Edimburgh

Edimburgh

“I find Edinburgh a stimulating place in which to live, with it being a city of contrasts, both architecturally and socially, and each district having a definite character.” 

Joan Lingard

Edimburgh, what to do in a weekend!

Edimburgh, the pearl of Scotland

Edinburgh  is  located in south eastern Scotland with its centre near the southern shore of the Firth of Forth”, an arm of the North Sea that thrusts westward into the Scottish lowlands. The city  constitutes an independent council area  including the busy port of Leith on the Firth of Forth  and an area in the northwest, around South Queensferry, in the historic county of West Lothian.

The history of Edimburgh

The Scottisch  capital is full of history with its  first signs of habitation on the “Castle Rock” , “Arthur’s Seat” and surroundings dating  to 900 BC approximately. It is uncertain when the Royal Castle” was built on the Castle Rock”  , but it is believed that it was constructed little before or during the XII  century, probably during the reign of David I.

From that time onward Edinburgh began to grow and during Medieval time trade flourished (wool, leather goods, cereals) , and all that gave birth to the central markets of Canongate and Grassmaket. During the XV century Edinburgh developed as a prosperous city and it  was made the royal capital of Scotland (the  Palace of Holyroodwas built between 1671 and 1678 for Charles II).

Medieval Time

During the XVI and the XVII centuries Edinburgh was surrounded by fortified walls to protect it from English attacks. During this period  the number of inhabitants increased greatly and  high building were constructed in  the main street of Royal Mile” ; but  residential houses  were not enough, so the citizens built wooden houses on top of the stone houses.

Modern era

Edinburgh became an  overcrowded and filthy city continually hit by plagues, illnesses and fires. By the end of the XVII century, the city had a population of 50.000 people being  one of the most unsanitary towns in Europe!

It was only thanks to the ability and the genius of  the architect James Craig  that Edinburgh was enlarged in 1767 when he won the competition  to design the New Town : a plan of large parallel streets, squares and gardens.

The New Town

By this period, Edinburgh no longer needed to be circled by a defensive wall since Scotland was united with England in 1707. By mid-eighteenth century Edinburgh became a popular place for intellectuals, especially in philosophy, history, medicine, science and economics.

 The New Town was finished at the beginning of the XIX century and attracted Irish immigration, increasing the population to 170.000 in 1850: Calton Hill”, the Scottish National Gallery”, the Scott Monument” and other interesting constructions were built during this period. On 1 July 1999 the Scottish Parliament was officially opened by the Queen : the Scots would be able to make their own laws in health, education and social care and the new building was inaugurated in 2004.

 

3 Things to  see in Edimburgh

From my Hotel Hub Market” , located in Haymarket station . Rooms were small but very tidy.  I liked all the staff , because the reception was open 24H/24 and people were absolutely lovely. The hotel rooms had all modern facilities you need for a comfortable stay and it was not so expensive.

From my hotel it was very easy to reach the most popular sights, such as :

  1. The “Old and the New Town” : Edinburgh  has two distinct areas: the “Old Town“, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neoclassical “New Town”, whose development from the 18th century onwards had a far-reaching influence on European urban planning;
  2. “Princes Street”: It is part of the “New Town” plan designed by James Craig in 1767, and took its name from the sons of King George III. In stark contrast to today, it started out as a residential street with the first inhabitants moving in during the 1770s;
  3. “Royal Mile”: It’s the most famous street of  Edinburgh. It runs between two significant locations in the royal history of Scotland: “Edinburgh Castle” and “Holyrood Palace”. The total length of the streets between the castle and the palace is almost exactly a Scots mile (1.81 km), hence the name! There are   impressive, towering tenements in the “Mile”   , between which cobbled closes and narrow stairways interlock to create a secret underground world. Peppered with superb attractions  and some of the best eating and drinking spots in the city, the “Royal Mile” offers much to see and do.

3 Main attractions in Edimburgh

1. The Castle of Edimburgh

Another great experienced for me was a walk through the city up to  The Castle”.  It is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. With a long rich history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, it is alive with many exciting tales . I highly recommend to book tickets on line to avoid the terrible queue above all under the climate in Scotland  that is normally cold , wet and windy!

Without doubt, what struck me in the castle the most was :

2. “Calton Hill” in Edimburgh

I climbed  to the tower of the building for great views of the city. Back to Edinburgh  to get some of the best views of the city, I walked to the top of Calton Hill Edinburgh”. Traditionally a place of recreation for Edinburgh residents, Calton Hill”, with its numerous monuments and buildings is popular as a fine viewpoint over the city.

With many Greek inspired monuments and lots of green, it is quite a contrast with the streets of the old town. Definitively worth the climb, especially at sunset to see the old buildings glow! Calton Hill” Edinburgh is one of the hills in the center of the city. It is included in the Unesco World Heritage site of Edinburgh. One of the things to do in Edinburgh not to be missed.

It is a “National Monument”. Initiated in 1816, a year after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, it was meant to be a replica of the Parthenon” in Athens, as a memorial to those who had died in the Napoleonic Wars.  The top of Calton Hill” is a usually quiet place to come on any day, with its grassy slopes and panoramic views of the city, including down the length of Princes Street” (the main shopping thoroughfare) and Edinburgh Castle”.

There is a good view North of the ruddy-coloured cliffs of Salisbury Crags”, Arthur’s Seat”, and the undulating slopes of Holyrood Park”. Calton Hill”  is still very much revered as a common ground to many Edinburghers. Attempts, in recent years, to create a theme park and railway up the hill have met with a chorus of protest.

With its volcanic rock base, gorse-strewn hill face and windswept ruggedness, it remains a rough gem.

3. Scotch whisky experience in Edimburgh

Freezing and starving to death I went to taste the top Scottish wishy at theScotch Whisky Experience”,  a five star visitor attraction at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

Whether you take a tour, visit its  shop or restaurant, or enjoy an event or tasting there, I  guarantee a sensational experience like that of mine!

What did I learn about whisky?

Essentially, Scotch is malted barley that is fermented and distilled (twice), then allowed to age in oak barrels.

In Scotland, Scotch must mature in its barrel for at least 3 years, although most age in the range of 8 to 20. Scotch made in its homeland, Canada and England is called Scotch Whisky (no “e”), while that made in Ireland and the U.S. is Scotch whiskey.

There are two main types of Scotch whisky :

  • Single Malt (single malt distilled at a single distillery) ;
  • Single Grain  (it may have other malted or unmalted cereals also distilled at a single distillery).

From those two types, three sub categories are :

The Scotch whisky regions 
  • Highlands: fruitcake and oak flirt with heather and smoke in Highland whiskies having lot of elegance;
  • Speyside: it is the most densely populated Whisky region in the world sitting in a fertile valley of rivers and glens. Apple, pear, honey, vanilla and spice all have a part to play in the speyside whiskies;
  • Islands: the versatility of the Islands accommodates both feathery citrus flavours and smoking peaty noses;
  • Islay: Islay malts are pungent with peat, smoke and salinity, revealing their complexity layer after layer;
  • Lowlands: triple distilled malts are characteristic of the region, offering a gentle, elegant palate reminiscent of grass, honeysuckle, cream, ginger, toffee, toast and cinnamon;
  • Campbeltown: despite the region’s contraction, the malts produced are fiercely enduring and distinctive;  wet wool, salt, smoke, fruit, vanilla and toffee are embraced, abandoned and cocktailed in the various malts of Campbeltown.

Getting “ghost” in Saint Andrew

Like a lot of places in Scotland, things can be dependant on the weather!  It’s that it can change seasons four times a day.

I was lucky that day with a stunning sun that made the tour to Saint Andrew easy, fun and pleasant. Saint Andrew  is one of Europe’s finest towns,  a place of history, learning and culture, a wonderful coastal resort, and the world’s home of golf!

What to see in Saint Andrew

I came  here to enjoy the historic buildings, the spectacular beaches, the fascinating museums, and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. After a big and tasty breakfast, I started the morning activities with a grand tour of:

After a lavish lunch of Jacket Potatos” in one of the many “St Andrews pubs” , I walked on the beach and then I explored the city centre.

The town is an enchanting natural environment offering many interesting buildings and landscapes. Gazing in the turbines of the flight of the seagulls  I was enchanted  by this idyllic place, where nature is still  pristine with its breath taking views .