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| Edinburgh Castle provides a spectacular backdrop for the city's Hogmanay fireworks display. Photo by Visit Britain |
PLACES / HOLIDAYS
By Aliye Arif
Dramatic natural scenery, towering
castles and heritage alongside a throbbing social scene make the Scottish
capital the second most popular tourist destination in Britain after London.
Situated in Lothian on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh is the second most populous city in
Scotland after Glasgow.
Sightseeing and Landmarks
Recently
voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British Travel Awards, Edinburgh Castle
stands tall and proud overlooking the city and dominating the skyline. Battles
and sieges were fought over it and royalty lived within its walls, including
Mary Queen of Scots in the 1500s. Contained within are the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the
famous 15th century gun Mons Meg and
the National War Museum of Scotland. Guided tours are provided by castle
stewards daily and whilst there are many cobbles and steps, a courtesy vehicle
can take visitors with a disability to the top of the castle.
One
of the most popular Edinburgh landmarks is Arthur's Seat. Popular with walkers,
this hill fort is situated within Holyrood Park and is said to be
2,000-years-old. An oasis of calm in the city centre, you can enjoy the park’s
rich natural and archaeological heritage – walks, wildlife, volcanic geology
and unparalleled vistas of the city from its many vantage points. St. Giles
Cathedral is another must-see. Its distinctive crown steeple is another
prominent feature of the city skyline.
Food and Drink
A
trip to Scotland isn't complete without trying haggis, a traditional Scottish
sausage made from a sheep's stomach stuffed with diced sheep's liver, lungs and
heart, oatmeal, onion, suet and seasoning. Just think of it as the Scottish
alternative to şeftali kebab.
Scotland is also famous for its crumbly shortbread, so don't forget to bring
back a tin of biscuits for the family.
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| Haggis: the Scottish alternative to şeftali kebab. Photo by Natalie Pecht |
Malt
whisky is Scotland's national drink and Edinburgh does not fall short of
celebrating this. Visit WHISKI Bar, the multi-award winning bar and diner on the Royal
Mile serving fresh Scottish food using the best local produce and over
300 malt whisky varieties to choose from.
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| Whisky - Scotland's national drink. Photo by Visit Britain |
Fun fact: Scotch whisky must be made in a manner specified by law – you can't pass off any old
whisky as Scottish!
Hogmanay
If
there’s one thing the Scots do better than most, it is to put on a grand New
Year’s Eve party – or Hogmanay as it is locally known. Highlighted as one of
the ‘Top 100 things to do before you die’ and the only festival to appear in
the ‘Discovery Channel – Top 25 World Travel Experiences’, Edinburgh's Hogmanay
is one of the world’s greatest New Year celebrations.
Things
get underway on 30 December with the spectacular Torchlight Procession. Join
thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic
Royal Mile to the son et lumiére and
fireworks finale on Calton Hill.
On
Hogmanay itself, the action moves to Princes Street in the city centre beneath
the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Around 80,000 revellers pay £20
to party their way into the New Year with top DJs, giant screens, outdoor bars
and, of course, the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks on the
castle ramparts.
Nearby
is another ticketed event, the Concert in the Gardens, which this year is being
headlined by Lily Allen, who will be joined by many other special live music
guests. For a more traditional Scottish Hogmanay, get yourself to the Edinburgh
Keilidh, which boasts a massive outdoor dancefloor, bar and food village.
Newcomers to ceilidh can learn the moves from the professional ceilidh caller
and bring in 2015 with spectacular views of the Midnight Fireworks.
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| The Loony Dook dippers on New Year's Day |
And
if you need something to clear your head the morning after, why not take part
in the (literally) breathtaking Loony Dook, the annual splash in the River
Forth at South Queensferry. Don some fancy dress and join the Dookers Parade
through the High Street before taking the plunge in the freezing Forth with the
iconic Forth Bridges as a backdrop.
Edinburgh Festival 2015
For
some forward planning, make your trip to the Scottish capital next summer to
coincide with the Edinburgh Festival – the largest arts festival in the world –
which takes place every August for three weeks. Both the main festival and the
Fringe are showcases for the performing arts, particularly theatre and comedy,
helping to establish the careers of many writers and performers. Whether you’re
a seasoned visitor or this is your first experience of the festival, there is
always a fair bit of planning required to make the most of what’s on offer as
there are thousands of shows in more than 250 venues. The Edinburgh
International Festival and Fringe will next run from 07-31 August 2015.
Shopping
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| Go shopping for tartan |
The
city centre is the ideal place to start a shopping trip. Jenners is a quirky
department store located on Princes Street, selling everything from
international designer brands to locally crafted Scottish products. The Royal
Mile is in the heart of the Old Town, which is full of pretty buildings, some
dating back to medieval times. You’ll find great gifts shops, from fun
souvenirs to top-quality cashmere and tartan, whisky and delicious handmade
fudge. If you are after bargains, the Livingston Designer Outlet is worth the
30 minutes trek from Edinburgh, where you can pick up designer brands with
massive discounts.
Tour and Explore
What
better way to see this fantastic city than from the top of a tour bus? City
Sightseeing provides hop-on hop-off bus tours, with numerous stops located
conveniently around the city at various landmarks and shopping destinations, so
you can jump on and off the bus at your leisure. This one is sure to be a hit with the kids
and will give you plenty of photo opportunities. Cameras at the ready! Prices
are around £14 for adults and £6 for children.
Accommodation
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| The Witchery Hotel in the heart of the city |
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