Of all the countries I have visited, Scotland is the most diverse and fascinating. It is the land of malt whisky, haggis and landscapes and cityscapes of breath-taking beauty. No one city embodies this as much as the capital city of Edinburgh. Running the gamut from ancient history and culture to buzzing nightlife and everything in between, there is no place quite like Edinburgh. With so much happening it can be hard to choose what to do while visiting this fair city, but here are some personal favourites as a starting point.
Edinburgh festival
If it is at all possible, I always try to visit Edinburgh during the Festival because it is a wonderful experience. A cultural jamboree taking place in August, the Festival is actually a combination of a number of separate film, jazz, art, politics and book festivals, not to mention the Fringe, starting a week before the main event. Do not miss Fringe hotspots the Hub and the Traverse, or free performances at the garden party in the Meadows on Fringe Sunday. If more highbrow shows are your thing then opera, dance and theatre can be found at the Edinburgh Festival Theater.
Volcano
Not many people realise that the city of Edinburgh encompasses within its boundaries an extinct volcano. Arthur’s Seat is the tallest of the city’s seven hills and a climb to the top is something I always recommend when visiting Edinburgh to drink in the wonderful views. Combine your stroll up the hillside with a visit to ‘Our Dynamic Earth’, a science museum that provides an explanation of how this amazing landmark was formed, as well as an illuminating geological education. The museum is interactive and great for the kids. After your jaunt up Arthur’s Seat, if you have energy left, then spend the evening taking in a walking tour of the city – with a twist. Cobbly, windy, hilly and twisty, Edinburgh is a city made for walkers and the spooky after-dark walks are something of a speciality here. Try City of the Dead or Mercat Walking, tour companies with a good reputation for providing eerie and often historically accurate walking tours that are often conveniently located around the hotels in Edinburgh city centre.
Whisky
Whisky is famous as the national drink of Scotland and there are certainly many distilleries for you to visit. As I’m an aficionado of malt whisky, I always enjoy The Scotch Whisky Experience, a liquid tour of the history of this drink as well as a very pleasant entrée into the world of the connoisseur. After this incredibly entertaining tour, you may not be prepared to accept supermarket blends again! Since whisky is the national drink, you might as well use it to wash down the equally famous but maybe less appreciated dish of haggis. Macsween of Edinburgh is a renowned haggis manufacturer and you cannot go wrong choosing one of their delicacies, which are also available in delis across the city. Less intrepid culinary adventurers can always try the shortbread.
Weaving company
Finally, if you want a touch of the traditional and can picture yourself wearing a kilt, then pay a visit to the Edinburgh Old Town Weaving Company. A working mill, the noisy looms produce the extensively stocked store’s products. Check the guide to investigate your clan history, as I did and then stock up on all the relevant kit from the store.
This guest post was brought to you by Saul Malpass- He is a keen blogger who particularly enjoys finding little gems of things to do within UK cities. He is currently writing on behalf of Lodging World who provide information on booking hotels around the U.K;
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