Your top Edinburgh tourist picks

Post by **wangi** » 03 May 2006, 22:43

What would be your top three recommendations for a tourist (or even a local), three must sees in Edinburgh and around... And maybe a bit out of the usual.

To kick things off mine would be, in no particular order:

1. Warriston Cemetery: an amazing walk through an abandoned graveyard, ivy, vines and flowers...

2. Roof of Ocean Terminal: Great views over Edinburgh towards the Pentlands and in the opposite direction over the Firth of Forth to Fife. And of course Leith down below.

3. An "up and down the closes": take one side of the Royal Mile and go down each close, and up the next. Repeat.

And yours?

gilo · Post by **gilo** » 03 May 2006, 23:00

1. Arthur's Seat. It may seem obvious but it is totally unusual. What other city has a whacking great hill in the middle..I was very taken aback when i first came to Edinburgh.
2. Tantallon Castle. Best castle going. Great to walk along the battlements on a clear windy day.

Can't think of another right now...but I'm interested in hearing others as I'm always looking for a good day out.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 03 May 2006, 23:08

Great thread idea!!!

1. Multicultural food walk on Leith Walk - taking in Valvona & Crolla and the Vittoria, asian specialists for curry ingredients, Chinese supermarkets and finally Storries bakery. Also buy Gaviscon.

2. New Town walk starting somewhere in the west end near Haymarket, tracking right the way along Young St, Hill St and Thistle St - the long thin streets which mirror Rose St but on the other side of the hill - then cutting down onto Dublin St and Barony St to hit Gayfield Sq.

3. Old Town walk starting at Bruntsfield, tracking right the way through West Port, Grassmarket, Holyrood and Abbeyhill (Spring Gardens) coming out at Jocks Lodge. Stop for wee at Starbucks.

4. Porty walk starting at my house, going round the bottom of Portobello Park, over the railway bridge and east along the High Street, round onto the Prom at Wangi Towers and right the way along the prom, coming back along the High Street and then along Brighton Place and back to my house for Senseo coffee and a wee.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 03 May 2006, 23:21

1. I agree Wangi that it would be difficult to better Ocean Terminal for it's breathtaking panoramas in all directions and I would also recommend the view over Dean Bridge which is awesome

2. Portobello Prom, obviously had to include a day out at the seaside, not many cities can offer that

3. Walk along the Water of Leith via the cycle paths, including Roseburn and Stockbridge, stopping at the Gallery of Modern Art for a delicious home made cheese scone or chocolate brownie and a pot of Earl Grey, complete with your own wee tea strainer, very twee, but also welcoming for kids

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 04 May 2006, 00:59

Dadaist wrote:Great thread idea!!!

1. Multicultural food walk on Leith Walk - taking in Valvona & Crolla and the Vittoria, asian specialists for curry ingredients, Chinese supermarkets and finally Storries bakery. Also buy Gaviscon.

2. New Town walk starting somewhere in the west end near Haymarket, tracking right the way along Young St, Hill St and Thistle St - the long thin streets which mirror Rose St but on the other side of the hill - then cutting down onto Dublin St and Barony St to hit Gayfield Sq.

3. Old Town walk starting at Bruntsfield, tracking right the way through West Port, Grassmarket, Holyrood and Abbeyhill (Spring Gardens) coming out at Jocks Lodge. Stop for wee at Starbucks.

4. Porty walk starting at my house, going round the bottom of Portobello Park, over the railway bridge and east along the High Street, round onto the Prom at Wangi Towers and right the way along the prom, coming back along the High Street and then along Brighton Place and back to my house for Senseo coffee and a wee.

That's Four, greedy (not as avaricious more voracious)

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 04 May 2006, 01:08

1. Aurthur Seat - it is just magnificent to have something so brilliant and so accessible. My favourite place.

2. Being near the sea, especially in winter when it is cold and stormy.

3. Hanging out in the myriad of happening cafes and bars

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 04 May 2006, 09:32

I agree, Arthur's Seat, shopping in Bruntsfield and morningside and stopping in for a drink in Montpeliers! and a trip to Portobello!

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 04 May 2006, 14:44

A few suggestions:

Auld Edinburgh: 18th century Blair St vaults beneath the South Bridge.
When working for the Council got some "tours" well before the company started doing the tours.

A "secret" house in Easter Road, don't remember the address but it's half way up Easter Road, then you have to go through a stairwell into a backgreen. In there, there is a cottage.

Very unique in that the cottage is surrounded by trees and tenement flats.
Don't think the owners would be too chuffed with eveyone gawking at their cottage though.

Easter Road, the land of football. Many a "God" will be seen there.

My flat, as an example of how not to keep it tidy and also how not to "play" geetar.

Cragimillar, where not to go at night

Crammond, lovely place.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 04 May 2006, 21:07

Zargonian wrote:A "secret" house in Easter Road, don't remember the address but it's half way up Easter Road, then you have to go through a stairwell into a backgreen. In there, there is a cottage.

Very unique in that the cottage is surrounded by trees and tenement flats.
Don't think the owners would be too chuffed with eveyone gawking at their cottage though.

That'll be Norton Villa, Zarg. A colleague of ours used to live there.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 04 May 2006, 21:21

Another lovely place is Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill has fabulous views too.

Plug and I went to the Cammo estate for the first time on Sunday. Despite the constant aircraft taking off from the airport it was an amazing mix of wildlife and manmade features.

It's a pity that Dan Brown's grotty (IMHO!) book has ruined Rosslyn, but the Glen is a great place still (so far).

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 04 May 2006, 23:03

I'm enjoying this thread and getting some ideas for future visits. I have never been to Cammo estate but it sounds like my kind of place. I have to agree with you Poppy about the Hermitage and Blackford Hill, Freddie used to love going to both of them, some of our favourite walking places. He ploutered about in the water at the Hermitage for hours, oh,happy days.

I would also add the botanic gardens as a favourite place to go even though I haven't been there for ages. It's on the must go to list.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 04 May 2006, 23:09

teddygirl wrote:I would also add the botanic gardens as a favourite place to go even though I haven't been there for ages. It's on the must go to list.

I love the botanics - especially the hot plant rooms though its nice to get out into the sunshine! Great place and nice cafe and shop.

My dad used to take me to Glasgow botanics when I was a child. Was always an exciting day out.

ColinMcFadyen · Post by **ColinMcFadyen** » 05 May 2006, 02:15

Well, I can give you a first hand account...

I was back home on holiday with my wife and kids in 2003 and 2005 and we did a few good touristy things.

Arthur's Seat. Incredible place in the center of the city. A climb to the top gives fantastic panoramic views.

The comment about Ocean Terminal is bang-on.

The prom, of course. One of the few places in the world where the middle of July can feel like November

We took a bus to Princes St.. Walked through the gardens and then up to the Castle. Walked down the Mile to the Palace and then through the park to Meadowbank.

We were staying at my aunt's caravan at Seton Sands and the bus ride into Edinburgh is very nice when sitting upstairs at the front.

Also, walking around Port Seton, Cockenzie or Musselburgh is a nice way to pass the afternoon. My sone had a great time fishing for mackeral from at Port Seton harbour.

We also hit the zoo, Dynamic Earth and some other attractions to keep the kids busy.

I could go on and on. Before our first visit, my wife wondered if we could keep the kids busy in and around Edinburgh for a couple of weeks. No problem. Actually, it was the kids that wanted to go back again in 2005.

Colin.

Zargonian · Post by **Zargonian** » 05 May 2006, 08:34

Poppy wrote:
Zargonian wrote:A "secret" house in Easter Road, don't remember the address but it's half way up Easter Road, then you have to go through a stairwell into a backgreen. In there, there is a cottage.

Very unique in that the cottage is surrounded by trees and tenement flats.
Don't think the owners would be too chuffed with eveyone gawking at their cottage though.
That'll be Norton Villa, Zarg. A colleague of ours used to live there.

Ah! Didn't know that. Cheers !

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 05 May 2006, 19:55

I love Arthur's Seat. I used to climb up regularly when I lived in Edinburgh.

Duddingston Loch is wonderful, so peaceful and unspoilt, with a great pub attached...

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 07 May 2006, 17:05

Plug and I have just been to Inveresk Lodge Garden. Been meaning to go for a while since we joined NTS, then Robert McNeil mentioned it in the Hootsmon mag yesterday which jogged our memories.

Loads of tadpoles for TG and budgies and canaries for Dada (and Oscar -except they are in in cages!!).

As well as trees 'n' stuff.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 07 May 2006, 23:06

Poppy wrote:Plug and I have just been to Inveresk Lodge Garden. Been meaning to go for a while since we joined NTS, then Robert McNeil mentioned it in the Hootsmon mag yesterday which jogged our memories.

Loads of tadpoles for TG and budgies and canaries for Dada (and Oscar -except they are in in cages!!).

As well as trees 'n' stuff.

Sounds idyllic and very lovely.....more to the point is there a cafe?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 07 May 2006, 23:09

foxy wrote:
Poppy wrote:Plug and I have just been to Inveresk Lodge Garden. Been meaning to go for a while since we joined NTS, then Robert McNeil mentioned it in the Hootsmon mag yesterday which jogged our memories.

Loads of tadpoles for TG and budgies and canaries for Dada (and Oscar -except they are in in cages!!).

As well as trees 'n' stuff.
Sounds idyllic and very lovely.....more to the point is there a cafe?

No! But there is a picnic area!

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 12 May 2006, 09:58

This thread inspired me to do a few watercolours of my favourites, so here they are....(sorry about the focus - used my 'phone and it's a bit nackered

)

Victoria Terrace

The Mound

The view from Samson's Ribs

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 12 May 2006, 10:07

Rathbone, is there no end to your talents? You get all Dadaist's obscure music references, write entertaining and witty prose, run half marathons and now we find that you're a talented water colourist as well. Bravo!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 12 May 2006, 13:49

Marya wrote:Rathbone, is there no end to your talents? You get all Dadaist's obscure music references, write entertaining and witty prose, run half marathons and now we find that you're a talented water colourist as well. Bravo!

What do you think it was like for us growing up in his shadow.......

(we love him really, he taught us to knit

)

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 12 May 2006, 14:08

Very nice indeed.

(p.s. currently listening to Casino vs Japan, "Hitori + Kaiso 1998-2001")

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