Edinburgh Scotland

Day 26/Scotland 3
Travelled: train from Newcraighall to Edinburgh Waverley-£4.20pp return
Stay: P&R Newcraighall- 0.50p/day 55.93364, -3.09273
Visited: Edinburgh Castle- prebooked tickets on website discounted £31.50 (adult + concession), Gladstone’s Land- National Trust £7pp, Royal Mile with visits to Writer’s Museum (free), Museum of Edinburgh (free), Parliament House (free)

We caught the train at Newcraighall just before 9am and walked up to Edinburgh Castle for the 9:30am opening. There is an assemblage of buildings built high up on a basalt hill, from the 12th to the 20th centuries. They reflect the changing roles from Fortress, Royal Palace, military garrison and state prison. The castle was a favourite royal residence until 1603, after which the king resided in England. We walked through the area where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held every year in August. 



We then visited the various areas in the complex. 

















St.Margeret’s chapel is the oldest building here from the 12th century. 





We saw the Royal Jewels and the room Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI. 









We paid our respects to Scottish lives lost in the War Memorial. We had a look at the Great Hall.








 We learnt about the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. 





Then we visited the Prisoners of War Museum.





Made by prisoners

 We also walked through the Military Prison. 









Having seen all that was on offer, 2.5 hours later, we ventured back out of the gates and on to the Royal Mile. 

This is a stretch of four ancient streets from Castle Hill to Canongate. It formed the main thoroughfare of the medieval part of the city taking us to Holyroodhouse Palace. Confined to city walls the old town grew upwards, some buildings climbing to 20 storeys high. There are plenty of alley ways and closes along the route that gave access to buildings off the Main Street. We plugged into Rick Steve’s audio tour and started down the street. We stopped in to have a look at Gladstone’s Land which is a fine example of a 17th century 6 story merchants house. We had a glimpse of how people lived. Merchants had shops on the ground floor, the middle class would reside in the middle storeys with the poor in the basement or the attic. There was massive overcrowding in the old town and it became extremely filthy, with people throwing out the contents of their chamber pots into the streets. This motivated the middle classes,and up, to leave the city walls and build in the ‘new town’ larger homes with gardens. 









Unfortunately there was no escape for the poor as they could not afford the toll to leave the old town and so the last pub at the gates was called ‘Worlds End’. 



Along the way we went through a lane to the lovely Lady Stair’s House which is now a Writers Museum devoted to Burns, Scott and Stevenson. 







We then visited St Giles Cathedral and we’re awed by Thistle Chapel which honors knights of the Order of the Thistle (the emblem of Scotland).



 Outside was a heart shape embedded in the pavement which marks the spot where the door of the jail once was. It was here that criminals were hanged, traitors decapitated and witches burned. Citizens hated the rough justice doled out here and so spat on the heart. 



The Mercat Cross marks the city centre and it was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie was proclaimed king in 1745. 



We popped in a pub for a drink and were entertained by a musician. 

We also couldn’t help having a look at some of the numerous shops selling Scottish souvenirs.



For those who dare!



 We decided to have a look at a traditional Kiltmaker who helped Mark find his possible Scottish Clan. Having come from Williamson ancestry, he was told he could be a Gunn or Mackay. We bought a Gunn scarf. 





We then had a look at Bakehouse Close as it was used in the filming of Outlander (Jamie’s print shop). 







We wondered around the Museum of Edinburgh, learning some local history. 












Continuing on we came to the newly built Parliament House built in 2004 after Scotland was able to have their own parliament since 1998. Unfortunately, to Mark’s great disappointment, his Swiss pocket knife was confiscated as it is a criminal offence to carry a knife with a locking blade in the UK. This experience tainted our visit slightly but what can you do? 





Across the road was Holyroodhouse Palace which is the Queen’s official Scottish residence. 





It was now after 5pm and all museums shut for the day. We back tracked half way up the Royal Mile and then crossed the bridge back to Waverley station taking the train back to Bluey for a well deserved rest.