EDINBURGH - CAPITAL OF SCOTLAND

Edinburgh has often been described as one of the most interesting, beautiful, scenic, vibrant, historic and dramatic cities in Europe. One fine day I decided to check out whether Edinburgh would really manage to live up to its superlatives laden reputation and hopped on to a train from King’s Cross St. Pancras, central London.

The experience of traveling through Edinburgh and the Scottish highlands was a rich and vivid one and turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life – an experience that I will cherish for a long, long time.

Edinburgh

How may I describe the beauty of this quaint Scottish capital tucked away between hills and dales and forths in the scenic Scottish lowlands? The moment you alight at Waverley station and walk up to the NorthBridge, you are greeted by a sight of scenic splendor that will be etched on your memory for the rest of your life.

Edinburgh Attractions

The diversity of Edinburgh ensures that it has something to cater to every taste. It is hard to miss the old world charm of Edinburgh as you make your way up to the ancient Old Town on the hill with its quaint cobbled streets, narrow wynds and narrower closes leading down the hill, wide roads lined with traditional Scottish souvenir shops playing traditional bagpiper music and traditional Scottish cafés and restaurants.

Edinburgh can be a paradise for sea lovers as it offers magnificent sea views over the estuary or Firth of Forth from Granton harbor, Leith docks, Leith walkway and Portobello Joppa. You will find the Royal Yacht Britannia parked in the Oceanview Terminal at Leith. You can also get a panoramic view of the entire city of Edinburgh as well as the Firth of Forth if you take the trouble of climbing to the top of the Salisbury Crags on which Arthur’s Seat is located.

Shopaholics can shop till they drop on the vibrant and crowded Princes Street – perhaps as famous a shopping paradise as Oxford Street in London. For panoramic city views, you can try out Camera Obscura on Castlehill or the Calton Hill where you will be greeted by a replica of the Athenian Parthenon (perhaps that is why Edinburgh is fondly called Athens of the north) and don’t forget to visit the imposing and stately Edinburgh castle or the city dungeons, the Ramsay Gardens and the elegant Georgian New Town.

Your trip to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Scotch whisky heritage center, the fashionable shops of George Street, the traditional bars of Rose Street, the Palace Of Holy Roodhouse (the official residence of the queen of Scotland) and the Scottish parliament. And if you have time on your hands, you should definitely visit the serene and picture perfect water side setting of the DeanVillage.

What I loved the most

But it was the throbbing, bustling, bewitching Edinburgh city centre (mainly the area around Princes Street, High Street, George Street, Charlotte Square and Scott monument-Princes street gardens) which I found the most fascinating and infectiously charming.

Edinburgh Weather

The weather in summer is seldom as bad as its notorious reputation, though winters can be cruelly vicious. Even in the height of summer in July, we were shivering in cold at night sleeping under 3 fat quilted wrappers. I have penned the raptures of ecstasy that I experienced while exploring the virgin beauty of Scottish highlands in another short article.