The City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh is built on and around a number of hills. The view above from Blackford Hill is of the centre of the City with the Firth of Forth (an estuary) in the distance, and beyond it the Kingdom of Fife. The prominent building in the city centre is the castle.
The Castle
The Castle houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the recently returned
Stone of Destiny, a working army barracks, and much more.
Princes Street Gardens
Below the Castle to the north is Princes Street Gardens, the site of a former
lake. The gardens separate the Old Town from the New Town and are the site
for many of Edinburgh's festival activities. In this area can be found art
galleries and monuments. On the hill near the Castle is the Church of Scotland
Assembly Hall, the temporary home of the recently resurrected Scottish
Parliament.
Arthur's Seat
Overlooking the City is Arthur's Seat, the remnants of a long-extinct volcano.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Arthur's Seat sits in public parkland. At the edge of the park is the Palace
of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's residence when she is in Edinburgh. At other
times the Palace is open to the public. The Palace is at one end of the Royal
Mile, a street that runs up to the Castle.
The Military Tattoo
August is festival time in Edinburgh. In addition to the arts festival and
festival fringe, there is a nightly display of military bands in front of the
Castle known as the Tattoo. The event includes other displays of dance, music,
etc., and on Saturday nights culminates in a firework display.
To the North
To the north of Edinburgh is the Firth of Forth with its famous railway
bridge. Beyond that is Fife and the historic city of St Andrews, home of Golf.
Further north still are the Cairngorm mountains.
Loch Morlich
The landscape is in many places quite barren but it has a stark beauty
enhanced by the many lakes (lochs) such as Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms.
The Highlands
Further to the west are the Highlands and Islands. Popular for hill-walking
and mountaineering, more relaxed walks through the glens are an option for the
less energetic.
All photographs copyright © Richard Boulton
General Information
For general information about tourism in Scotland, see the Scottish Tourist Board Web site. If you have any concerns about the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the United Kingdom (which affects certain animals), here are our views and links to further information.
Dining Out
The recommended conference accommodation is located close to the centre of Edinburgh allowing participants to easily get around and enjoy the night life and sights. The city offers almost every kind of cuisine imaginable at reasonable prices.
Local Attractions
The conference will take place soon after the Edinburgh International Festival and its associated book and film festivals and the festival fringe. These combine to form an arts festival with tens of thousands of performances of thousands of different shows. It will be possible to arrive early and spend some time at the festival. Also on during the festival period is The Military Tattoo, a display of military bands, dancers, and more.
Edinburgh offers lots to see and do all year round. Edinburgh Castle houses precious Scottish artefacts, war museums and memorials, and an ancient chapel. There is also much of historical interest to see at the Palace of Holyroodhouse as well as pleasant gardens to roam in. Between the Castle and the Palace is the Royal Mile, a street steeped in history. Explore the ancient side streets and closes or visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre near the Castle. The ghost tours and tours of parts of the medieval city that are now buried underground are very popular with tourists. There are also many interesting shops along the Royal Mile but be warned that the prices are inflated! It may also be possible to visit the new Scottish Parliament.
Relax in Princes Street Gardens or visit the art galleries and museums. The new Museum of Scotland provides a fascinating insight into Scotland from prehistoric times right up to the present day. Or take a look around the recently decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia used by Britain's Royal Family on state visits and holidays around the world since the 1950s. It is now moored at the docks in Edinburgh.
The shopping in Edinburgh is as good as you would expect from a capital city.
Beyond Edinburgh there are many castles and stately homes to visit. One of the beauties of Scotland is that there is so much to do without travelling a long way. Glasgow, Stirling, the Borders, St Andrews, and much of the Highlands are accessible on a day trip from Edinburgh. Glasgow has a lively cultural scene while Stirling has more of historical interest. St Andrews too is full of history and has a much quieter pace than Edinburgh or Glasgow. It is famous for its university, the oldest in Scotland, and for Golf.
For those who enjoy the great outdoors, Scotland offers fantastic opportunities for walking and climbing with breathtaking scenery throughout the Highlands and Islands.
Weather
The only thing predictable about the weather in Scotland is that it isn't! By early September summer will be drawing to a close and the temperatures may already be dropping, but at any time the visitor to Scotland should be prepared for rain.