It seems silly that I have travelled half way around the world but have never visited Scotland. So this year my news year’s resolution was to rectify this, and I did…
I flew to Edinburgh on a dark, drizzly January night, but the spark of the Scottish capital brightened my day. From the moment I arrived in the city, the imposing architecture and the might of the surrounding landscape overwhelmed me. Sublime.
The skyline is dominated by church towers, mountains and of course Edinburgh Castle. I ventured towards the Castle along the Royal Mile. As I walked I passed numerous charity shops, students, tourists and those native to the city, I got a real sense of the unique tapestry that makes up the city. From the soot covered buildings to the faint sound of bagpipes everywhere you go; there’s a part of Edinburgh for everyone.
After a 30-minute tour of the castle I had learnt lots about Scottish history, Margaret’s Chapel, The Stone of Destiny and the labyrinth of cells underneath the castle itself. The castle’s use throughout history and the strong military background which carries on today.
Of course there is more to Edinburgh than the castle but it’s a pretty good place to start if you want to explore the city. Of course, a 5 minute walk from the bottom of the Royal Mile is Holyrood Park, the home of Arthur’s Seat. I think this park was my favourite part of Edinburgh. I love the fact that you can walk a few minutes from the centre of the city to the looming hills of Holyrood. As I walked about the gale force winds nearly knocked me off my feet once or twice, but the view was worth the struggle. A sharp intake of clear Scottish air as I reached the top, I was ready to embrace the working class beauty that lay before me. Edinburgh, I miss you already.
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