Archive for May, 2009

Welcome to another post from Fabulous Journeys!

The Scottish Capital

I was just chatting up with one of my friends who now lives in Edinburgh the other day, and it reminded me of my previous visits to this historical Scottish capital city and how much I’ve missed the place. I’ve visited this place over three times already, and each time I always feel enchanted by it. The city has so much character and history and its people celebrate it with a great flair with the numerous festivals throughout the year. From the picturesque Princes Street Gardens to the imposing Edinburgh Castle, this place will give you a great impression the minute you see it. Edinburgh is definitely one of my favourite cities in Europe.

Edinburgh – Getting There

I’ve arrived into this city by train from London and by flight. The train from London is a great way to see the English countryside and some of the Scottish countryside. It generally takes 5 to 6 hours by train from London, and similarly on the bus. I also managed to fly to the Scottish capital on bmi Airlines, the best value airline I found flying from London Heathrow, and it only takes an hour to get there (which saved me a lot of time on my second trip).

Edinburgh’s Best

Edinburgh’s charm is evident once you get into the historic centre. You’ll find old Georgian and medieval style buildings, monuments, the winding road up to the cobblestoned Royal Mile, and the Edinburgh Castle. The city’s rugged and hilly terrain makes it a very picturesque city.

There are a lot of things you can see, do and experience in Edinburgh. Here are some of the top 8 things you can do and experience in Edinburgh (these are in no particular order):

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle sits on top of a hill and overlooks the old town of Edinburgh. The castle can be seen from Princes Street Gardens and Waverley train station. It has been in existence since the medieval times, and over the centuries have been destroyed by numerous wars and uprisings and then rebuilt. Its last purpose is as a military garrison, and up to this day, has some military significance to it. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo happens each year on the castle grounds, and is a military exhibition by the British armed forces.

On the castle itself, you will find fantastic views of the city of Edinburgh and a glimpse of Leith and the eastern shores of Scotland. There are numerous displays of what the castle used to be like and a great detail of the history of this castle. Names of famous Scottish legends like William Wallace (for those movie buff, the main character of the movie “Braveheart” by Mel Gibson) and Robert the Bruce.

The Royal Mile

This cobble-stoned strip of road starts from Edinburgh Castle and stretches all the way down to the Holyrood Abbey. It has a great collection of medieval and Georgian buildings including St. Giles Cathedral, a distinctive feature on the Edinburgh skyline, the Scottish High Court building, and many more conjoined buildings that have now been turned into shops. There are small passageways in between some of the buildings, and some offer a great view of the old town. This is a well-preserved historical area of the city, and it takes you back in time as to what the high street (or main street) of a medieval town must have looked like.

Princes Street and Scott Monument

Edinburgh - Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street is the new high street of Edinburgh. This is where you find all the UK high street label shops and boutiques, and where Edinburgh’s very own Jenners department store is situated. Jenners is Edinburgh’s version of Harrod’s in London, and is a great Scottish institution. Along Princes Street is also where you’ll find the Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street Gardens hold a distinctive monument called the Scott Monument, a gothic-style edifice dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, a great Scottish novelist and poet in the 17th Century. It’s a nice place to sit around and enjoy the view of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town on the other side of the gardens.

Arthur’s Seat

This hill starts from the Holyrood Palace and is situated on the opposite side to the Castle Rock, where Edinburgh Castle is located. It climbs to about 250m above the city and is a popular walk. It offers breathtaking views of the New Town, the Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Mile. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks are planted on this area, as well as around the 7 hills surrounding Edinburgh, and can offer a great vantage point.

Rosslyn Chapel

This medieval chapel used to be a small not-so-visited church in the village of Rosslyn, which is around 15 minutes away from Edinburgh city. However, in the recent years, it suddenly gained significant popularity. It’s claim-to-fame is its inclusion as one of the location of Dan Brown’s mega-popular bestselling novel “The Da Vinci Code”, which has already been turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. I have heard of this chapel being mentioned by my friend on my first visit, years before The Da Vinci Code novel came out, as it has a lot of intricate stonework and great history around the chapel. I didn’t take much notice and wasn’t in my must-visit places. But since I read the novel and became a fan of it, I made it a point to see this chapel on my third visit to Edinburgh. I must say that the hype made the novel has done me a huge favour, as it is one of the best preserved medieval churches that I’ve ever visited in the UK! It’s really worth the visit, with or without the hype.

Haggis and Scotch Whiskey

Oh, the Haggis! This famous (or infamous, depending on how you see it) Scottish dish is something you must try while in Edinburgh. There are a lot of pubs that offer this, and is typical served with turnips and gravy. I won’t describe the Haggis on my blog, as it may not be very appetising to those who don’t know it, but being a traditional Scottish dish, it is worth a try. If you just ignore or refuse to know what it’s made of, it actually tastes great! Another great contribution of the Scots is the Scotch Whiskey!  There are a number of shops that offer whiskey tasting, and it’s definitely worth checking them out. I’m not a big fan of scotch, so I can’t recommend any, but there is definitely a wide range to choose from.

Edinburgh Ghost Tour

This may seem odd to some people but it is one of the most worthwhile tours to do if you’re into spooky things! Edinburgh had a dark past. Being an ancient city that has gone through wars and conflict, it definitely has its fair share of horror stories and gruesome deaths. The boom in the medical profession in the late 19th Century and Edinburgh’s reputation as a great centre of learning for the medical field led to a shortage of fresh dead bodies to be used for experimentation and learning. This led to several mysterious murders around the city which were done all for the sake of science. The Ghost Tour will take you to the places where these have taken place, into some old, cold underground caves, cemeteries and cathedrals that is guaranteed to spook you out! According to the guides, some of the tourists who have a strong sense of the spirit world have seen and heard the ghosts appear and speak to them!

Hogmanay

Hogmanay is perhaps the biggest festival that Edinburgh puts out each year. It happens during the week of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and is a week-long celebration. Legend has it that this started out as a Viking tradition that has become part of the Scottish tradition. Princes Street Gardens is covered with an ice skating rink, a giant ferris wheel, and lots of small booths selling goodies and products. There are processions and activities in the lead-up to New Year’s Eve, where they have lots of bands and stages performing around the city. Fireworks around the 7 hills is one of the great spectacles. It’s one of the liveliest New Year’s celebrations in the world, and the biggest in Britain.

Definitely more can be experienced in Edinburgh, but these are just a few of the highlights that I’ve experienced. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post.

Til the next Fabulous Journeys!

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