High Street at dusk. Old Town.

Edinburgh, Scotland

by Eve Andersson

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Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a hilly and picturesque city, with medieval buildings and cobblestone streets still intact in the city center. Connecting the winding streets are alleyways called closes and wynds that seem too narrow for even a horse and carriage to pass. In the center of the city, resting atop the remnants of an extinct volcano, is the Edinbugh Castle, parts of which date from the 12th century.

5 Photos

Before anything else, I'd like to show you five of my favorite photos:

The moon appearing to hover near a statue of a woman atop the Royal Scottish Academy‎ building. View to the west from Calton Hill. Edinburgh Castle at night, viewed from Calton Hill. Horse statue and lamppost on an overcast day. Princes Street Gardens. Castlehill, with pre-dawn snow falling. Old Town.

Calton Hill

Built upon this hill, on the east side of the city center, are the the City Observatory and various monuments, including the National Monument, modeled on the Acropolis but never finished, because of which Edinburgh is sometimes referred to as Athens of the North. The 360 degree view from the hill is incredible, containing the castle, old and new parts of the city, and the Firth of Forth, where the River Forth flows into the North Sea.

National Monument and Nelson Monument. Calton Hill. National Monument at sunrise. Calton Hill.

View to the north from Calton Hill at dawn. View to the north from Calton Hill at dawn. View to the north from Calton Hill at dawn. View to the north from Calton Hill.

View to the west from Calton Hill. View to the northwest from Calton Hill. View to the north from Calton Hill. View to the west from Calton Hill at night.



Edinburgh Castle

This castle and its grounds, overlooking the city of Edinburgh, were built starting in the 12th century, though much of it is significantly newer. Regardless of your level of interest in Scotish royalty and military history (the crown jewels and various museums are on-site), this castle is worth visiting for the beautiful architecture and views of the city.

Edinburgh Castle at sunrise, viewed from Calton Hill. Edinburgh Castle at night, viewed from Calton Hill. Edinburgh Castle above the Prices Street Gardens.

Gate. Edinburgh Castle. Castle grounds. Edinburgh Castle. Crown Square. Edinburgh Castle. Lion statue. Edinburgh Castle.

Great Hall. Edinburgh Castle. Medals and knives. Edinburgh Castle. Prison. Edinburgh Castle.

View to the south. Edinburgh Castle. View to the southwest. Edinburgh Castle. View to the northwest. Edinburgh Castle.

Old Town

How wonderful it is to wander through the old town on cobblestone streets, through narrow closes and wynds, up mysterious stairwells, passing medieval buildings and squares and parts of the old wall that surrounded the city, catching glimpses of the castle and Calton Hill above the rooftops. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile (a well-known series of streets leading away from the castle), and environs.

Advocate's Close, with Scott Monument in the background. Old Town. Old building, part of the University of Edinburgh School of Informatics. Old Town. Anchor Close, created in 1521, off of High Street. Old Town. Holyrood Tavern. Holyrood Road. Old Town. World's End Pub. Pre-dawn, lightly snowing. High Street. Old Town.

The Vennel with a view of the Edinburgh Castle. Old Town. The Vennel, rising from Grassmarket. Old Town. John Knox House. High Street. Old Town. High Street at dusk. Old Town. The back of Columbas Free Church, and the street a few storeys down. Old Town.

Castlehill, with pre-dawn snow falling. Old Town. Abstract restaurant. Castle Terrace. Old Town. City Chambers at dusk. High Street. Old Town. Telfer Wall, built in 1620. Old Town.

West Port. Old Town. Buildings at Holyrood Road and St. Mary's Street. Old Town. Old and new buildings. Holyrood Road. Old Town. Armchair Books. West Port. Old Town.

Canongate Kirk, viewed from Bakerhouse Close. Old Town. Grassmarket. Old Town. SAS Radisson Hotel, lit up in the pre-dawn, with light snow falling. High Street. Old Town. St Giles' Cathedral. High Street. Old Town.

Bedlam Theatre. Bristo Place. Old Town. Buildings at Cowgate and Blackfriars Street. Old Town. Buildings on Cowgate. Old Town. Wardrop's Court, off Lawnmarket. Old Town. Building with cow front and back. Cowgate and Victory Street. Old Town.

New Town

Although newer than the Old Town, many buildings in the New Town date back as far as the 18th century. Good shopping, restaurants, and Georgian architecture can be found in the New Town. A short walk across a bridge from Old Town, this part of the city is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The moon appearing to hover near a statue of a woman atop the Royal Scottish Academy‎ building. Buildings on Charlotte Square. New Town. Hotel Balmoral.

Heriot Row, approaching dusk. New Town. Howe St. New Town. Castle St., off of Princes St. New Town. St. Andrew Square. New Town.

Princes St. New Town. Rose St. New Town. Cafe Saint Honore. NW Thistle St. New Town.

Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier so devoted to his master that, when his master passed away in 1858, Bobby watched over his grave until his own death 14 years later. Bobby was popular with the locals, and a statue to commemorate him was built one year after his death. (Bobby's story is reminiscent of that of the Akita Hachiko in Tokyo.)

Greyfriars Bobby statue. Candlemaker Row. Old Town. Tombstone of Greyfriars Bobby. Greyfriars Kirkyard. Old Town. Greyfriars Bobby's Bar. Candlemaker Row. Old Town.

Scott Monument

This 200 foot tall monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott was built in the mid-19th century and has turned almost black over the years. These photos were taken within a few hours of each other one afternoon -- showing how swiftly and dramatically the light can change in Edinburgh.

Silhouette of Scott Monument on an overcast day. Silhouette of Scott Monument and tree. Scott Monument. Scott Monument and trees. Scott Monument at dusk.

Princes Street Gardens

These extensive gardens sit between Old Town and New Town.

Statue of Allan Ramsay. Princes Street Gardens. Horse statue. Princes Street Gardens. Horse statue and lamppost on an overcast day. Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street Gardens on an overcast day. In the background are buildings designed by Sir Patrick Geddes in 1893 and other Old Town buildings.

Old Calton Cemetery

Some famous people are buried here (see the list in the leftmost photo below), including philosopher David Hume who was born and lived in Edinburgh.

Celebrity names. Old Calton Cemetery. The mausoleum of David Hume. Old Calton Cemetery. Inside the mausoleum of David Hume. Old Calton Cemetery. Old Calton Cemetery.

St. Cuthbert's Parish Church

This church sits at the base of Castlehill.

St. Cuthbert's Parish Church, viewed from Edinburgh Castle. View to the northwest, centered on St. Cuthbert's Parish Church. Edinburgh Castle. St. Cuthbert's Kirkyard, looking toward the Edinburgh Castle. St. Cuthbert's Kirkyard, looking toward the Edinburgh Castle. St. Cuthbert's Parish Church.

Kilts

Kilts are worn by, among others, bagpipe players (which I knew) and rugby fans (which I didn't know).

Bagpipe player. High Street. Rugby fans wearing kilts. Princes Street.

More photos: View all photos in the directory /photos/scotland/.
Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)

Comments


Failth, Hello, I love the story of Bobby. I have a Wee Cairns Terrier,That,with his shaggy coat, He is the "Splitting" image of Bobby,and I love him tae Bits, and it's returned tae me. Edinburgh, (or Auld Reekie,)or even the whole o' Scotland is my otherHome, ( Please excuse the writing,as I'm trying to write and talk and spell in the old Scotts language, plus the Scottish Gaelic, which is different from the Irish and at time's I get mixed up )and tae be honest,Between you and me, I like the way the Scottish People talk. You all way's know when you're in good company )) I love Edinburgh, The People, The Odd Hielander, The Castle's, The Kilt's , The Food/Drink, The Place, The Stories, The Closes, The Music (Espically the Pipes ) For me and My wife, Edinburgh,is the perfect place tae have a holiday, Nae matter what the weather is like, There is allways, Allways some thin' to dae an' sae. I'm part Scott any way, I wish every Part was, However,We love it and We'll allways love it. Thank you Derick

ALBA Gu Brath

-- derick robins


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