Hiking in Edinburgh

 If you know me you know that I love to walk and hike! The mountains are always beckoning silently and I can't rest till I experience the expanses and the heights! Not to mention when I get to a new location the itch to explore! Even as we checked in on the freezing cold night, and took to bed exhausted from our long day (given it was a long day of sitting and doing almost nothing). I took a peek outside my window at the first hill that caught my eye (Calton Hill) and couldn't want to go explore in the morning!

View from the room! Canongate Kirkyard with the Roman structures and Calton Hill lining up the background	I walked down to Holyrood and took Calton Rd up! There is a close at Canongate that cuts across! But I needed to take the scenic route!
This staircase is right across the street from Old Tollbooth Wynd. Leads up to Regent Street! Me? When I see a staircase I just climb!	Trudging uphill!
Burns Monument on Regent	Old Royal High School! The Romanesque building

I head up Regent st and encounter  Jacob's Ladder with great views of the Waverley! Apparently a biblical reference to Jacob's rope ladder that leads straight to heaven! Another steep stairwell if you want to climb up from the Waverley bridge. You can take the circuitous less steep road if you want to avoid the hike up!

Jacob's ladder!

The view of Waverley Station!

Edinburgh City views

Calton Hill on the other side!

We are getting close now! Time to trudge up Calton Hill and see that up close!

National Monument of Scotland! A memorial to Soldiers inspired by the Pantheon! They ran out of money and apparently it was never completed!

Calton Hill Observatory

Isn't it always?

Dugald Stewart Monument (He was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh)

The breathtaking views from Calton Hill - Thats the Balmoral Hotel

Obelisk Martyrs Memorial ad the Calton Burial Ground, Scott Monument and Royal Mile at the distance

I spy another mountain to climb. Thats the Salisbury crags and Arthurs Seat as viewed from Calton Hill

A view towards Leith, the Firth of Forth, Inchkeith and the coast of Fife from Calton Hill

Now that the first hike was done and dusted! I turned my attention to the next one! Arthur's Seat. Formed 350 million years ago, thee same volcanic system that caused the hill the Castle is built on and the Calton Hill, Arthurs' seat is a symbol of Edinburgh. It is located in the Holyrood Park right next to the Holyrood Palace. So really a stone's throw from the Royal Mile. It is said that James Hutton developed the basis of Modern geology by looking at the layers of igneous rock here! And that this was the location for King Arthur's Camelot!

The hike up Arthurs' seat

So beautiful but let that not trick you! A steep climb!

The views were absolutely breathtaking!

Climbing up the rocks at the top!

The wind on the top is no joke! the Seagulls were literally floating away in the wind!

The Summit!

The views from the top made teh climb well worth it!

Holding the phone steady to take these pictures was quite a task!

Here is a picture of me at the top of Arthurs' seat! The wind was pushing me! The gusts were quite fierce at the top! But I was just thrilled to be there (as you can tell!)

After just a few minutes at the top I started my decent. I went a few different directions to take in the views, climbed back on top and went down again this time in yet another direction! This was a road not taken! Steep downwards climb through thistle bushes! I had to stop to contemplate my brash decisions a few times as the wind pushed me down, the cliff lined up one side and I went down hill!

But the Crags beckoned! So here I go again for a little bit more adventure! The Crags are a much smoother climb and descent! So if you want to avoid the strenuous Arthur's seat the Salisbury Crags are a great alternative! Keep an eye out near the cliffs at the top though! With no railing at the top a bit scary! And on a windy day like the one I had not the best! The wind was much lesser than on Arthur's seat though!

Nothing like a day of activity! I just loved the climb and the fresh air on my face! For most of my way there were barely any people! So it was just fabulous taking in the sights at my own pace! Arthur's seat was a bit crowded though (considering the climb, still lots of room for serenity)!

I later learnt that I should have also made my way to Deans' village for another hike in Edinburgh! But I didn't! Until next time I guess!

I will be back with more sights in Edinburgh, considering that I explored the city so much there is more to tell! But this by far was the best adventure of my trip there!

Discovering Edinburgh's Old town!

Edinburgh is a quaint little town and known to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world! It has a little for everyone.. some culture, modern amenities, whisky tasting, Harry Potter, Outlander, Castles and Hikes! Its a blend of the historic and modern! Over the 4 days we stayed there I fell in love with it! It is going to be hard to do it justice but I will try my best to bring to words and images the experience that is Edinburgh!

I don't intend to chronicle this in the order of my seeing the locations or the itinerary so maybe a long winded post unfortunately. But I will try and capture as much of the beauty and experience as I can here!

Royal Mile and Canon Gate

The Royal mile is a central street in the heart of Old town that stretches a little over a mile. At one end of the mile is the Edinburgh castle and at the other end is the Holyrood Palace. The Holyrood palace is the official residence of the Queen when she visits Scotland!

The Edinburgh Castle! Best view is at the end of Grass Market!	Thee Castle as viewed from Arthurs' Seat
Queens Gallery at the other end of the mile! This houses crown jewels and is right across from the Scottish Parliament	The Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace as seen from Arthurs' seat	The gates to Holyrood

The Royal Mile is quaint and just beautiful with its many alleyways (Close). There are about 80 closes. Some are drab and dingy while others have spectacular views and still others have hidden courtyards and gardens! I explored a few! Some featured here!

This was a close off CanonGate. One of the very first I saw! I believe this was Old Tolbooth Wynd

Warriston's close Stairs

Writers Close

Bakehouse Close an Outlander location

Inside Bakehouse Close

World's end close!

Another Outlander location

A boring looking close! There are these too!

Looks like a portal that will transport you in time

Inside Tweeddale Court

Tweeddale court, further in! Outlander vibes!

Advocate's close! History to be explored

Dunbars' close with the hidden garden

I believe this was in White Horse close!

Ladys' stairs close with the Writers' workshop - leading to lawn market

I believe this was the view of the mound (with the scottish national gallery) from the bridge over Waverley

The Royal Mile and Canon Gate (An area on the Royal Mile) is an infusion of culture, scents, sounds and experience! Lot of bagpipe players line this stretch so you are always hearing the musical notes of the bagpipes!

The street was full of life and energy! And ofcourse throngs of people! Here are some more visuals from the area!

The buzzling Royal Mile

Tron Kirk - Kirk means Church in Scot

The Hub, formerly The Assembly Hall and Talbooth Church, Castlehill. This is the junction of Lawn market, castle hill - So not the Royal Mile officially

St Giles Cathedral

Tolbooth Tavern of Outlander fame

Worlds' end Pub - Of Outlander fame. Ths pubs in the city stay open way past midnight unlike the stores that close at 8 PM

The Governor house on Calton Hill as seen from a close on Royal Mile

A moving statue! One of the many attractions/ distractions on the mile

Just keep walking and experiencing the mile!

Edinburgh city chambers on the mile. I believe that was a unicorn on the top

University of Edinburgh - Holyrood Campus. This was right on the mile in Canongate. Pic is taken from inside the campus facing the mile

The view inside the campus! See the amazing crags in the background!

The architecture and details in the buildings were simply astounding. These cantilevers remind me of the architecture in some of the temples in India! I was spell bound and captivated! This entire blog with all its pictures just spans the 1.1 mile that constitutes the Royal Mile! And I havent even made a scratch! As you can tell I had a lot of time on my hands to explore this beautiful city and the weather except for the first day was so cooperative! There is a lot more to explore in Edinburgh! The Royal Mile is also home to an Underground tour at Mary Kings close  and the Camera Obscura which is an interesting attraction! Its also home to a number of pubs and street cafes! Great vive and energy at the Mile! We stayed on the mile in the Canongate area! It certainly is expensive but well worth it to stay so close to all the action!