Tag Archives: Castle

Edinburgh Castle Summer Sun

Another beautiful day out, and Jings it’s warm!

Edinburgh has a lot of green open space. Princes street Gardens, I also was sitting under a tree in the shadow of the castle, watching the world go by, it’s a very popular place and It’s awfy Bonny.

But it Wouldn’t have always been like this, up until the 19th century this was the castles northern-defence – aka the Nor’ Loch, and by all accounts a disgusting cesspool – it was polluted with wastage and where the guilty(?) were punished.

Castle Esplanade

Castle Esplanade

Castle Esplanade

Taken from the Castle Esplanade, looking down Castlehill & The Royal Mile we can see – Ramsay Garden (Nice apartments if you can afford it), – Camera Obscura formally Outlook Tower (small Observatory dating from 1850), The Crown Of St. Giles Cathedral and the Hub (an old Church now home of the International Festival)

101 Things to do in Edinburgh

This started off as a bucket list, a basic list of things to do in Edinburgh, However as it grew I changed it to 101 things to do in Edinburgh.   There will be  some nonsense on this list, aye. perhaps I have repeated somethings, let me know add stuff to the comments.  so here we are:
‘101 Things to do in Edinburgh’ 

            1. Hike up Arthurs seat – there are several routes to the summit
            2. Feed the swans at dunsapie loch
            3. In Fact hike to the top of all seven hills in Edinburgh, Braid Hills; Blackford Hills; Craiglockart Hill; Corstorphine Hill; Calton Hill; Pentland Hills and of Course Arthurs Seat.
            4. Walk Through Hollyrood Park
            5. Edinburgh Festival hardcore – three/four shows a day
            6. Edinburgh Festival late night  show 1am – 5am (with drinks after)
            7. Camera Obscura World of illusions
            8. Edinburgh Festival Tatoo
            9. Edinburgh Festival Fireworks concert
            10. Eat A deep Fried mars bar
            11. Walk Through Princes Street Gardens
            12. have a chippie with the proper Edinburgh chippie sauce
            13. Eat at one of our Michelin star restaurants
            14. Play a game of Skittles at the Sheep’s heid pub (the oldest in Scotland c1360)
            15. Ghost Tours. Mercat Tours
            16. City of the Dead Tour
            17. Underground Blair Street Vaults
            18. Mary King’s Close
            19. Get Up to the crown of St Giles’ Cathedral
            20. See the hand carved passage ways at Gilmerton Cove
            21. Spit on Heart of Midlothian (old toll booth)
            22. Watch an Edinburgh Derby game
            23. Visit Edinburgh Castle
            24. Remember the National War museum is at the castle.
            25. See the One O’clock gun be fired
            26. Palace Of Hollyroodhouse
            27. Visit Lauriston Castle
            28. Visit Craigmillar Castle
            29. Visit the Scottish Parliament
            30. John Knox House
            31. An Ice Cream & Beer on Portobello Beach
            32. Head out to Crammon Island (be careful with the tide Times)
            33. Crammond Beach
            34. Boat trip to Inchcolm Island
            35. Edinburgh Zoo Penguin Parade
            36. Stockbridge Sunday farmers market.
            37. Ride the big Christmas wheel
            38. Ice skate Christmas wonderland
            39. Hogmanay Street Party.
            40. Royal Botanical Gardens
            41. Don’t Rub greyfriars bobby nose
            42. Wander through Greyfriars kirkyard
            43. If you must Rub a statue – David Hume’s Toe
            44. Catch a premier at the International Film Festival
            45. Royal highland show
            46. Yaught Britannia
            47. See Rosslyn Chapel
            48. Edinburgh Zoo – See the Penguin Parade
            49. Pet a pig at Gorgie Farm
            50. Ride a tram
            51. Our Dynamic Earth
            52. Cameo cinema late night double bill
            53. Dominian cinema – film of a sofa!
            54. National Museum of Scotland
            55. International Book Festival
            56. Museum of Childhood
            57. Museum of Edinburgh
            58. Museum of Flight
            59. Writers Museum
            60. Walk through the Meadows
            61. Walk Through Inverleith park
            62. Walk Through Figgatte park
            63. Scale the Scott Monument (287 steps)
            64. Scale Nelsons Monument (143 steps)
            65. Scottish National Galleries
            66. Scottish National Portrait Gallery
            67.  The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
            68. Sample some whisky at the scotch whisky experience
            69. A walk down the water of Leith walkway
            70. Visit Gladstone’s land – oldest 17th century tenement building
            71. The Writers Museum
            72. Look through a telescope at the Observatory
            73. Beltane fire festival
            74. Samhuinn Fire Festival
            75. Hogmanay Torchlight Procession
            76. Walk Down the colorful Victoria Street
            77. Drinks at the Grass market.
            78. Helicopter Scenic Tour
            79. Boat tours under The Forth Bridges
            80. Stadium Tours (Murrayfeild, Tynecastle and Easter Road)
            81. Catch a film at the Brass Monkey – Big Sofas and beer – nuf saif!
            82. See some anatomy at the Surgeons’ Hall Museum
            83. Canongate Kirkyard – Adam smith burred here
            84. Go to the Farmers Market, Castle Street every Saturday
            85. The Museum on the Mound – see £1,000,000 in front of you
            86. visit the City Art Center
            87. Climb a wall at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena – the largest indoor climbing wall in the world
            88. Mibee there is something on at the Royal Scottish Academy
            89. Didn’t know  this existed until today – Georgian House on Charlotte Square
            90. Look at contemporary art at Fruitmarket Gallery
            91. Beltane Fire Festival, once a year – the evening before 1 May
            92. Samhuinn Fire Festival, Once a year – usually the last day of Autumn
            93. Torchlight procession, Once a year 30th December
            94. Winter wonderland, attractions and different markets
            95. Edinburgh Dungeon
            96. Check out the quirky Morningside Wild West
            97. Many closes of the Royal Mile, check the picturesque Whitehorse close
            98. Find the hidden Garden off the Royal Mile – Dunbar Close Garden
            99. Spend some time at Leith Shore
            100. Like Harry Potter? go to Elephant House Cafe
            101. The People’s Story Museum

So there you go 101 Things to do in Edinburgh!  – I’ve probably left out some good stuff, can we expand this list – any suggestions, edits mention in the comments.

Edinburgh’s Other Castles

We all are aware the Edinburgh castle is our city’s most popular tourist attraction; the massive medieval fortress sitting atop of a volcanic rock is impressive to say the least.  However Edinburgh has more than just one castle.  here are Edinburgh’s Other Castles

Lauriston Castle

2 Cramond Road South, Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh EH4 6AD.
Head out towards crammond and you can find Lauriston Castle; this is a 16th century tower house with 19th century extensions overlooking the Firth of Forth, with some cracking views.  You can access the castle via guided tours.  Within the grounds is a very nice Japanese garden, this is the Edinburgh-Kyoto Friendship Garden, opened in 2002 to celebrate the twinning with Kyoto Prefecture.

Lauriston Castle

Lauriston Castle

Edinburgh Museums and Galleries link

Craigmillar castle

Craigmillar Castle Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4SY
Lets be honest, lauriston Castle doesn’t really look like a castle at all, where as Craigmillar looks like a classic.   The old medieval ruins of this 14th century castle is how many in-vision a castle to be, Craigmillar is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland, it’s tower house is one of the oldest in Scotland, from where you can get some stunning panoramic views of the city.  This castle is about 3 miles southeast of the city center.

Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle

Historic Scotland Link