The next morning after getting some take-away croissants and coffee from Pret-A-Manger, we headed over to Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle is an ancient stronghold which dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh from its position atop Castle Rock. It is Scotland's second-most-visited tourist attraction. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC. As it stands today though, few of the castle's structures pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century, with the notable exception of St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, which dates from the early 12th century.
View from Edinburgh Castle looking out over New Town. The New Town was an 18th century solution to the problem of an increasingly crowded Old Town. The city had remained incredibly compact, confined to the ridge running down from the castle. In 1766 a competition to design the New Town was won by James Craig, a 22-year-old architect. The plan that was built created a rigid, ordered grid, which fitted well with enlightenment ideas of rationality. The principal street was to be George Street, which follows the natural ridge to the north of the Old Town. Either side of it are the other main streets of Princes Street and Queen Street.
Hannah and Alice with the soldier and gun.
An old army recruitment poster from inside the museum.
The great fifteenth-century siege gun Mons Meg can be seen today outside St. Margaret's Chapel. The six-ton bombard faces North across the city. Mons Meg has been defunct since her barrel burst on 14 October 1681 when firing a birthday salute for the Duke of Albany.
Was actually not very much down there . . .
Cool gun display.
The tea and coffee house where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the early Harry Potter series.
The Royal Mile is crowded with tourists. As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scottish mile long, and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock down to Holyrood Abbey.
We decided to take a short bus trip outside the city to visit Craigmillar Castle. We hiked across some hills and wound up accidentally entering on the side "for free".
The Fringe Festival kicked off that afternoon with a parade.
Looking out over New Town.
Looking back toward Edinburgh Castle and Old Town.
At the other end of the Royal Mile.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, or informally Holyrood Palace, founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 15th century. The Palace stands in Edinburgh at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence in Scotland of Queen Elizabeth II, who spends time at the Palace at the beginning of the summer.
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