Walking in Edinburgh

The rain mostly held off so we tried to see as much as we could. Here are a few pics and notes from a ramble round Auld Reekie.

We walked 11 miles in total. Edinburgh city centre is easy enough to walk on foot, with trams and buses if you need them.

3 Bridges

Not a great shot but the start of our day. It’s taken from the Forth Rail Bridge with the Forth Road Bridge and newish Queensferry crossing beyond.

Sir Walter

He’s not so widely read these days but was a serious bestseller in the past and his quotes and verse adorn Waverley station.

Tennents

Edinburgh is built on hills with bridges spanning between them. So the closes between are steep climbs. It’s the kind of city with hidden bits everywhere. Keeps you fit too.

James Watt

This is Watt, immortalised in marble in the Scottish Museum. He did his best work in the Midlands of course, but no mention of that here 😉

An institution

We didn’t indulge but saw a number of chippies offering this infamous snack.

West Bow

This is West Bow, and it must be one of the city’s most photographed streets. It leads from close to the Royal Mile to Grassmarket in the shadow of the castle. You may recognise it from Rebus, Jackson Brodie and I think the film One Day.

Down

This close leads down from a section of the Royal Mile that’s crammed with whisky shops. And those street performers who are sprayed in silver paint and only move when holding the collection plate.

Up to Arthur’s Seat

That’s someone else in the pic. We started the climb and rain drifted in. It’s a great view from the top over the sea to Fife and with Holyrood and Hibs’ Easter Road in the foreground.

Scottish Parliament

A quiet day without protests. Just two bored police officers. Architecturally I’m not a fan.

Jenner’s

Sadly Edinburgh’s famous Princes Street is, like many other high streets, suffering. Jenner’s department store and many other units are empty. But the views of the castle and Princes Street Gardens are wonderful.

Scott Monument

A tram passes the Scott Monument as we head back to Waverley.

Doorway

Finally, a message in a West Bow doorway.

10 thoughts on “Walking in Edinburgh

  1. I spent a lot of time in that city when my in-laws lived near Dundee. At one time, we thought about moving up there (early 1980s) but I couldn’t get a transfer to the Scottish Ambulance Service at the time. It is one of my favourite places in Britain. (Despite the infamous drug problem)
    Best wishes, Pete.

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