Scotland Activity

We arrived in Edinburgh during torrential rain -- after the driest September since 1910. It figures. So our first stop was to buy good quality waterproof coats and umbrellas; we didn't want anything to stop our sightseeing. Thankfully we were able to time our outings between downpours.

Instead of staying in a hotel we chose to rent an apartment for the week. This gave us space, a kitchen, and a location on the Royal Mile, just minutes from the Edinburgh Castle.

We actually spent a lot of time on the Royal Mile -- the road that links Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. It is filled with historical landmarks, sights, and shops. We visited a Tartan Factory, a kiltmaker shop, a Story Teller Museum, the Writer's Museum, and several cafes.

We were surprised to find this stone on the Royal Mile which states that near this spot in 1625, Sir William Alexander received lawful possession of the province of Nova Scotia from a representative of the King.

We spent a couple of hours wandering the Edinburgh Castle and listening on headphones to the history of the Castle and Edinburgh. It was a (surprisingly) beautiful day.

 We visited the Holyrood Palace which is the residence for the Royal Family when they are in Scotland. Every summer the Queen comes to Edinburgh for a number of official duties.

Holyrood Park, attached to the palace, is a beautiful area for hiking and walking. We climbed Arthur's Seat (a dormant volcano) for a spectacular view of the city.