practical Information: Public Toilets – www.visitbruges.be
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris, Banks of the Seine – whc.unesco.org

Image: G. Gainey