Just Get to the Point! What Are the Most Important Things to Do in Edinburgh?
April 20, 2011
If you leave Edinburgh saying to yourself, ‘I feel I’ve missed out on something, there are so many things to do in Edinburgh,’ you will not be the first person to say this.
There are so many fascinating buildings, museums, streets, statues, monuments, galleries, pubs and this sentence is getting too long…to visit on a week-long trip never mind a short break.
But fear not! I know many people from Edinburgh who haven’t been to half of the attractions I’m going to tell you about – so maybe they will also learn something!
Perhaps you will disagree with the top ten highlights I have chosen…each to his own, I say!
I stand by my original proclamation that Edinburgh is best appreciated by simply wandering around, leisurely taking in the attractions that present themselves on practically every street corner.
The majority of what are considered to be Edinburgh’s top tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other and are generally situated on a natural walking route.
A visit to Edinburgh Castle will naturally lead to a wander down the Royal Mile (High Street) towards the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat.
The excellent ghost tours also take place in and around the Royal Mile so six of the top ten tourist attractions we will look at are within half an hour’s walking distance of each other.
From the Royal Mile, the National Museum of Scotland is only a two minute walk down George IV Bridge. Calton Hill with its knock-out views of the city centre and infamous National Monument is a two minute walk from Princes Street and about as central as you can get!
So it’s true, there are so many things to do in Edinburgh, but you can get to most of them very quickly and easily.
The Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh Zoo are but a ten minute bus ride from the city centre. Before you ask, yes, I will tell you what bus to catch!
Edinburgh Castle
It as simple as this…no time spent in Edinburgh is complete without a trip to Edinburgh Castle.
It’s Edinburgh’s and Scotland’s number one tourist attraction and yes, it is all that.
Not only does the Castle dominate the Edinburgh skyline, it dominates the history of the city. A royal castle since at least the 12th century, this towering edifice, which sits atop volcanic rock, has been besieged, ruined and rebuilt on several occasions. Edinburgh Castle was a fortification of strategic importance through the Scottish Wars of Independence and the Jacobite Uprising and has played therefore as important a role in Scottish history as any man or woman.
Something that will surprise most people, there is a lot more to do at Edinburgh Castle than just wander around the grounds feeling royal. The Castle houses the crown jewels of Scotland, a medieval cannon of enormous size and range named Mons Meg, the oldest building in Edinburgh St Margaret’s Chapel, the National War Museum and the Stone of Destiny, the coronation seat of ancient Scottish kings.
Edinburgh Castle is open all year round except December 25th and 26th. From April 1st to September 30th the castle is open from 9.30am to 6pm and from October 1st to March 31st the opening hours are 9.30am to 5pm. In order to see the highlights of Edinburgh Castle at a leisurely pace, I would expect to spend between two and three hours there.
I would like to give you two tips regarding Edinburgh Castle. Firstly, due to its intense popularity, I recommend booking your tickets in advance on the official website. Once you have booked your tickets you can collect them from the ticket machines in front of the castle. Then you can grin smugly at the queues of people as you walk past!
I would also recommend visiting the castle late in the afternoon. Although I can’t guarantee this, Edinburgh Castle is often at its quietest later in the day. If you are keen on photography you will find that the sun will be behind you later in the day enabling you to take back-lit photos of the city centre and Arthur’s Seat.
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh’s most famous street, The Royal Mile or High Street, starts at the entrance to Edinburgh Castle and ends at Holyrood Palace. This street, which is effectively the spine of the old town, slopes downhill from the Castle and is about a mile long, as the name would suggest.
Although there are numerous attractions on the Royal Mile, in my opinion, the almost tangible buzz hanging in the air is what makes this street so special. Let’s put it this way….on the Royal Mile you are left in no doubt whatsoever as to what country you are in!
Souvenir shops, kilt-hire stores, whisky specialists, traditional pubs and cafes, hostels and hotels are everywhere you turn yet somehow manage to avoid appearing kitsch. It’s the perfect place to exercise your neck muscles and rest your vocal chords as you simply gaze around and wander to sound of traditional Scottish music emanating from almost every house number you pass.
St. Giles cathedral is roughly 100 metres from the castle on your right side as you walk downhill. Its unmistakable crown-like spire is at once impressive and fitting. In front of St. Giles cathedral is the ‘Heart of Midlothian’, a heart-shaped stone mosaic in the ground which marks the very centre of the Midlothian region in which Edinburgh is located.
Further down the mile on the left side is the John Knox house. It is often claimed that John Knox, a Scottish clergyman and leader of the protestant reformation, owned and lived in this house. In reality, Mr Knox lived in Warriston Close and probably never even visited the house in question.
While this is amusing in itself, the real reason for visiting the house should be the fine wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. The building itself juts out from the houses in front and with its mix of dark stone and white plaster it is very eye-catching.
As you approach the end of the Royal Mile, the street becomes noticeably narrow and less crowded. On your right you will be struck by the appearance of the distinctively modern Scottish Parliament building and the grandeur of Holyrood Palace in front of you.
Depending on how many sights you decide to take in on your way down the mile, the walk could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It is a walk to be savoured at a leisurely pace, soaking up the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the crown jewel of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse as it is often referred to is the monarch’s official residence in Scotland. This grand building stands at the foot of the Royal Mile opposite the Scottish Parliament building.
Like many of Scotland’s castles and royal residences, the palace is closely associated with Scotland’s tumultuous past. The palace has been home to numerous monarchs since the 15th century including Mary, Queen of Scots who lived at Holyrood from 1561 to 1567 and to Bonnie Prince Charlie who made the palace his headquarters during the 1745 Jacobite uprising.
Holyrood Palace is known for its impressive plasterwork ceiling, fine furnishings and Brussels tapestries. Having been home to a great number of monarchs, the palace is shaped by the varying preferences of Scotland kings and queens. Jacob de Wet’s portraits of the kings of Scotland in the Great Gallery is one of the highlights of a visit to Holyrood Palace.
The palace is open to the public whenever Queen Elizabeth II is not in residence. From November 1st to March 31st the palace is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm. In the summer from April 1st to October 31st it is open from 9.30am to 6pm and finally on August 9th the palace opens from 9.30am to 2pm.
This year the palace will be closed on the following dates for various occasions such as the Queen’s summer vacation at Holyrood and subsequent garden parties, other royal visits and of course Christmas – May 15th -June 4th, July 6th-17th, September 13th-16th, December 25th-26th.
The Scottish Parliament Building
Officially the most controversial building in Edinburgh and Scotland, the Scottish Parliament building opened its doors for the parliament’s first session on September 7th 2004.
Construction of the elaborately designed parliament began in June 1999 with a budget of around 55 million. Five challenging, costly and bitter years later the building was completed at a cost of around 414 million.
Chief architect Enric Moralles wanted the parliament to be an embodiment of the Scottish way of life incorporating elements of Scottish culture, works of art and the landscape. Scottish rock such as granite was used in the floors and walls and wood such as oak and sycamore in the furniture.
One of the key design concepts was to use the shape of upturned boats and leaves in the roof to represent the land and national identity. The building which now stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile certainly divides the nation with many labelling the parliament an abstract mess and a waste of money.
This is one of the main reasons why a visit to the Scottish Parliament is so interesting. If you are in any way interested in architecture, you will be engrossed by Enric Moralles’ concepts and execution even if you do think that the building sticks out like a sore thumb instead of being at one with its surroundings.
The hugely impressive debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament building is arranged in the form of a horseshoe to encourage consensus between members of parliament. The chamber’s most striking feature is the ceiling which is composed of laminated oak beams reaching down to create a ‘V-shape’ overhead.
Entry into the Scottish Parliament building is free and tours are also available at no cost. Opening times vary throughout the week depending on when the parliament is in session so I recommend consulting the Parliament’s official website. It is also possible to observe a parliamentary session to see our members of parliament in action!
Arthur’s Seat
In my opinion the most breathtaking aspect of Edinburgh’s character is the views from various points of the city. One such point is the top of Arthur’s Seat, our unavoidable extinct volcano which dominates the Edinburgh skyline no matter where you are.
If you come to Edinburgh and decide against climbing Arthur’s Seat you will be left wondering what you missed out on. It is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.
Getting to the top will most likely involve some exertion, panting, perhaps even sweating but when you see the views and hear the multitude of accents and foreign languages around you, you’ll soon appreciate the importance of your achievement.
Arthur’s Seat looks down over the city from a height of 251 metres and can be climbed from almost every direction. However, an ideal place to start is at the Scottish Parliament next to Holyrood Palace. A path works its way up from Holyrood on to the top of the Salisbury Crags, a bank of formidable-looking cliffs that drop 46 metres straight down.
From the plateau on top of the Salisbury Crags the path slopes upwards towards the conical summit of Arthur’s Seat. The hike to the top will take close to an hour depending on your fitness levels. If you decide to conquer Arthur’s Seat during the morning, the sun should be behind you when you are looking over the city from the summit making it easier to take good photos!
The National Museum Of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is situated on Chambers Street, roughly a two minute walk down George IV Bridge from the Royal Mile. The National Museum is made up of two adjacent museums, the Victorian Royal Museum and the modern Museum of Scotland.
Remember – the weather isn’t always as good as it is in the photo, so the Museum of Scotland is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh on a rainy day!
Although the two museums are independent, visitors can walk freely between the museums from the inside. The Royal Museum focusses on the fields of art, technology, geology, archaeology, natural history and science whereas the National Museum, which opened in 1998, focusses exclusively on Scotland, its history, people and culture.
Those of you who like sheep and genetics will be ab le to see the stuffed body of Dolly, the first genetically engineered mammal. If you’re more into larger mammals there is an incredible whale skeleton hanging from the roof of one wing of the museum.
The Royal Museum also boasts numerous ancient Egyptian artefacts. The Royal Museum is currently undergoing a major face-lift and certain parts of the museum will be closed until 2011.
The construction of the adjacent Museum of Scotland was not quite as controversial as that of the Scottish Parliament but it was certainly a cause for discussion. Prince Charles resigned as patron of the museum due to a lack of consultation over the design of the building.
The Museum of Scotland will be of interest to Scots and foreigners alike due to its insight into the history and culture of Scotland. The museum houses a number of fascinating artefacts including flags raised at the Battle of Culloden, prehistoric jewelry and paintings and sculptures by local artists.
And the nice little bonus…..admission to the museums is free!
Calton Hill
It’s interesting that this former place of execution should provide the best views of the immediate city centre. At least the crooks had something nice to look at in their final minutes!
At the east end of Princes Street, Calton Hill appears to rise out of nothing, providing a mysterious backdrop to the immediate city centre. A two minute walk up some steps will take you to the grassy ’summit’ of the hill.
I have always found Calton Hill to be a fascinating place. Looking over the city centre while being surrounded by it, is quite spectacular. Couple that with a handful of interesting monuments and you have a great place for a picnic.
The first thing that strikes you as you reach the top of the steps (apart from the small cannon pointing towards you!) is what appears to be a replica of the Parthenon in Athens. The problem is, it doesn’t appear to be complete. That’s because it isn’t! The National Monument was supposed to be a replica of the Parthenon to honour Scottish soldiers who died in the Napoleonic Wars.
Construction of the National Monument was halted early due to a lack of funds and the monument is often referred to as ‘Edinburgh’s Disgrace’. Although you cannot deny the monument’s individuality in its current state!
Scottish architect William Henry Playfair was responsible for the construction of the National Monument and also the Dugald Stewart monument commemorating the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart which looks out from the west side of Calton Hill down Princes Street. The imposing tower situated at the highest point on Calton Hill was designed by Alexander Nasmyth and is referred to as Nelson’s Monument to honour Admiral Horatio Nelson.
A casual wander around the summit of Calton Hill will show you the many different sides of Edinburgh. Gaze out across the suburb of Leith towards the Forth estuary (remember the front cover of the Proclaimers’ album Sunshine On Leith?). Enjoy stunning views of the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat. Observe the hustle and bustle of Princes Street from afar…
Edinburgh Zoo
With over 600,000 visitors every year, Edinburgh Zoo is Scotland’s second most popular visitor attraction. It is also one of Scotland’s oldest visitor attractions having opened its doors in 1913.
The Zoo is situated three miles to the west of the city centre on the Lothian Buses routes 12, 26, 31 and 48 (see above) which will take you from Princes Street to the front door of Edinburgh Zoo in around 10 minutes.
Edinburgh Zoo is set on Corstorphine Hill, another one of Edinburgh’s many hills, providing very natural, attractive environment for both the animals and visitors.
Boasting over 1,000 rare and endangered animals, Edinburgh Zoo is amongst Europe’s principle conservation and research centres.
Not only does Edinburgh Zoo have an impressive collection of animals including Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Tigers and Lions, they also run a free hilltop safari, which is great for the kids and a number of educational shows including the Penguin Parade (that’s my favourite!).
Edinburgh Zoo is open from 9am every day of the year. From April to September the Zoo is closes at 6pm, in October and March they close an hour earlier at 5pm and then from November to February closing time is 4.30pm.
The Royal Yacht Britannia
Edinburgh was fortunate enough to be chosen as the final resting place of The Royal Yacht Britannia. Although there are few links between the Royal Yacht and Edinburgh (the Yacht was built in Clydebank near Glasgow), our city was chosen as a state-of-the-art terminal was being constructed at the same time.
The Royal Yacht transported The Queen and The Royal Family around the globe from 1953 to 1997 in order to meet foreign dignitaries and strengthen international relations. Such was the importance of the Yacht to the international reputation of The Royal Family and to the British economy, Britannia was always considered a Royal Residence alongside The Royal Family’s numerous other residences.
The Queen was always very fond of Britannia and stated that it was the only residence where she could truly relax. As she disembarked for the very last time she was seen to shed a tear in sadness.
The Lothian Buses routes 11, 22, 34, 35, and 36 (see above) will all take you from the city centre of Edinburgh to Ocean Terminal where the Royal Yacht is berthed. The tour of the Yacht gives you access to 5 decks where you can spend time in the State Apartments, the crew’s area and the engine room. You will be given a headset for the duration of the tour so you can learn about the history of Britannia, facts and figures of the Yacht and the many influential people who were entertained on board by The Royal Family.
One of the most successful racing yachts, the Bloodhound has been moored beside the Royal Yacht Britannia. As of July 2010 you will be given the opportunity to view the Royal Family’s classic racing yacht during your visit to the Royal Yacht.
Britannia is open all year round apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. In April, May, June and October the first admission is at 10am and the last admission is at 4pm. In the busy months of July, August and September the Yacht is open from 9.30am and closes at 4.30pm. From November to March the opening times are 10am to 3.30pm.
Edinburgh Ghost Tours
Do you have the bottle? The nerves? The stomach for it? An Edinburgh ghost tour is a seriously eerie experience! It is also one of the most popular things to do in Edinburgh.
Reputedly one of the most haunted cities on the planet, Edinburgh has a turbulent, torturous and terrifying past. You wouldn’t think it when you look at the cheery, innocent (!) faces of the present-day locals, but Edinburgh was once a city of murderers, cannibals, grave-robbers and slave-drivers.
Below the Old Town is a series of vaults which housed cobblers and other tradesmen. Crime in the dark, damp vaults was apparently rife. It is rumoured that the famous murderers Burke and Hare caught many of their victims in the vaults and sold their bodies to organisations for medical experiments.
Mary King’s Close is a particularly famous alley below the old town which was sealed indefinitely during the Edinburgh plague. Apparently 300 residents who were infected with the plague were entombed in the close in an attempt to control the spread of the disease.
As you might imagine, with such tales of pain and suffering, tours of the vaults and Mary King’s Close are not for the faint-hearted. These places have featured on television shows covering paranormal activity. Nevertheless, if you have a thick skin, the tours are not only highly entertaining, they are also extremely interesting and very popular with the locals who wish to see a completely different, hidden side to their city.
There are a number of tours you could take. Mercat Tours are extremely popular and offer a number of different tours. They have also been awarded 5 stars by the Scottish Tourist Board for the quality of their tours. Auld Reekie is another very successful tour company. Mary King’s Close tours concentrate on that one particular alleyway which in itself has an incredible story to tell.
The tours start at various locations on the Royal Mile. It is possible to book your tour in advance by speaking to the on-street representative. As these tours are extremely popular with both locals and tourists, I highly recommend booking in advance in person or on the website.
Finding the tour representative is not difficult as they often find you! When you are walking down the Royal Mile it is impossible to miss the advertising boards and the creepy looking reps trying to attract your attention.
And don’t panic folks…as long as you stay away from the rats you won’t catch the bubonic plague!
| Robbie Leys is a writer for edinburgh-insider.com, an Edinburgh tourist information site providing tips, recommendations and hidden gems from the locals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robbie_Leys Image Credit: scotland-flavour.co.uk |
Edinburgh, The Capital Of Scotland
March 8, 2011
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. Scotland is the second largest city of the United Kingdom after Glasgow and the seventh most populous. Its lies along the east coast of the Central Belt near the North Sea. The city is very spectacular owing to its rugged setting and her vast collection of medieval and the Georgian Architecture. This is the most picturesque city in Europe that has until today retained her traditions. The city has a population of around 500,000 and its one of the most visited.
Edinburgh houses the Scotland Parliament and its home to one of the famous universities called ‘The University of Edinburgh. The city has the most unique buildings and it’s divided into two. There is the Old and New town Districts that were declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1995. The city has 4,500 listed buildings more than 40 conservation areas. The city host the annual Edinburgh Festival that happens annually and show cases the traditions of Scottish people dating many years back that last for almost a month.
Edinburgh attracts about I million visitors annually from overseas. It’s now the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom. In the year 2009, the city was voted the most desirable to live in. The Old Town of the city has preserved the medieval buildings such as cathedrals and law courts. The most notable places include St Giles Cathedral and the Royal Museum of Scotland. The New Town also offers spectacular sites like St Andrew Square and Charlotte Square. Another feature is the Blue House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.
Dickson is the Chief Tour Guide and one of the Directors of Adventure Africa Expedition, he has traveled in many countries in Africa where he built the spirit of adventure and discovered nature hidden wonders in especially tailored walking trails like in Kisoro in Rwanda and Bwindi in Uganda both for Gorilla tracking. For more information on his work please visit http://advenafrica.com/index.htm
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5 Things You Have to Know About Scotland Before Traveling It
February 10, 2011
I recently traveled Scotland with a friend of mine and it was a great trip. We had a great time and I would do it again any time soon.
The thing is though that there are some things you need to know about Scotland. It will help you make your trip much more fun.
Pubs and Restaurants
If you go to a pub or a restaurant you might think it’s strange because waiters won’t come up to you and ask you what you want to order. Usually in Scotland you have to go up to the bar to order things.
I have heard about a lot of people who thought this was strange but that’s the way it is in Scotland. It’s just a cultural thing like in any other country. They are not being rude.
Haggis – National Dish
Once you travel around Scotland you will see that most pubs and restaurants offer Haggis as a dish. Haggis is very popular in Scotland and contains lots of intestines from the sheep. It’s a very salty meal that usually comes with neeps (yellow turnip) and tatties (mashed potatoes).
Renting Cars
If you want to rent cars in Scotland then you have to make sure that you are old enough. Usually car rental places will only rent cars to people who are over 20 (i.e. you can rent a car with 21). If you rent a car when you are 21 you will have to pay a lot of money on top of the actual rental price. That’s because younger drives have to pay higher insurance rates.
Also note that the cheapest price you can possibly get for renting a car is when you book it right with your plane ticket.
Rain Cloths
The weather in Scotland is strange. It will rain continuously for several days without ever stopping. This can be quite frustrating especially if you don’t have the right cloths with you. So before you go to Scotland make sure that you take at least waterproof cloths with you. Some travel boots are also good.
Youth Hostels
When we traveling through Scotland we mostly stayed at youth hostels. The youth hostels in Scotland are great and clean. So we can recommend staying in hostels.
One thing to keep in mind is that you can get youth hostels (not all of them) a lot cheaper once you become a member of SYHA. It’s the Scottish Youth Hostel Association and becoming a member is free. So check it out.
Scotland is a great country and you could miss out on a lot of opportunities if you don’t have the right kind of information. We have a website solely dedicated to tips for traveling Scotland. We would love if you go check it out!
We also offer a wealth of information on how to plan your Scotland trip. If you want to know more about the right kind of equipment for Scotland you need for traveling there then feel free to visit our web site.
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Guide to Perthshire, Scotland
January 18, 2011
Perthshire lies in central Scotland, around a one hour trip north of Glasgow or Edinburgh. Perth has a mainline rail station. If you don’t have time or inclination to travel too far north when you visit Scotland then Perthshire is a perfect destination allowing you to see dramatic mountainous scenery at the start of the Scottish Highlands.
Unique Points
The scenery and natural beauty of Perthshire is stunning. There is so much countryside to see, full of trees, rivers and mountains with walks for all abilities. There are many typical small Scottish towns such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Aberfeldy and Crieff. Perth is a very attractive city which lies on the banks of the River Tay.
Perth
I really like Perth, it’s quite a laid back yet grand small city. In central Perth there are 2 parks, a good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants, with promenade along the River Tay. I always think of Perth as the “Fair City”. However it is not officially a city, it was not approved by the Scottish Executive in the its list of Scottish cities but that has not changed my perception. Perth is a city full of flowers. In Summer there are hanging baskets everywhere. Branklyn Gardens is an interesting small garden run by the National Trust for Scotland. Its star exhibits are blue poppies. Cherrybank Gardens boasts the largest heather collection in Europe.
Perth Museum and Art Gallery looks very impressive from outside with its copper dome and columns. The museum is one of the oldest local museums in Scotland, built in 1824 on the site of a Domenican friary. There is currently an exhibition of 19th century Scottish landscapes many of which portray Perthshire. The Black Watch Museum is on Dalhousie Castle and charts the history of the regirment. The Fergusson Gallery has a large collection by the Scottish Colourist Duncan Fergusson housed in a former water works building, dating from 1832. Perth Festival of the Arts runs annually during from mid May. Horsecross was set up to run Perth Theatre and the new Concert Hall. Various musical events are held around Perthshire.
The Caithness Glass Visitor Centre is located in a industrial estate, where the A9 heads north from Perth. You can watch the glass blowers making the paperwieghts. There is also a kids play area, a restaurant, shop and exhibition. Scone Palace, just outside Perth,was the location of the coronations of Scottish Royalty, when they would sit on the Stone of Scone during the ceremony.
When I am in Perth l like to do a circular walk starting by crossing the river on the railway bridge, at the end of the prom, then along the river bank and through Rodnay Gardens (pictured alongside) with the flower beds and scupltures. You can either take the first bridge back to across the river or continue along the riverbank to the next bridge. I was very sad a few years ago when the council cut down all the lovely mature trees along the river bank to improve flood defences, however I do like the new prom.
Dunkeld
Dunkeld lies 20 miles north of Perth. The Telford Bridge over the Tay was built in 1809 in response to a survey of the roads in Scotland. It is still quite a landmark. Dunkeld Cathedral was first built as a monastry in 730. Much of the town was destroyed during the 1689 Battle of Dunkeld. The “little houses” in Cathedral Road (pictured alongside) are 18th century merchants’ houses which were renovated in the 1940s and are now let to local tenants.
The Beatrix Potter Garden is situated in the nieghbouring town of Birnam. to the west of the River Tay. Beatrix Potter spent 12 childhood summers holidaying in the area. During one holiday she wrote a picture letter to friend which developed in “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”. The garden celebrates her books with bronze sculptures of several characters. Birnam is also associated with Shakespeare’s Macbeth with the reference to moging Birnam Wood to Dunsinane, However the tale of the real Scottish King Macbeth has little in common with the protagonist of Shakespeare’s play.
When I visit Dunkeld I usually park at the Hermitage, with its beautiful woodland and river walks. The Hermitage is just off the A9, just north of the Dunkeld exit. When I was doing research for this guide I was surprised to read about the 2 follies erected during the creation of the Hermitage by the Duke of Atholl in the 18th century. I felt pretty foolish as I always though the one of the follies was for real, Ossian’s Cave the supposed home of the 3rd century poet. The other folly, Ossian’s Hall, a grand room overlooks the Black Linn Falls in the River Braan. The Hall must have been magnificent when it was lined with mirrors to reflect the waterfall and had shutters of coloured glass. The Hall has been recently renovated by the National Trust for Scotland. Until recently the Hermitage was credited with containing the tallest tree in the UK. However recent measurements have meant that a tree near Inverness has knocked the Hermitage’s contender into 2nd place. I like to walk from the car park at the Hermitage along to Ossian’s Hall, cross the bridge there, turn left and walk along the path, then down to Rumbling Bridge and into Dunkeld. The Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, home to a pair of breeding ospreys is a few miles north east of Dunkeld.
Pitlochry
Pitlochry is probably best known for the hydro electric dam and salmon fish ladder. The dam was constructed at the confluence of the River Tummel and Loch Faskally. A salmon ladder was also built to enable the estimated 5000 Atlantic salmon to return upstream to spawn. The ladder consists of 34 ascending chambers along 310 metres. I would recommend a fairly easy circular walk around Loch Faskally, which should take around one hour. Start at the salmon ladder go up the steps behind the salmon ladder and turn right walking alongside the Loch. Then go through a gate and turn right down hill on a minor road, You will come to a footbridge on your right, crossing the loch, after crossing bridge turn right, you will see cafe and boat hire on your left, walk up slope and you reach main road back into Pitlochry. The Dunfallandy Stone is an 8th century Pictish cross slab is located one mile west of Pitlochry. If you would like to visit a whisky distillery there is The Edradour Scotland’s smallest distillery and The Blair Atholl one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre started life in a tent in the early 1950s. due to rationing of bulding materials after the 2nd World War. The founder, John Stewart visited Pitlochry during WW2 and promised to return after victory. The present theatre building was constructed in 1981, If you stay in Pitlochry for a few days you can see a different play every evening. A Garden celebrating around 80 Scottish plant collectors and botanists as been developed around the theatre. Pitlochry Golf Course has been in existence for around 100 years and was christened the “Switzerland of Scotland” in a golf magazine in the 1950s.
The Battle of Killiecrankie was fought 3 miles north of Pitlochry and there is now a visitor centre there. You can admire the mangnificent Queens View, is best know as the stopping place or Queen Victoria on her journey north to her Highland retreat Balmoral. However it was evidently first named after Queen Isobel, the wife of Robert the Bruce Blair Castle is in Blair Atholl, 5 miles north of Pitlochry. It is quite unusual in that it is whitewashed. Just north of Blair Atholl is the House of Bruar, known as the home of country clothing, There is also an Art Gallery exhibiting over 450 pieces.
Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy is a charming small town on the banks of the River Tay. The landmark Wade Bridge opened in 1733. Aberfeldy can be reached via the Small Glen. turning north up to A822 a few miles east of Crieff, in the village of Gilmerton. and then onto the A826, just north of Amulree. It is a most beutiful drive with a scenic descent into Aberfeldy.
The Aberfeldy Distillery was first opened in 1898. If you are luck you may spot a red squirrel as there is a colony close by. The Birks of Aberfeldy is a circular walk up to the Falls of Moness. There is a large car park at the start of the walk, off the A826 as you approach Aberfeldy from the south. The walk can be muddy and bit slippery and there is a an elevation of 170 metres, You can see a plaque at the spot where Robert Burns rested to compose the Birks of Aberfeldy.
The Watermill houses the largest bookshop in the Highlands, an art gallery and a cafe in a Grade Alisted former oatmeal watermill. They offer story times and book reading session for kids and there is a Childrens’ Book Festival running from 12 – 13 May 2007. There are various events on offer such as music evening and talks by authors. I was very impressed by the Watermill. It has been a very sympathetic renovation, leaving in many parts of the mill machinerry. There is as impressive selection of books. The cakes in the cafe look scrumptious, I had to refrain as I had to get on with taking photos in the daylight.
The Crannog Centre has an authentic recreation of ancient loch dwellings dating back over 5000 years. They offer events such as weaving with wood or willow, musical evenings, underwater archaeology. The centre is in Kemore, 6 miles west of Aberfeldy, on the banks of Loch Tay. The National Kayak School offers one day introductory courses in sea kayaking and white water kayaking with the only white water run in the UK guaranteed all year on their doorstep.
Crieff
Crieff is a pleasant small town taking it name from the Gaelic for among trees, There are two walks in Crieff which I really like, . The Knock the wooded hill behind Crieff has several possible walk variations. Lady Mary’s Walk is a gentler stroll along banks of the River Earn. Crieff Visitor Centre combines a exhibtion about 18th century castle drovers, the Thistle pottery visitor centre, a garden centre and a restaurant. Crieff Highland Ganes started in 1870 and have taken place annually in August except during the First and Second World Wars.
Drummond Castle Gardens are said to be one of the finest formal gardens in Europe is a couple of miles south of Crieff, close the the village of Muthill. I lived in Muthill for 3 years in the mid 1980s. I learned to drive in Crieff so have many memories of stalling the car on the uphill starts in Crieff.
You can read the full guide with photos and accommodation options at http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/Scotland/perthshire.html
Karen Bryan is a UK based independent travel consultant and writer. Her website Europe a la Carte, features less well known destinations in Europe. Karen believes that if you venture even slighly off the beaten tourist track that you will see more of the real Europe. The website now has a blog where you can read and comment about travel Europe. http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Bryan
Image Credit: perthshire-scotland.co.uk
The Beautiful Country of Scotland
November 9, 2010
One of reasons why we work and save money is to have a better future, and, of course, this “better future” includes living the rest of your lives in a place that you can perfect. One of the countries that attract couples of retirement age is Scotland.
Scotland in the United Kingdom has been attracting tourists from all over the globe yearly. In fact, an estimate of more or less 20 million visitors visit the country yearly, and it is during these visits that many people fall in love with what the country has to offer. One, the country is considered as one of the cleanest countries with unspoiled natural landscape which are not only breathtaking but also relaxing as well. Two, Scotland is rich in culture with a very interesting history, and it is for this reason that many people wish to see the country.
The castles of Scotland are one of the many reasons why the country is attracting millions of tourists and visitors each year. For one, you have the Edinburgh Castle which is situated in Edinburgh. This castle has a daunting fortress which looms over the city just as it has been doing all those years ago. Touring the Edinburgh Castle is a very good way of getting to know the country and its bloody history.
Aside from the castles though, you also have the archeological and historical sites that date back to the Mesolithic, Iron Ages, and even the Old Stone Ages. One example of this is the human settlement that was discovered in South Lanarkshire, which dates back to about 14,000 years ago. There is also Cairnapple which has a history dating back to the Neolithic Period. This archeological site was very sacred to the ancient Scots as it served as a place where they performed rituals.1
There are other beautiful and historical places to visit in Scotland. There are the cathedrals and the other palaces that have played important roles in the history of the country. Of course, there are also the lochs or the lakes which are always worth a visit, and one of the country’s famous lochs is Loch Ness which is home to the lake monster that has made it famous, the Loch Ness Monster.
Scotland is not all about history though, so you should definitely visit the major cities of the country where you will get to enjoy modern attractions. There are museums here as well as galleries where you will get to learn more about the country.
Really, Scotland is indeed a very beautiful country that you can call the perfect home.
Scotland Gets Lots and Lots of Snow
September 5, 2010
Extreme weather could do a lot of damage such as the twenty thousand affected homes left without power supply because of rain, heavy winds and angry snow storms. Scottish Power identified these homes to be located in central and Southern Scotland. The worst case scenario was said to be Ayrshire wherein more than seven thousand families in Largs and Fairlie are to be greatly affected.
As the temperature took a dive below freezing point, there were ten lorries stranded on the M90. The situation was predicted to last for the next two days and so police advised drivers to take extra care on roads that could be swamped with water.
According to a Spokesman, not all of the 20, 0000 affected homes had no electricity all throughout the day. Some only lost their power supply for a few minutes. However, there were still around ten thousand homes which lost electricity at 4pm although the engineers were already doing everything they can to get the supply back.
The Scottish Power Energy Networks director Frank Mitchell said that people of Scotland were experiencing the lashing of winter’s angriest form just as they thought that summer is already coming.
It has been very bad to some areas which had high winds, ice and snow. And in certain areas, specifically in North Ayshire, was greatly affected and had the worst impact when it comes to power loss.
Most of the major problems have been fixed today. But with the weather forecast warning more of these precipitations for the following day, the engineers were advised to be alert and vigilant of problems for the next few hours.
After the heavy rain, people are now keen on watching the water level rise which may lead to floods, said the police. Areas now being watched for floods include East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and Ediburgh.
The impact of the weather does not stop there. Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said that due to heavy raining and snowing, the conditions of the roads are not at their best especially during the rush hours. This could become an issue to some drivers and so she asks them to have some patience while driving. Furthermore, it will take some time for the affected roads to regain their normality even if the raining stops.
At night, the temperature took another nose dive and Cairnwell had to endure a negative five degree Celsius temperature. To make driving conditions even worse, three inches of snow was lying on the road all throughout the near the Bridge of Earn.
The weather is completely beyond our control. As it releases one angry snowing to the next, least we could do is listen to the advices of authorities and weather forecasts. If you are looking in North Park homes for sale, it would be best to first consult with the experts regarding the weather and other concerns revolving it. The weather is a mismatched enemy and could do extensive damages to your properties. If you are already eyeing a property in North Park real estate, just like in any other place, be advised and be armed when weather comes to worst.
Kristen Wagner is a happy owner of North Park real estate. She helps people find North Park homes for sale.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Wagner
Using the Internet to Find your Vacation Cottage
July 3, 2010
“Why did you decide to come to us?” I asked.
“It was my eldest son, aged 11, who said he wanted to go to Scotland because he had heard about the Loch Ness Monster. So we said Ok” said Karin from Berlin.
Why people choose a particular holiday vacation is amazingly varied.
We know that people like to find owners’ sites direct if they can. But that means searching through to page 5 or 6 of most holiday pages on the internet. The big powerful holiday directories crowd out the first few pages.
Here are a few tips.
FAQ’s
Q Should I circularise my request to several properties at the same time and see what they say?
A. Many visitors do exactly this, but the text reveals to owners that they are using a circular enquiry. So many independent owners simply do not bother to reply. In a desirable location most owners can sell heir property many times over in the peak season.
Q. Should I find a property owner directly from the web or search through a directory?
A. There are 2 kinds of directory – an agency which takes the bookings and allows no direct contact with the owners and a directory which quotes e-mail and web addresses. The advantage with both kinds is that you’ll see many properties but agencies will stop you from contacting owners direct. They want a commission on the bookings, they’ll lose it if you contact the owner.
Q I can’t find owners sites when I search
A Go straight to page 3 or more of the search engine results to clear the Directory sites. You’ll find individual owners’ sites then.
Q. I want to find a property at the last minute, how should I search?
A. For Scotland look up the Cottage Guide and the Undiscovered Scotland web sites. These are both honourable bona fide directories with direct links to owners’ sites. The problem is that owners, like us I’m afraid, do not keep their availabilities up to date. Other directories cover other countries
We carry out research each year amongst our guests and others, Overwhelmingly they are experienced at internet booking of holiday properties or hotels, both here and overseas, and overwhelmingly they want to contact property owners direct through the web sites.
We know what our guests look for – it is a good location in the area they want, the right facilities and price, a warm welcome and a speedy helpful response.
They may search many different websites to start with, giving them a quick once over, and then going back to the ones they like for deeper investigation. All sorts of things can put them off a particular property but they often end up with a short list of two or three to choose between.
Our advice would be to try and narrow down your search as bit, to a smaller area of the country. In this way you can reach the individual owners’ websites more easily without going through masses of directories first. Using a term such as “Self catering Scotland” will be pretty hopeless, because it is too broad. You may need to go through the site descriptions on to page two or three to find your owners property. Don’t just pick the top sites of page one and then change to a different search term. The short site descriptions in, say, Google, are very useful.
But you can also find the directories useful for giving you plenty of options to start with, so long as they let you through to the owner’s site. If they don’t then they are an agency. But here, you are generally choosing on the basis of the photograph. It may not do the property or the location justice.
John Winkler http://holidaysscotland.blogspot.com
John Winkler
http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/using-the-internet-to-find-your-vacation-cottage-102948.html
The Top-10 Universities in the United Kingdom
June 28, 2010
An assessment carried out by AllAboutUni.com found that Scotland has the highest density of the World’s Top-500 universities in the United Kingdom. AllAboutUni.com is an independent, global and interactive website where visitors can obtain information about universities (global rankings, student reviews, university news and campus pictures).
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) is produced by the Institute of Higher Education at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University . Several indicators of academic or research performance are used to establish the ranking, these include highly cited researchers, articles indexed in major citation indices and staff winning Nobel Prizes.
The World’s Top-500 universities (2008) are mainly located in Europe (n=210; 40%), the Americas (n=190; 40%) and the Asian/Pacific region (n=100; 20%). There are 42 (8%) universities located in the United Kingdom (UK), representing 20% of the universities in Europe.
The top-10 universities in the UK are: University of Cambridge (ranked 4th in the world), the University of Oxford (10th), University College London (22nd), Imperial College London (27th), The University of Manchester (40th), University of Edinburgh (55th), University of Bristol (61st), University of Sheffield (77th), King’s College London (81st) and University of Nottingham (82nd).
The UK has the highest number of universities in the World’s Top-500 universities (42) compared to the other European countries: Germany (40), France (23), Italy (22), the Netherlands (12), Sweden (11) and Spain (9). In the ranking of Europe’s Top-10 universities, five are located in the UK and in the Top-25 universities, 9 are located in the United Kingdom.
The UK universities are located in following regions: England (34), Scotland (5), Wales (2) and Northern Ireland (1). An interesting difference is that universities in Scotland are much older than in the other three regions: the median age of the Scottish universities is 513 years (range 127-598) compared to 101 years (range 39-912) in England and 107 years (range 88-125) in Wales.
In order to make a comparison with other industrialized countries, AllAboutUni.com calculates the number of universities in the World’s Top-500 (2008) per one million inhabitants. The overall number of universities per million inhabitants in industrialised countries is 0.5. An earlier assessment found that small countries in Western Europe (Sweden (1.2), Finland (1.1) and Switzerland (1.0)) and New Zealand (1.2) have the highest number of universities per million inhabitants.
The number of universities in the World’s Top-500 universities that are located in the UK is 0.7 per million inhabitants, which compares favourably with other large industrialized countries: Canada (0.6), Germany (0.5), United States (0.5), France (0.4), Italy (0.4) and Japan (0.2). For the four regions of the United Kingdom, the numbers are as follows: Scotland (1.0), England (0.7), Wales (0.7) and Northern Ireland (0.6).
Conclusions
Within the UK, Scotland has a much higher density of top universities compared to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland also performs very well compared to other industrialised countries and the number of Scottish universities per million inhabitants is one of the highest in the world.
John Paget
http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/the-top10-universities-in-the-united-kingdom-719948.html
Holidays at Scotland Would be an Invigorating Experience
June 22, 2010
Planning for holidays! Then why not choose Scotland. Scotland is mainly countryside with hills and mountains, pristine lakes, and a lot more for tourists to explore.
Certainly from the hustle and bustle of city life, a few days here would rejuvenate you. You would also get enticed by the sceneric beauty which this country envelops.
Many of the holiday cottages listed offer availability calendars with secure online booking. Look out for those holiday cottages in Scotland offering late availability discounts and short breaks – real value for money!
Your decision for a hotel to stay would find an answer in holiday cottages in Scotland. These cottages serve the guest in cordial atmosphere amidst all the facilities which a traveler is looking for.
Holiday cottage owners advertising at this site can elect to have their own interactive website and optional availability calendar which they can update whenever required, and so provide you with complete and current information to enable you to make an informed choice and perhaps book online
The rooms of these cottages are endowed with all the amenities to make the stay of travelers comfortable. So pack your bags and make Scotland as your coming holidays’ destination.
Whatever your requirements are for self catering holiday cottages in England, Holiday Cottages Lincolnshire, Holiday Cottages Northampton shire or Holiday Cottages Nottinghamshire you’ll find them at U.K. Holiday Cottages Online.
Town & Country Cottages were established over twenty years ago in the City of England and we offer Self Catering Holiday Accommodation in some of the most beautiful areas of Southern England.
david
http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/holidays-at-scotland-would-be-an-invigorating-experience-729413.html
Scenic Scotland
April 7, 2010
Scenic Scotland set to the song Caledonia, sung by Dougie MacLean.
Duration : 0:4:14