Hunters Quay: A Journey

Edinburgh, gracious city. Towering over North Bridge is the imposing of buildings erected at different times in history and used through the centuries as the city’s fortress, armoury, arsenal and prison. It was Malcolm III Canmore, the monarch who elevated Edinburgh to capital of Scotland, from the 11^th century onwards it was also seat of the monarchy.

                             Edinburgh generates excitement and a sense of expectation. This is where things happen…

According to EdinburghGuide.com, four million people visit the city each year.

Edinburgh’s month-long Christmas celebrations begin with the switch-on of the city’s Christmas lights and culminate in Edinburgh’s world-renowned Hogmanay celebrations. Hogmanay is Strong in Scotland. 31 December, Hogmanay night, is probably the most important in Scots calendar.

Other types of events like Highland Games are very popular in many towns and have spread beyond the highlands. They are a combination of musical, dancing and athletic skills all happening in the same arena, often simultaneously, held in towns and villages throughout the Highlands and far beyond, and off-course here in Edinburgh.

                                                                      Edinburgh Castle dominates the city skyline.

Edinburgh Castle, one-time stronghold of the picts, rebuilt in the 6^th century by Edwin, king of Northumberland. A strategic site many times contended by Scots and English, it stands 377 feet above sea level, on the top of a steep and rugged volcanic hill.

At one o’clock each day a cannon cracks out, puffing blue smoke over the castle battlements. This is not another uprising, only Edinburgh squeezing extra drama out of a time check. Edinburgh generates excitement and a sense of expectation. This is where things happen.   The firing of the one o’clock gun from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle originated from a request by the leith Dock Commission in 1861 to the Nelson Monument (which was visible from the docks). Punctually every day since then (except in wartime and on Sundays) an audible signal has boomed out across the city and simultaneously the time ball has dropped down its pole on the monument, enabling mariners of old to check their chronometers and nowadays making tourists jump visibly as they stroll along Princess Street at lunch-time.

Probably Scotland’s most famous landmark, Edinburgh Castle is built on a rock which has been a stronghold for over 3,000 years. The castle is home to museums, including the National War Museum, Scotland, while the Royal Palace played host to Scotland’s royal family for more than 500 years and was the birthplace of King James VI in 1566. For more information on the events that takes place in Edinburgh Castle: Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG.  Tel: 0131 2259846 ;  website: www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Edinburgh Castle is without doubt the jewel in the capital’s crown sitting majestically above the city. Thousands of visitors pass through its ancient portals each year. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum housed within the castle. With the history stretching back through the centuries, there is a wealth of fascinating and priceless artefacts, which combined make this a unique part of military history. Visitors can view displays of medals, including one of three Victoria Crosses, the enemy standard captured at the battle of Waterloo as well as Trotter telescope. There is also a stained glass window commemorating the Boer War, items from the Crimea War and the memorabilia from the Ranulph Fiennes family, closely connected with the regiment.    

     ↑ Tynecastle Football Stadium with the distillery adjacent and Murrayfield Stadium in the background, taken from the south-east.↑

E d i n b u r g h

                                                                   N a t i o n a l   G a l l e r y   o f   S c o t l a n d

National Gallery was completed in 1857 and rates among the top two or three classical designs in Edinburgh. Its sparingly ornamented length, honey-coloured in the thin Edinburgh sunlight, has a simple dignity entirely in keeping with its role as a repository for Scotland’s finest art. The gallery is open daily .

Museum of Edinburgh: A museum contained within a series of interconnecting buildings on The Royal Mile, which tells the history of Edinburgh and its people. Among the exhibits are an eighteenth-century plan for the layout of the New Town by James Craig, and the original bowl and collar of Greyfriars bobby. For more information: Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly house, 142 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH8 8DD . Tel: 0131 5294143  or The City Of Edinburgh Council: Tel: 0131 200 2323 website: →  

               Inside The National Gallery of Scotland                                              Parliament Square During Christmas

Getting to Edinburgh:

Edinburgh airport is 11km from the city centre. Airport buses run at peak times every 30 min. between the terminal building and Waverly Bridge. The take 30 minutes (45 min. in the rush hour) and cost roughly a quarter of the taxi fare. Arriving by train or bus, Waverely station could hardly be closer to the city centre and there is a taxi rank right within the station. The main bus station is at St Andrew Square, moments away from Princes Street along which run the principal city bus services.

By Car: Edinburgh is 45 miles east of Glasgow, a drive of around one hour. The M8 links the two cities and the main tourist attractions are signed as you leave the motorway.

By public transport: First Scotrail operate a shuttle service to Edinburgh Waverley Station, which leaves Glasgow Queen Street every fifteen minutes at peak times. First Scotrail, Tel: 0845 6015929

City Link offer a service which leaves Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station every fifteen minutes at peak times. City Link, Tel: 08705 505050

                                   Edinburgh, looking east down the Royal Mile in the direction of the Palace Holyroodhouse

Edinburgh has an extensive bus network, with bus companies covering most of the routes in and around the city. On Lothian Region Transport (LRT) maroon and white buses, you pay the driver on entry with the exact fare. LRT offers a variety of unlimited travel tickets to visitors. On SMT Eastern Scottish green and cream buses, you pay the driver on entry and change is given. Some of these services are small coaches known as City sprinters.

Black taxis are widely available within the city. There are a number of taxi ranks, and taxis showing an illuminated ‘For Hire’ sign can be hailed in the street. Black taxis cannot be picked up at Edinburgh Airport, but a fleet of other licensed cabs (usually saloon car types) is available there.

Camera Obscura has been entertaining visitors fro more than 150 years. See the city at all angles from the rooftop gallery, which has telescopes to allow close-up views of Edinburgh and beyond. The Camera Obscura show projects live moving images of the city onto a large viewing table, and there are also many optical experiences, including a moving pictures exhibition, which allows visitors to use nineteenth century optical toys. The Camera Obscura show is a fascinating and highly amusing way to see the city and learn about its history. For information: Camera Obscura, Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2^ND  

Tel: 0131 2263709.  Website: www.camera-obscura.co.uk

There really is ‘accommodation to suit all pockets’ in Edinburgh. Sit on the top deck of a bus coming in on the main road from Cameron Toll through the district of Newington and you can get some idea of the range of accommodation. The hotels and guest-houses are lined up as far as the eye can see – and that is just one street, though it changes its name as it heads towards The Bridges and central Edinburgh. However, do not be misled into thinking that finding the right place to stay will be easy, since

Edinburgh is a hugely popular destination. If you are visiting specifically to ‘do’ Edinburgh at festival time, then book well ahead. Otherwise, late August and early September are best avoided altogether. Finding somewhere at a reasonable rate will be much easier outside that period, and easier still out of season. If you do find yourself in the city during the festival and need somewhere to stay, it’s worth persevering with the Edinburgh and Scotland information centre, 3 princes street, who will certainly assist. 

With its many shops and department stores, Princes Street in Edinburgh is the main shopping area of Scotland’s capital city. About a mile long, it separates the Old Town from the New (built on the north side of the castle between 1760 and 1840).

Princes Street was to be called St Giles Street , but King George III objected as it reminded him of the St Giles district of London, which was notorious for its low life at the time. So the most famous Street in Scotland became Prince’s Street after the Prince Regent, before assuming its plural form in 1848.

  Scottish Storytelling Centre:

Located on the halfway point of the Royal Mile, the Scottish Storytelling Centre includes the fifteenth-century residence of John Knox, a storytelling court, and an exhibition of Scotland’s stories, which uses the historic building to bring some of Scotland’s most dramatic events to life.                                    For more information: Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR. Tel: 0131 5569579.                 website: www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Craigmillar Castle is located just three miles south of the city centre.

     Edinburgh Castle viewed from the summit of Arthur's Seat

Author: Bill Mneimneh ... Tell us your views

Welcome to Edinburgh...

The oldest building in Edinburgh taday is the 12^th-century St Margaret’s Chapel within the castle named after Queen Margaret. She married King Malcolm, whose Celtic court was at Dunfermline, then the capital. As a saxon southerner she persuaded the court to move to the saxon-influenced Lothians. Edinburgh became the capital thereafter.

Military Tattoo. A range of smaller events such as The Book Festival and the Jazz Festival.

The celebrated Military Tatoo is held on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle during the annual international Edinburgh Festival. During the three weeks of the festival, in August, the Scottish capital is invaded by performers in official and ‘Fringe’ events: actors, musicians, singers, puppeteers, pipers (playing bagpipes, of course), dancers, jugglers, clowns and every other possible kind of entertainer.

                            H o l y r o o d   P a r k 

                 Sunday in Edinburgh is truly enjoyable. 
 

      D u d d i n g s t o n   L o c h  i n   H o l y r o o d   P a r k

     The Palace of Holyrood House seen from Salisbury Crags.

Edinburgh Tourist Information Centre: Tel.: 0845 2255121 website: www.edinburgh.org