EDINBURGH CENTRAL
Edinburgh is without doubt one of the most charming and attractive cities in the UK, maybe even in Europe. Visitors flock here from around the world, particularly in the Summer season and more so during the Edinburgh Festival which takes place in August. The city has many attractions which draw the crowds, there is the allure of the Festival itself, with thousands of performances each year during it's three week period - there is also the fascinating history of the city, with incredible stories intertwined with different parts of the city. Then there is the sheer beauty of the place, the architecture spanning centuries - the parks - the bridges - the monuments - and of course there is the Castle, a mind blowing piece of construction, sitting proudly on the Castle Rock, keeping watch over the city below.
All this combined undoubtedly makes Edinburgh a 'must see' stop on any travellers route around Europe.
Here we will focus on some of the Central Area of Edinburgh, mentioning a few of the landmarks along the way.
THE OLD TOWN
The Old Town is the largely medieval heart of Edinburgh in which you can find most of its important historic monuments, including Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, the Palace of Holyrood and many more. Heading down from the Castle Esplanade we immediately enter the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile is the historic backbone of the Old Town, linking together Edinburgh's two royal strongholds - Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood. Running the length of four streets - Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street & Canongate -there's certainly plenty to see and explore.
A magnet for tourists, the Old Town includes many notable and historic buildings, some of the older examples including St Giles Kirk, the Castle, John Knox's House, Magdalen Chapel, the Canongate Tolbooth and Kirk, Lady Stair's House, Moray House, not forgetting Holyrood Palace & Abbey and Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Today the Royal Mile retains its distinctive character, thanks to it's appealing historic architecture and a policy of careful conservation by the City Fathers and Conservation Groups.
The Old Town was named a World Heritage Site in 1995.
EDINBURGH CASTLE
The Castle espalanade is the site of the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo that takes place annually as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. For three weeks in August each year the Scottish regiments host a lively programme of military music, marching and historical re-enactments under floodlights before packed crowds of tourists and locals alike.
On the northern side of the Castle is the Mills Mount Battery, this is where you will find one of the Castle's most distinctive features - the One O'clock Gun. Originally fired to allow boats on the Firth of Forth to set their clocks, - the gun is still fired each day, which acts as a modern day time check for the citizens of Edinburgh. Then if you make your way round to the western side of the castle you will find the Castle Vaults, these contain an exhibition about the castle's military history, which includes one of the Castle's most famous attractions - the 5 ton cannon Mons Meg. This 15th century cannon was the most advanced piece of artillary of its era and is estimated to have been able to fire a 500 pound stone a distance of almost two miles.
The Stone of Scone and the 'Honours of Scotland' (the Scottish Crown Jewels) are also on display in the Palace Block in the Crown Room,. They include the Scottish Crown, thought to be the oldest crown in Europe, the Sword of State, and a 15th century sceptre. These pieces of Scottish history were hidden in the castle when the Act of Union took effect in 1707, and were only put on display again in 1822. Along with the 'Honours' sits the Stone of Scone,which was brought back to Scotland in 1997 after 700 years absence. This was the coronation seat of Scottish kings until King Edward I carried it away as war booty in 1296. Since then it has been kept under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey (apart from the time it was kidnapped from England by two Scottish patriots in the late 1960s).
THE ROYAL MILE
The Royal Mile is divided into four sections, CastleHill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate, and there are many priceless buildings and places on it's path from Castle to Holyrood Palace
The list of attractions on the Royal Mile to see is a long one, but to mention a few of the more famous ones would be - of course the Castle itself which we have already mentioned, then there is St. Giles Cathedral.
The present St Giles Cathedral or the High Kirk of Edinburgh belies the ancient structures that have occupied this spot at one time or another, the first church on this actual site dates from around the ninth century. St. Giles was rebuilt in the fifteenth century, and was the base for John Knox's Reformation of the style of Scottish worship from Catholic to Protestant. Much to his dislike, Scotland, France and England were all ruled by Catholic queens at the time.
In 1826, the much-neglected St Giles building was refurbished by William Burn, and there is plenty to appreciate inside, especially in the Thistle Chapel. The Heart of Midlothian, a heart-shaped pattern of stones in the roadway a few yards from the main door of St Giles', is a memento of a grim past. For the stones mark the site of the doorway of the Old Tolbooth, the town prison that stood here for some 400 years until it was demolished in 1817.
Further down the Royal Mile lies the Canongate, for centuries the burgh of Canongate was quite independent of Edinburgh. The presence of the Scottish court at Holyrood naturally attracted the nobility, many of whom maintained a town house in the Canongate, placing it as near to Holyrood Palace as possible. One gem of note is the Canongate Tolbooth (1591), which was the administrative hub of the Canongate in the days when it was an independent burgh.
Set at the eastern end of the Canongate and the termination of the Royal Mile is the Abbey and Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly referred to as Holyrood. The Palace is located on the site of Holyrood Abbey, an Augustinian monastery that was founded in 1128 by King David I. King David had pledged to build an Abbey for Canons devoted to the Cross, - Holyrood actually means "Holy Cross" - both Palace & Abbey are set in a valley, sheltered by Arthur's Seat (an active volcano about 250 million years ago) and Salisbury Crags. The abbey stands in the grounds of the palace with little more than the nave left to see of this once beautiful building.
GREYFRIARS
Greyfriars Kirk, whose entrance gates stand at the south end of George IV Bridge, is one of Edinburgh's most historic and atmospheric churches. The churchyard, is a calm and pleasant place to visit, ensuring you forget you are in the heart of the city. Greyfriars is Edinburgh's oldest graveyard, and was built in the 1620s, but was greatly damaged by fire in the 19th century and was subsequently re-built. An interesting fact about the church has to be that it has been estimated that there are some 80,000 people buried in the kirkyard.
The present church, belonging to the Church of Scotland, was the first new church to be erected in Edinburgh after the Reformation. The National Covenant, that militant expression of the Presbyterian faith, was signed here in 1638. Another piece of Scotland's troubled ecclesiastical history is the treatment dealt out to the Covenanters who were imprisoned here, under conditions of great hardship, and indeed some were executed for their religious beliefs. The nearby Martyr's Monument is a memorial to them.
Greyfriars Bobby
Immediately outside the churchyard gates, at the crest of Candlemaker Row, stands the much celebrated bronze likeness of Greyfriars Bobby. Bobby was the pet of policeman John Gray who died in 1858. The loyalty of the wee Skye terrier was so great that for 14 years the dog is said to have lived on his master's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard.This is perhaps the most famous memorial to a dog to be found anywhere in the world.

GRASSMARKET & COWGATE
For as far back as 500 years the Grassmarket has been the central point of the Old Town and since ince the earliest times it has been a trading place. The first written record of a market there is in 1477. It has plenty of history attached and murky tales of execution and murder abound. It was in the Grassmarket in 1736 that an Edinburgh mob lynched Captain Porteous, who was the commander of the Town Guard. Porteous had ordered the guard to fire upon a crowd with fatal results. He was put on trial and convicted of murder - but then he received a reprieve.Angered, a mob captured Porteous from the Old Tolbooth, which stood on the Royal Mile near St Giles', and hanged him in the Grassmarket. The Grassmarket was also the haunt of the infamous murderers and bodysnatchers Burke and Hare. During 1827 and 1828 they are said to have murdered at least twenty people for the purpose of selling the bodies to the University's lecturing anatomists. Burke was hanged at the Lawnmarket but Hare escaped the rope, having turned King's evidence after their arrest.
West Port
At the western end of the Grassmarket is the area known as the West Port, which today is more famous for it's seedy lapdancing bars.
Cowgate
At the eastern end of the Grassmarket stands the Cowgate. This area was once known as the Irish Quarter, after the thousands of Irish immigrants who came to live here after the Great Famine of 1846. The famous James Connolly, leader of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin was born and bred in the Cowgate. The Irish Catholic connection is recognised to this day, by the presence of St. Patrick's Church, also known as St. Paddy's.
CALTON HILL
Situated at the eastern end of Princes Street, Calton Hill marks the edge of the original New Town development., though it may not be as dramatic as Castle Rock or the Arthur's Seat, it's a must for the stunning views around the city. To the west, Princes Street and the castle - to the south, the Old Town with Arthur's Seat lurking in the background - to the east and north lie the Forth, the Port of Leith, and our first glimpse of the New Town.
The visitor who climbs Calton Hill and wanders among it's impressive memorials will discover many chapters of Edinburgh's history.
THE MEADOWS
The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, which lie on either side of Melville Drive, are probably the biggest recreational area around this part of the city. The Meadows has been a popular public park since 1860, it consists of a large stretch of parkland criss-crossed with paths, and is used regularly for football, cricket, cycling, hockey, tennis, bowls, jogging and general relaxation in the fine weather. At one time it was a large expand of water called the South Loch or Burgh Loch, and provided the town of Edinburgh to the north with its main water supply.
PRINCES STREET
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street gardens fill the valley between Old Town and New Town, with Princes Street itself lining the northern side. The gardens were once the site of the Nor' Loch (part of the Castle's defensive moat) but this was drained in the 1750s in order that some gardens could be built. In 1816 an Act of Parliament protected the site from commercial development and so to this day the gardens remain an oasis in the heart of the city. During the summer months the park acts as a mecca for visitors in search of panoramic views of the city - for tourists who wish to climb the Scott Monument; for workers lunching in the open, for children who want to run wild, and for just about anybody who needs to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of Princes Street itself. Also situated at the foot of the Mound is the oldest Floral Clock in the world. Dating from 1903 it is made up of over 20,000 flowers and has electrical hands. If you visit the clock, arrive in time for the quarter past the hour ritual of a little cuckoo appearing from its home. During the Christmas and New year period there is an ice-rink set up here under the gaze of the Castle and there is a decidedly festive atmosphere in the park at this time with stalls selling Christmas goods and seasonal ornaments. A massive ferris wheel situated next to the Scott Monument has also been in attendance lately to add to the fun.
The Mound is in the centre of Princes Street Gardens and is known as The Mound because it is, in fact, the mound of earth that was left over from dredging the Nor' Loch at the footof the castle, - the Mound also has The Royal Scottish Academy and The National Gallery situated there.
THE NEW TOWN
Whilst the Old Town marks the historical part of the city, the New Town is more a celebration of business, order & classical Georgian architecture. It was James Drummond, the six times Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who came up with the idea of a 'new town' and urged the council to support it to relieve the chronic overcrowding that had occurred in the Old Town Edinburgh. A competition was announced in 1767 for the design and it was, won by James Craig, a 23-year-old unknown architect. His plan was to create an entirely residential area consisting of three main east-west streets encompassed by two grand squares at either end and incorporating large public gardens and green areas. This development proved so popular that several other New Town developments were added, making Edinburgh one of the most beautiful Georgian towns in the UK.
The New Town continued to be developed until 1830, with the noted architect Robert Reid (1774-1856) developing the area around Drummond Place (named after the Provost) and James Gillespie Graham (1776-1855) creating Melville Street to Moray Place from the Earl of Moray's 'Lands of Drumsheugh'. - Named a World Heritage Site (1995), the New Town remains a highly desirable residential area with Princes Street being recognised internationally for retailing, and George Street still retains most of Edinburgh's considerable financial sector, although much of it has moved to various Business Parks on the outskirts of the city.
TOLLCROSS & WEST END
The name Tollcross derives from a toll-bar that levied a charge on road users, is one of the busiest road junctions in Edinburgh outside of the immediate city centre.
Five roads criss-cross around the landmark of the Tollcross public clock, the busiest heads along Lothian Road towards the West End, at the end of Princes Street. This area from Tollcross to the West End boasts a few theatres and cinemas, along with new hotels and the stretch along Lothian Road is a popular area for eating out with it's many restaurants - it also has many drinking dens to cater for revellers out for a night on the town.

OTHER EDINBURGH AREAS

LEITH
The Port of Leith has for centuries been a crucial part of Edinburgh's wellbeing, especially up until the introduction of the Rail and Road network. The sea was Scotland's commercial highway, and this led to the interests of both Edinburgh and Leith being intertwined. It was one of the areas major sea ports and ships arrived from around the world with their cargoes and likewise ships set off for foreign shores to trade with other countries. Up until 1920 Leith was an independent Burgh and had it's own colourful history, and even to this day Leithers display a strong sense of pride in the community of Leith, some still preferring to thought off as seperate from the city of Edinburgh.
The visitor can find Leith by way of Leith Walk which runs from near the East End of Princes Street down to the 'Foot of the Walk' which finds you at the Kirkgate Centre. From the Foot of the Walk, Duke Street leads to the open space known as Leith Links, which is where the early form of golf was played in the sixteenth century.
Leith Docks are the headquarters of the Forth Ports Authority, administrators of six ports and two oil terminals. Leith is also a frequent port of call for cruise ships, and will be more so in the future with the building of the Ocean Liner Terminal. The docks are also the permanent berth for the Royal Yacht Brittania, which has become a major visitor attraction in recent years.
The Shore of Leith has recently had a turnaround in its good fortunes. Funded by public money, many of the older buildings have been restored and cleaned, and the area has in general been spruced up. Companies have been enticed back into the area and they have breathed some regeneration in the process. Plenty of restaurants, trendy pubs and winebars along with cafebars have sprung up, particularly around the Shore Area.
Leith is a great place to visit, a mish-mash of people from different cultures and both ends of the social spectrum - add to this the host of small independent shops, the pubs, the restaurants, the docks, the shore area, it all makes for an interesting experience.
NEWHAVEN
Heading west from Leith Docks is Newhaven Harbour, which is Edinburgh's traditional fish market. Newhaven, a small closeknit community, can trace its history back to around 1504. Known since Medieval times as 'Our Lady's Port of Grace' Newhaven today is a shadow of it's former self, although it is well preserved by it's status as a conservation area. Formerly a busy little village, lined with pubs and shops - it has now become something of a dead end, with the Harbour only being occupied by a few pleasure crafts. The opening in 1994 of the Harry Ramsdens fish & chips restaurant along with the museum have brought some life back to area, - with it proving to be a popular eaterie.


UNDER CONSTRUCTION - more areas to be added..


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