THE MOUND

'The Mound' is an artificial hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, which connects Edinburgh's New Town and its Old Town. It was formed by the dumping of 1,501,000 cartloads of earth excavated from the draining of the Nor' Loch - which today forms Princes Street Gardens and the foundations of Princes Street[1]. The Mound was officially opened in 1781. With the coming of the railways, tunnels were driven under The Mound to allow access to the west by rail.

Some of Edinburgh's most notable buildings and institutions have their premises on The Mound, including the National Gallery of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Academy, the spires of New College, the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland, and the elegant domed Headquarters of the Bank of Scotland.
Today The Mound is a busy, if fairly steep, thoroughfare taking traffic from Princes Street, over the Royal Mile and into the Old Town. Due to its raised elevation, the Mound commands expansive views over Princes Street and the New Town of Edinburgh and towards Calton Hill.
See also:

★ Sermon on the Mound