Edinburgh Things to Do Tips by scotlandscotour Top 5 Page for this destination

Scottish Crannog Centre - Loch Tay - Perth

The Crannog is an Iron age dwelling reconstructed by underwater archaeologists

It is a 4 star attraction! Go inside and learn crafts like fire lighting and spinning!

This place is unique - and gives you a great insight into the lives of Scotland's early settlers ... and gets you thinking!

It is a wonderful counter-balance to all those castles and kings.

Great scenery too!

Follow this link for more about Crannog

Visit Grassmarket - Great Pubs & Food, Trendy Eating and Drinking Review

visit Grassmarket, just down off the Royal Mile, below George IV Bridge, for a cosmopolitan atmosphere, lively bars and good restaurants - most un Scottish!

A great place to hang out - day or night. Very central, good hostels, hotels and shops nearby.

Feels very cosmopolitan.

Address: Grassmarket

Directions: By Royal Mile and west end of Cowgate, beneath George IV Bridge.

Turn down opposite National Library.

Other Contact: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Website: http://www.multimap.co.uk

Edinburgh View From Salisbury Crags

For a wonderful view of the city, without the effort or time to climb Arthur's Seat, head along the paths on Salisbury Crags - the very obvious sandstone rock before the full hill ascends. As well as joggers and photographers, you'll see Fulmers swooping and get wonderful scents off the flowering Gorse bushes (yellow flowers).

The Crags are now managed by Historic Scotland (also looking after Holyrood), so they don't like rock climbing - though you'll likey be tempted!

Directions: Same as for Arthur's Seat.

Other Contact: www.visitscotland.com

Website: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Edinburgh Castle - View of the City Castle Review

View Image Full Size To See Locations*

Typical views of the Edinburgh - from the Castle - just to give you the 'feel' of the place.

*The green area is part of Princes Gardens, on the north side of the Castle, a beautiful haven within the city. A very popular place. In the centre of this, the pointy tower (blackened by soot from all the coal fires Edinburgh used to have) is the *Scott Monument (Sir Walter).

*The two large buildings in the foreground are National Galleries - good for an hour especially in rain! If you look closely you will realise the gardens are used by the trains to reach Waverley Station*. Sigh.

The large block of a building (right of Scot monument) is an hotel* and beneath that is the main Tourist Information Office and Waverley Train Station*. Beyond that and further right is the old Observatory* - no longer able to cope with light pollution - but very significant and a delightful walk / views etc.

On the sky-line is the port of Leith* and the Forth Estuary, the Firth of Forth*.

I hope that makes sense!! Enlarge Pic to see.

Address: Edinburgh castle, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Directions: Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, view north over City.

Other Contact: http://www.edinburgh.org/

Website: http://www.visitscotland.com

Museum of Scotland - NEW & FREE National Museum and Gallery of Scotland Review

A Fantastic place, a delight, refreshing and informative. Go time and time again.

The Museum of Scotland tells the history of Scotland from its geological beginnings to the present day through the national collections. A striking piece of architecture that holds the treasured objects of Scotland's past and present. Free guided tours and audio tours are available.

Free admission! Adjacent to and joined with the Royal Museum.

Great Cafe ... for food, service and anbiance!

Opening Times: Jan - Dec.
Mon - Sat : 1000 - 1700 (open until 2000 on Tuesdays).
Sun : 1200 - 1700.

STB Award: ***** (5 stars = top score)

Disabled Facilities: Yes, Parking: Yes
Toilets: Yes, Shops: Yes
Eating Places: Yes (Great view from rooftop restaurant! Excellent cafe in the Royal Museum, ground floor - see photo)

Tel: 0131 247 4422
Fax: 0131 220 4819
Email: info@nms.ac.uk

Address: Address: Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Directions: Just off the Royal Mile (pass the National Library)

Other Contact: http://www.edinburgh.org/

Phone: 0044 131 247 4422

Website: http://www.nms.ac.uk

Edinburgh Castle - a view from behind Castle Review

This view of the Castle shows the road along which coaches park. It also shows the steep rock upon which the castle sits. This is an old volcanic plug of lava, and the Royal Mile that slopes gently down to the royal palace of Holyrood is a lava flow.

Those not wishing to part with money can get excellent views of the City from the Castle Esplanade for free. (Best in the morning).
Walking around the base of the Castle (to the left on this picture) takes you on a footpath into Princes Street Gardens. You'll notice how the rock, like the buildings is blackened by soot from the old coal chimneys - that gave the City the name "Auld Reakie".

The Castle is expensive to get in (9.50 I think nowadays) so if your budget is tight, don't worry, inside isn't so great. Like so many things, its the fear of missing out that persuades you to go in, then its a disappointment. For that money it is questionable.

If you want to see inside, go early and beat the crowds!

Historic Scotland membership is very sensible. Also check out the Explorer Pass - various types - giving you access to many Historic Scotland Sites and a great saving!

Information about the Explorer Pass can be found directly from my Scotland Tip - http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/70ef2/f8/1/ - Click link and scroll down.

Address: Edinburgh

Directions: Centre of Edinburgh

Other Contact: www.historic-scotland.org.uk

Website: http://www.edinburgh.org/

Arthur's Seat - Old Volcano in the Heart of City Arthur's Seat Review

A visit to Edinburgh is never complete without scaling the summit of Arthur's Seat, for a magnificent view, and the camaradery of fellow tourists, similarly breathless.

You will see Edinburgh laid out before you, be able to spot most of the main attractions, (as well as the Forth Rail Bridge & Estuary) and get some welcome exercise.

Allow a good hour, or two, and take water, food and warm clothing. Where else can you walk up a hill like this in the centre of such a beautiful city? It's like being God up there! But do take care as it has steep parts best avoided.

This picture was taken in Spring, and is of the southern approach, near the Commonwealth Swimming Pool. It is less busy than the way up from Holyrood. The summit can just be seen, through the trees.

Also see Salisbury Crags Tip. An enjoyable, shorter walk lower down the hill but with enough height for views of Edinburgh.

Directions: Next to Holyrood Palace, at lower end of the Royal Mile. Also can be approached from the Commonwealth Pool.

Other Contact: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Website: http://www.multimap.co.uk

The River Tay, North Of Edinburgh - Beautiful

Just north of Edinburgh is the ancient county of Perthshire, a huge county that includes rugged Highland and gentle Lowland scenery in abundance.

The market town (or mini city) of Perth is just 40 minutes from Edinburgh, along the M90 motorway, and you'll really appreciate the freshness of the scenery, the clean air and open space.

Perth is where scotland began, where Kings first came together and created a nation, with Scone Palace now occupying the site of Pictish & Scottish Chiefs' crowning. Well worth exploring.

Perth is a beautiful, quiet, unassuming town, of 50,000 people. Now a thriving and popular place - it grew up as the best crossing point of the mighty River Tay, and a harbour for ships entering Scotland up the Tay. The Romans were preceded many centuries before by nomads in wood canoes, first settlers of this land after the ice age.

Perthshire and Tayside are full of historic sites, stone circles, iron and bronze age remains, castles and is a centre for high quality malt whisky - with both the oldest and smallest distilleries in Scotland.

Perth and the River Tay are best loved for the countryside, the richness and beauty of fields, lochs, woods and hills that is mind blowing. it hardly matters that the oldest living thing in all Europe is here (Fortingall Yew Tree) or Britain's tallest trees.

Address: Perth City, Tayside, Scotland

Directions: See my many pictures and extensive tips for Perth and Tayside.

I promise, you'll love it.

Other Contact: www.multimap.co.uk

Website: http://www.perthshire.co.uk

Obscure Shops On Cobbled Streets - My Favourite Old Town Review

This is a wonderful, curving street - much photographed - with its very unusual shops, cobbled street and lovely atmosphere.

Its the best way to reach Grassmarket from the Royal Mile - a lovely walk around town!!

Some good bars too - Irish theme bars - and lively, but during the day its like stepping back in time a few hundred years.

Address: Victoria Street

Directions: By Grassmarket and Royal Mile

Other Contact: www.visitscotland.com

Website: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=326000&Y=674000&width=500&height=300&client=public&gride=325896.985669011&gridn=673990.562828434&srec=0&coord

Forth Road Bridge -Toll Pay - View Rail Bridge

Ok - others have tips saying see the Amazing railway bridge across the Forth Estuary - and they are right.

I just wanted to tell you that if you are driving north across the road bridge there is a Toll, which costs 80 pence (0.80 pound) for a car. So you'll want some change handy - they give change so a pound coin will do fine.

There is no toll for south bound traffic, only north bound (ie leaving Edinburgh).

Of course, if you were to run tours, daily, you might choose to head straight to Stirling (north west, avoiding the Forth Bridge), returning to Edinburgh south wards across the bridge. This tends to preclude the delightful Fife and Perthshire countryside and attractions in that area - see many tips by me!

Address: Forth Road Dridge - Toll

Directions: North Edinburgh

Website: http://www.multimap.co.uk