Edinburgh & Lothians
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-> Edinburgh & LothiansEdinburgh
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a magnificent city with amazing views across the Firth of Forth to the mountains and an abundance of historical and other attractions to tempt the visitor to spend many days here. Edinburgh Castle, built on a volcanic rock, occupies a commanding position overlooking the city, and the Old Town, running the length of High Street from the castle, is full of ancient buildings and narrow wynds. Immediately below the castle are Princes Street Gardens which offer a great variety of entertainment, particularly during the summer months and the Edinburgh Festival. At the foot of the High Street is the new Scottish Parliament building (of controversial architectural design) which stands opposite Holyrood Palace where the Queen stays when in Edinburgh. These buildings are overlooked by Calton Hill which has magnificent views of the city and the Firth of Forth. However, the highest hill in the city is Arthur's Seat which dominates the skyline and offers a retreat from the bustling city and a taste of the countryside. The harbour area at Leith has great pubs and restaurants, and it is here that the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored. Within the city centre, there are museums and art galleries to suit all tastes, theatres, designer shops and a huge range of restaurants, pubs and clubs.
The Lothians
The 'Lothians' refers to the three local authority areas lying around the city. West Lothian, which stretches up to the Firth of Forth and the Forth Road Bridge, has several stately homes worth visiting, including Hopetoun House and Linlithgow Palace. Midlothian is perhaps most famous recently for the Rosslyn Chapel (of the Da Vinci Code fame) and East Lothian has some famous 'links' golf courses, fine sandy beaches, old castles and wildlife centres. |
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