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Where is Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Castle

This guest post is by Graham Spence who recently spent a few days in Edinburgh which is situated some 80km east of Glasgow.

While having a short visit to Edinburgh by far my favourite part of the day was taking a stroll down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace Of Hollyroodhouse. Standing high above the city, Edinburgh Castle is a magnificent sight. Not only is it a historic monument but also a working military establishment where the Scottish Division headquarters are based.

Throughout the ages the castle was continually besieged, held by the English as well as the Scottish, Badly damaged many times this is why the castle now hosts such a mix of architectural styles.

Not only was the castle of great importance during Scotland’s Wars of Independence but it was also the seat of the Scottish Kings. You can still see the little room in the Royal Apartments where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James who would eventually become James VI of Scotland and James I of England.

The castle offers a spectacular view of Edinburgh city and the surrounding area. As we walked from the castle courtyard where preparations were being made for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, I realised that there were so many interesting things around me, that we really hadn’t left ourselves enough time to take everything in. Just outside the castle is Witches Well, a cast iron wall fountain commemorating the place where over three hundred women were burned at the stake accused of being witches. It is situated at the entrance to the Castle esplanade on the west wall of the Tartan Weaving Mill and is quite easy to miss. During the 16th Century more witch burnings were carried out at Castlehill than anywhere else in the country. The victims often suffered brutal torture before being put to death at the stake.

Just across the street is an attraction called Camera Obscurra, Built in the 19th century, Camera Obscura has been in operation for more than 150 years. A mirror and a lens project a ‘live’ image of the surrounding area onto a large concaved dish in a darkened room. The panoramic views show Edinburgh in amazing detail. During 1945 the original mirror and lens were replaced. Camera Obscura also contains the largest display of holograms in Europe as well a fascinating exhibition of optical illusions, pin-hole photography and early photographs of Old Edinburgh.

Two things that struck me that day was the amount of American and Australian Tourists that were on the mile, today’s technology enabling the American businessman standing next to me to be in touch with his office catching up on the days’ news whilst entering the Whiskey Heritage Centre, which was once Castlehill School.

Scotland has been producing whisky for more than 300 years, and the Whisky Heritage Centre is a fun and interesting way to learn about the history of Scotland’s national drink. The whisky barrel ride brings this story to life using sound, smell and life-like figures, and you can also meet the resident ghost who used to be a master blender. The second thing that amazed me was the amount of pubs and inns on the mile, my favourite pub is The Worlds End, a really lively establishment situated at Worlds End Close. So called because this literally was, the end of most people’s world.

Military Tattoo

Situated just inside the Netherbow Gate, poorer residents who couldn’t afford the entrance fee back into the city stayed there whole lives within the confines of the City Walls.

On the opposite side of the road is Mary Kings Close, the name of Mary King’s Close is thought to have originated from the property owner and advocate to Mary Queen of Scots Alexander King whose daughter was also called Mary.

Don’t miss this opportunity to visit this most famous Close where you will experience the sights, sounds and maybe even smells of an amazing street that time forgot. Where everyday people went about their day to day lives and where you can now walk in their footsteps. Perhaps you’ll even get to meet them…

During 1645 life of the Close was shattered forever. The plague struck this little community and there is a myth that the local council decided to contain the plague by incarcerating the victims, bricking up the close for several years and leaving them inside to die. It is likely that this is why the close was nicknamed ‘street of sorrows’ with the Palace in sight at the bottom of the hill there was so many interesting things to see that my watch was beating me, I had no idea it would be so time consuming, I would recommend at least a full day to complete that mile, and we had only given ourselves the afternoon.

Just time to visit the Tollbooth Inn, part of the Cannon Gate Tollbooth, The Tolbooth was built in 1591, it was here that the tolls or public dues were collected. It also served as the council house, courtroom and prison. The People’s story museum is situated in the old Canongate Tolbooth. This fascinating museum tells the history of Edinburgh’s people, across the street the Museum of Edinburgh traces the history of the capital from prehistoric times to the present day. So much to see and so much to learn, I really need to go back with more time to take it all in.

The centre pieces of the mile obviously the castle at the top of the mile and the Palace at the bottom, The Palace of Holyroodhouse has played a central role in Scotland’s history ever since its foundation as an Augustian monastery by King David I of Scotland nearly 900 years ago.

One of the many Pubs

Rebuilt by James V of Scotland, the Palace was to become the home of his daughter, Mary Queen of Scots and the scene for many of the most dramatic and tragic events of her reign, culminating in the murder in the palace of her secretary, David Rizzio in 1566. Today Holyroodhouse is The Queen’s official residence whilst in Scotland.

The palace now also houses a significant part of the Royal Collection, with paintings and works of art on display both within the palace itself and in the Queens Gallery next door. But so many places to see in between, and so much atmosphere in the area, many tales of witchcraft and ghost stories, the perfect end to the day for the not faint hearted is the Murder and Mystery Tour, Venture through the darkened alleyways of the old town with Adam Lyal (deceased), a highwayman executed in Edinburgh’s grass market for his crimes in 1811, or if you prefer the Ghosts and Gore Tour of the Royal Miles closes and courtyards, led by Alexander Clapper ton (deceased), Merchant, philanthropist, and Cemetery Director.

Map

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One Great Reason to Visit Edinburgh

One great reason to visit Edinburgh is not only to see Edinburgh Castle but to enjoy the magnificent view of Edinburgh from the castle top.

Edinburgh, Scotland

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