Why you would Surely Fall in Love with Edinburgh

Edinburgh is like a heavenly concoction that I want to relish again and again. It is a combination of high-rise medieval buildings crisscrossed by narrow cobbled alleys on one side, and rows of stylish, elegant Georgian buildings lined on large avenues, on the other. It is an awesome mixture of the Old Town’s jumbled old tenements and the New Town’s symmetrically-arranged neo-classical buildings that altogether create the town’s distinctive personality.

EDINBURGH SETTING

Edinburgh is picturesque. Aside from the two beautiful contrasting corners of the city, what completes the town’s picture-perfect setting is its intimate relationship with nature. It is a town consists of a mighty Castle clinging on steep rugged rock overlooking the rustic buildings, verdant hills and craggy cliffs with a sweeping view of the whole town and a bit of the blue sea beyond, monuments perched on top of a hill with grassy slopes and a breathtaking panorama of the city, and a number of green spaces scattered around.

EDINBURGH FESTIVALS

Though tourists instantaneously fall in love with Edinburgh’s medieval and classic structures assembled in the city center, the town has more to offer. Scotland’s capital is popular worldwide for its series of festivals that exhibit both modern and contemporary arts, showcase talents of finest performers and artists, and hold a range of events and entertainment. Famous festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival are held in the month of August so expect the town to be packed with both tourists and performers.

EDINBURGH FOR BOOK LOVERS

Edinburgh is a literary destination – a mecca for literature lovers. It is the home of many celebrated writers including the English historical novelist, Sir Walter Scott, the popular author of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson, and the renowned writer of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Several tours are designed to explore the city’s extensive collection of literary works and to discover its literary roots.

EDINBURGH AS LITERARY INSPIRATION

Scotland’s capital is an inspiration to many great authors. The phenomenal fantasy novel of JK Rowling, the Harry Potter, drew inspiration from the town’s setting and landscape. Many Potter fans visit Edinburgh to catch sight of the location that inspired Hogwarts and visit the spot where JK Rowling drafted the best-selling series.

GETTING AROUND

Getting around Edinburgh could be best enjoyed by foot. Walking on narrow passageways will bring you to hidden undergrounds and also courtyards that will surprise you with unexpected views of the city. Though buses are readily available, Edinburgh is a small town that you could easily roam around. It is a town where you would not worry if you get lost because the landmarks are located on top of a hill or a cliff that you would not lose sight of. But you will be delighted if in case you did, because most likely, you would uncover the beautiful details of the city.

EDINBURGH CASTLE

Sitting on top of a rocky hill is Edinburgh’s iconic castle with a commanding view of the whole town. It was once a fortress and a royal palace and now a museum preserving Scotland’s history and heritage.

This is a spot you should not miss when visiting Edinburgh. Take time to explore every corner of the castle complex and admire the panoramic views overlooking the city. Have a look at the weapons and armors displayed inside the Great Hall and adore the crown jewels and the stone of destiny exhibited inside the Royal Palace. Also, take the chance to peek inside St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest surviving structure not only within the walls of the castle but of whole Edinburgh.

If you want to learn more about the historical fortress, you can look into the other museums such as the National War Museum, Scottish National War Memorial, and Prisons of War. But keep an eye of your watch, if you do not want to miss the firing of the One O’clock Gun. The gun is fired at exactly 1 pm each day, except on Sundays. In the past, the sound of the gun is a time signal, essential to the ships docked in the ports of Leith and Firth of Forth. Since then, it has become a tradition that visitors look forward to their visit to Edinburgh.

THE ROYAL MILE

A walk along the stretch of the famous Royal Mile that extends from the Castle of Edinburgh down to the Palace of Holyrood is the best way to start your day in town. Treading the narrow, cobblestoned streets lined with old buildings is not only a delight to the eye but also a good idea to acquaint yourself with the city’s steeped history.

You will never run short of things to do in Royal Mile – from Castle Hill to Lawnmarket, then moving to High Street, down to the Canongate, and finally to Abbey Strand. For sure you will get trapped in one of those streets that make up the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

In Castlehill, catch sight of the spired Gothic tower, called the Hub. This eye-catching building along the Royal Mile is used as a venue for several festivals and events. You might also choose to spend your time in Camera Obscura & World of Illusions to discover all kinds of illusions plus a surprising panorama of the city from its rooftop terrace. If alcoholic beverage is your thing, try the Scotch Whisky Experience and make your own blend of whiskey.

In Lawnmarket, notice the gilded bird of prey hanging on a building. This is Gladstone’s Land, one of the oldest tenements in the Old Town now turned into a museum. Here you could have a feel of how life was in the Royal Mile during the 17th century. In this same street, book lovers might want to consume their time inside the Writer’s Museum while curious visitors could opt to go underground in Mary King’s Close to uncover history beneath the streets of the Royal Mile.

Descending down to the streets of Canongate and further to the Abbey Strand, you will get to see more historical buildings such as the Museum of Edinburgh, Canongate Kirk, and so on. Don’t worry if you get tired and hungry, there’s a lot of cafes, pubs, and restaurants to choose from this popular thoroughfare.

ST GILES CATHEDRAL

One of the notable buildings along the Royal Mile is St Giles’ Cathedral easily recognizable on Edinburgh’s skyline by its crown spire. Though the Church is not as grand as that of those in Rome and London, you would be missing out its lovely interior if you would not get in. It is worthwhile to have some time exploring the inside of the Cathedral and marveling its ceilings and stained glass windows.

Don’t miss to check out the Thistle Chapel. You would adore this corner of the Church for its detailed wood carvings on its walls and ceilings. If you want to learn more about this place of worship you could join a tour which could get you a chance to go up the rooftop and see a beautiful perspective of the city.

PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE

At the bottom end of the Royal Mile is a royal edifice, called the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is the official Scottish residence of the monarchy for centuries now where Her Majesty the Queen holds official ceremonies and engagements when in Scotland.

It is a good idea to culminate your Royal Mile Walk with a visit to the palace which witnessed a series of events in royal history. Explore its grounds, peep into the state apartments, roam around its gardens, and check out the ruins of the old Church. Don’t miss to climb the steps up to the Chambers of the famous Mary, Queen of Scots. Notice the peculiar ambiance of her apartment and learn about the dramatic episodes of her reign as a Queen.

HOLYROOD PARK AND ARTHUR’S SEAT

After the historic walk in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, it’s time to appreciate the city’s nature in Holyrood Park, just adjacent to Holyrood Palace. Stretch out your energy and climb the highest point in the park, Arthur’s Seat. Like the Castle Rock where Edinburgh Castle sits, Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano famous to both locals and tourists for its gorgeous panoramic view of the city.

Take time to enjoy nature at Holyrood Park which consists of hills, lochs, and cliffs. It’s wonderful to catch the morning light at the peak of Arthur’s Seat and revel in the morning dew. But it’s also lovely to watch the sunset at the top of the hill and wait until the city starts to open their lights and see it glitter at night. While in the Park, check out the remnants of an old Church of St. Anthony’s, just above St. Margaret’s Loch. Though the origin of the Church is unknown, the ruins are the only structure that can be found in the park that is a pretty background to its surrounding environment.

PRINCES STREET AND SCOTT MONUMENT

In Edinburgh, you can go shopping high-end clothing brands while enjoying the view of the historical Old Town at Princes Street. This major thoroughfare in the city’s New Town is lined with shops on one side and green spaces on the other. If you are done with your shopping, you can cross the road and spend time at Princes Street Gardens where you can have a beautiful perspective of Edinburgh Castle. The Garden is dotted with several monuments and sculptures as a memento to the fallen heroes of wars and to the prominent personalities of Scotland.

One of the imposing structures by the Princes street is the spired Gothic monument of a Scottish writer, Sir Walter Scott. You can climb its spiral steps to reach the viewing platforms and be rewarded with stunning vistas of the city. The nearby Waverley Station, Edinburgh’s main railway station, was named after Scott’s most popular book series, the Waverley Novels.

CALTON HILL

Rising at the eastern end of Princes Street is another extinct volcano overlooking the city, the Calton Hill. It is an easy climb which will provide you with a 360o view of the whole of Edinburgh. Both the Castlehill and Arthur’s Seat could be clearly observed from the summit of the hill. Yet, what is interesting in getting to Calton Hill are the historical monuments randomly built at the top. There is the unfinished National Monument with its 12 pillars inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. It was built as a memorial to the Scottish soldiers who have died in the Napoleonic wars. Though never completed, it is still a popular landmark in the city.

A favorite photograph of Calton Hill features the Dugald Stewart Monument with a commanding view of the city and the Castle Rock at the far end. Though the scene from the hill is already satisfying, you could still take the steps up the Nelson Monument to have uninterrupted views of Edinburgh. The Nelson Monument was constructed to commemorate the death of Admiral Lord Nelson after their victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. However, the monument has, later on, played a vital role in navigation as a time ball was installed at the top of the tower that enables ships to set their chronometers accurately.