Leigh Travel Club

 

Edinburgh – Best Bits

 

Edinburgh is a wonderful city, packed with beautiful scenery, culture and history.  When Leigh Travel Club asked for a short piece about this fabulous place, I thought easy, I’ve lived here for thirty years; know it like the back of my hand.  It has been, however, much more difficult than I originally imagined.  I think it’s because the place is so crammed full of interest that it’s almost impossible to know where to begin.  Instead after much deliberation here are some of my favourite bits….

 

 

Holyrood Park

There is definitely something magical about this place.  Is it because people have inhabited the place as long as ten thousand years ago, or is it because its such a wilderness in the middle of a city with phenomenal views or just the sheer beauty of it?  It is possible to walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat, to skirt the edge and walk along the top of the breathtakingly beautiful crags or to walk through the middle of the park.  Whichever route it chosen a visit to Edinburgh would not be complete without spending a few hours in the park. 

 

Dunsapie loch in HolyroodPark – a love token from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria    

 

 

The Royal Mile   

I’m not sure that it would be possible to do the High Street justice in one day.  There is just so much!  Between the castle at the top and Holyrood Palace at the bottom there are several museums, closes to explore and so much atmosphere to savour that I think a couple of trips would be necessary.  Canongate Kirk cemetery has some very interesting spots including the grave of Clarinda, sweetheart of Robert Burns.  The People’s Story is definitely worth a look as it looks at the lives of working folk in Edinburgh.  

 

 

Canongate Kirk, Holyrood Palace and The Scottish Parliament

 

Princes Street

What other city has such a fabulous main shopping street with shops on one side only and a fairy tale castle on the other with the lovely Princes Street gardens in between.  Parallel to Princes Street there are other shopping and eating areas worth a look. Thistle Street is narrow, atmospheric and packed with interesting pubs and restaurants.  Next is George Street which has some more up market pubs and shops and breathtaking views down to the new town and over the Firth of Forth to Fife, try saying that one after a night on the town!  Midway along Princes Street lies the Mound with the twin glories of the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Art Gallery.  Both of these buildings are beautiful to behold not least because of their location planted firmly bang in the middle of Princes Street gardens but the wonders within merit at least one visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Scottish Academy and National Galleries on the Mound

Lothian Road

 

This area has long had a bit of a reputation for sleaze.  Some of the pubs may be a bit risqué but culture abounds.  There is the fantastic Usher Hall, behind which lies the Traverse Theatre (great for cutting edge productions and with great drinking and eating areas)and just round the corner from the Lyceum Theatre.  Opposite the Usher Hall is The Filmhouse an independent cinema with a great bar and which shows loads of leading UK and European art house and mainstream films.  I think it is fairly tricky to find anything other than great cinema in this place.  Then a short walk up the road to Tollcross lies the King’s Theatre.  So in many ways this area is strongly reminiscent of Edinburgh’s Jekyll and Hyde personality.

 

 

Traverse and Usher Hall

 

Dean Village and Gallery of Modern Art

Taking a stroll along the Water of Leith beside the Dean Village feels like stepping not only back in time but into the countryside.  Much of the city disappears and the river, greenery and wildlife make you feel as if you are miles away.  The Gallery of Modern Art is best reached this way and the landscaped gardens surrounding the gallery are worth exploring.  Below, the Dean Bridge and the view looking down, pretty urban!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scottish Museum

This seems to be in the process of being renamed The Royal Museum but whatever the name it is a glorious place to visit.  Thankfully they’ve done away with the entrance fee and so it continues to serve many purposes.  Just to wander in to soak up the glory of the vast galleried entrance atrium takes your breath away, but that’s before you’ve thought about the huge array of artefacts contained in this building.  There is also a new extension with a fantastic rooftop restaurant and masses of interesting exhibitions, hands on areas which children love, history, geology, antiquity, geology – it is just full of wonder and a great place to spend many hours.

 

 

That’s a whirlwind tour of the very centre of Edinburgh.  All of these spots are within easy walking distance of one another.  There is also the rural beauty and huge, empty, golden beaches of East Lothian half an hour’s drive away.  Adjacent to Edinburgh city centre on one side is the faded, splendour of Portobello and its lovely, long, promenade.  To the west lies Silverknowes with yet another even longer promenade.  October is a lovely time to visit Edinburgh as the trees are showing off their beautiful autumn colours, there are lots of dramatic sunsets to silhouette the spires and steeples on the dramatic skyline.  Then again August is also fabulous with all the Festivals in full flow, the High Street packed with every sort of street theatre and the twenty four hour buzz and excitement.  December is another good month to visit to enjoy the Hogmanay festivities.  Actually, just have a look; any time of year, Edinburgh is definitely worth at least one visit.                                

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

                          

                                                         
Brass Monkey
14 Drummond Street, EDINBURGH, EH8 9TU.
0131 556 1961
An ancient spit and sawdust pub that recently made the transition to catering to a more cosmopolitan and modern clientele. Open fireplace surrounded by comfy sofas for the winter months. Some handy back rooms with indoor cinema. Its now firmly a student haunt where alternative scene types will not feel out of place. Said to have been a watering hole of the great and the good, i.e. Gordon Brown, Donald Dewar, Lord McClusky, in its previous incarnation, 'Stewart's bar. Door policy firmly based around 'three wise monkeys.'