August 2013

My first visit to the Capital City of Scotland

Princes Street. Our first view of Edinburgh after leaving Waverley Station.

The top of the Royal Mile approaching the entrance to Edinburgh Castle. It was incredibly busy here due to the Festival and Tattoo.

The view east down the Royal Mile. The tower on the skyline is Edinburgh Cathedral of St Giles.

Johnston Terrace illuminated with the late evening light.

Castlehill, which closed off for general access due to the Tattoo.

St Giles Cathedral.

Looking east down the Royal Mile towards the Scottish Parliament buildings. The Forth estuary can just be seen in the distance.

The Tron Kirk. This is a former parish church in Edinburgh. It was built in the 17th century and closed as a church in 1952. On our visit it was hosting fringe events.

Looking down Cranston Street from the Royal Mile. On the skyline above Waverley Station is the Old Calton Burial ground and the Governor’s House.

At the bottom of Canongate the new Scottish Parliament buildings which opened in 2004.

The main entrance to the parliament building on Horse Wynd.

At the end of Abbey Strand opposite the Scottish Parliament buildings is the Palace of Holyroodehouse. This is the Queen’s residence in Edinburgh.

Just outside Holyroodhouse is the Queens Gallery.

The coat of arms on the wall of the Queens gallery.

Walking back up the Royal Mile past Canongate Kirk. The old building on the right is Canongate Tollbooth which now houses the Peoples Story Museum which explores the lives of Edinburgh’s ordinary people at work and play from the late 18th century to today.

Back at the top of the Royal Mile near the Castle entrance. There were stickers pasted everywhere advertising festival events!

As the sun was setting we walked back down to Waverley Station to catch the train back to our hotel in Glasgow. This was taken from North Bank Street.

The Edinburgh skyline at sunset.

A statue of Sir Walter Scott in the rather large Scott Monument on Princess Street.

The view over Waverley Station with Edinburgh Castle in the distance on the left and the Scott memorial on the right.

The top of the Royal Mile at night with all the shops still open.

A night time shot looking down from Milne’s Close over the Scottish National Gallery and beyond to the Forth.

The Grand Gallery in the National Museum of Scotland.

Not strictly Edinburgh. A view from the train window as we head over the Forth rail bridge on our way to Dunfermline.

Cockburn Street which is the gentle climb up to the Royal Mile from Waverley Station.

Or the more direct but steeper route is to climb these steps in Warriston close! There are over 100 steps to the top.