Scott Monument, Edinburgh 1971

Dominating the eastern end of Princes Street Gardens, the Scott Monument is one of Edinburgh’s most striking landmarks. Erected in honour of Sir Walter Scott, the celebrated Scottish novelist and poet, the monument is a towering Gothic spire that rises 200 feet into the sky, making it the largest monument to a writer anywhere in the world.

Unveiled in 1846, just 14 years after Scott’s death, the monument was designed by George Meikle Kemp in a richly detailed Victorian Gothic style. Inside, a spiral staircase of 287 steps leads to a series of viewing platforms, offering spectacular views over the city and beyond.

At its base sits a marble statue of Scott seated with his dog Maida, sculpted by Sir John Steell. Around the monument are dozens of carvings and figures drawn from Scott’s novels and Scottish history, making it as much a celebration of literature as of national identity.