Edinburgh enthusiast Debbie Valentine takes a look at the less-explored side of the Scottish capital.
If watching the annual Hogmanay celebrations has whetted your appetite to visit Edinburgh, then you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s plenty to do in this beautiful city – however long your visit. While the Scottish capital is home to many famous attractions, what are the options away from the castle and Princes Street? Here’s five hand-picked highlights worth exploring:
1. Enjoy the View
Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but to really appreciate it you’ll need to get up high. Arthur’s Seat, the famous hill, is the place to climb to get a great view, but there are other spots not quite so strenuous to ascend.
Even if you don’t want to pay to get into the castle, do visit the esplanade in front, where the Military Tattoo is held every August. The climb to the top of the Royal Mile is full of history and the view across Princes Street north to the River Forth and south to the Braid Hills is fantastic.
For a relatively easy climb, it takes about five minutes to walk to the summit of Calton Hill, to the east end of Princes Street. You’ll be rewarded you with a wonderful view of the New Town and the Forth bridges. The hill is topped by an old observatory, the National Monument (a never-finished homage to the Parthenon) and the Nelson Monument, a tower that can be climbed for an even better view. If your budget will stretch to it, a visit to The Tower restaurant at the top of the Museum of Scotland also affords a great view across the city – and a tasty dinner.
> Make the most of the view with the Edinburgh Marco Polo guide
2. Explore Edinburgh’s murky past
The Scottish capital is well known for having a dark and dingy past, and there are many places to explore it – ranging from the fun to the properly scary. The Edinburgh Dungeons are a light-hearted way of looking at Scotland’s gory past, where you’ll probably laugh as much as jump.
Elsewhere, a number of guided walks range from the not-so-scary but interesting to the downright terrifying – most can be joined on the Royal Mile near St Giles’ Cathedral. Greyfriars Kirkyard, famous for being home to Greyfriars’ Bobby, is supposedly haunted – I’d recommend taking a guided tour to find out why. For the strong willed, a tour of the vaults under South Bridge might test whether or not you believe in ghosts as you hear the tales of spooky goings-on.
> Explore the Edinburgh of old with Johnstons’ 1893 map
3. Visit the more unusual museums
Edinburgh is home to some small, quirky museums that are well worth a visit. Learn more about the city by paying a visit to the Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile – a treasure trove of local objects where you can learn the truth and fiction about the Scottish capital. Nearby is the Museum of Childhood, home of the toys you used to play with – perfect for showing the kids what life was like before games consoles. Meanwhile, the Camera Obscura at the top of the Royal Mile is a great place to see Edinburgh, and has a fascinating history of photography and the tricks that cameras can play. For those with a strong stomach, a visit to the Surgeons’ Hall will teach you about the history of surgery, pathology and dentistry, and has plenty of gory exhibits on offer.
> Mosey to the museums with the Edinburgh PopOut map
4. Visit some royalty
Most visitors to the Royal Mile are more concerned with visiting the famous castle, but venture down to the bottom of the road and you’ll find Holyrood House, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. It been associated with Scottish royalty thanks to Holyrood Abbey, which dates back to 1128 (the ruins of which are behind the palace). Rich in history, you can even see the spot Mary, Queen of Scots secretary was murdered by her jealous husband. The palace is in Holyrood Park, a great site for a walk, and at the bottom of Arthur’s Seat.
> See a pop-out Holyrood House with the 3D Edinburgh Expanding City Skyline
5. Enjoy nature close to the city centre
Edinburgh is home to the Royal Botanic Garden, where species of plants from all over the world can be perused. 70 acres of beautiful gardens, very close to the city centre, contain a famous rock garden,Scottish Heath Garden and Queen Mother Memorial Garden. Entry to the gardens is free, with a charge for entering the glasshouses. It’s a beautiful space for relaxing and enjoying the scenery surprisingly close to the hustle and bustle of the city.
> Enjoy the best of Edinburgh with the Time Out Guide
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