Picture it – it’s the 21st century but you have traveled back 500 years to the days of jousting and chivalry, castles and fairytales, and dark tales of the seamy side of medieval life. It’s modern day Edinboro, or Edinborough or Edinburgh , the capital city of Scotland, a position it has held since 1437.
There are many ways to get to this magical little kingdom: Continental flies direct from New York; you can fly into London and then take the train; or fly from London on one of the cheaper UK airlines like BMI for less than $125 roundtrip.
- Edinburgh Castle on the hill
Once in downtown Edinboro you can’t help but be awestruck by the magical castle on the hill. It seems both out of place yet right at home amid the hustle and bustle of modern day life in Scotland. The locals just go about their business as if this wondrous site is but another building. However, it’s omnipresent and can be seen from all of the wonderful nooks and crannies (sidestreets) that Edinboro has to offer.
Be prepared to walk…….a lot. Edinboro is a walking city and there are plenty of hills. The main tourist route is the Royal Mile, a long, long hill which links the Castle at the top to Holyrood Abbey at the bottom.
- The ruins of Holyrood Abbey
You can try starting the day at the castle; spend a few hours there; then start a leisurely stroll down the Royal Mile, stopping midway for lunch, before sauntering to the bottom to visit Holyrood. But don’t forget, you still have to walk back.
The main shopping drag is Princes Street and there are plenty of shops everywhere. My favorite British department stores like Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and John Lewis all have stores in Edinboro minus the crowds of Oxford Street in London. There is also Bhs and plenty of craft and gift boutiques to bolster the economy. And after shopping till you drop, Edinboro has numerous restaurants and pubs. You must go in for a pint or a soda. The Scottish people are some of the friendliest and warmest I have ever met around the world and you will not feel out of place, even if you are alone.
- Scotland’s crown jewels?
One of the tourist must-do activities is a haunted ghost tour of the underground city. In medieval times, Edinboro was a walled city of only one square mile. It became overpopulated and was forced to build down, underground. It housed its citizens in vaulted rooms, as small as 10′ square and when the plague hit, city officials would seal off entire levels, trapping people in their permanent tombs. It’s a fun night out and you should reserve the latest time-slot to add to the haunted, spooky flavor of the night. It generally ends with a pub crawl.
One of the best things about visiting Edinboro late in the summer season (besides a lack of tourists) is that the days last longer. Due to the city’s northern latitude, it does not get dark and you can find yourself walking the streets at 10pm in near daylight. The hotels offer room darkening drapes for that reason.
And no trip to Scotland, at least for me, would be complete without a trip in search of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. It’s quite a ride to get to the Highlands from Edinboro and I was not about to jump aboard a huge motor coach.
- In search of Nessie
I found Rabbie’s Trail Burners, which provided the perfect antedote to huge tours in that they offer trips with a mini van which seat no more than 16 people. It allows for an intimate nature to the tour and mingling among the tourists and guide. My particular journey had four solo travelers among our small group of seven – it was perfect.
I stayed at the Bruntsfield Hotel, which was somewhat off the beaten path yet on a central bus line, so it was easy access to anywhere in this manageable city. The room was adequate and the restaurant food was tasty. While I avoided the haggis, which is typical Scottish cuisine and not something I am about to eat in this lifetime (sheep organs boiled inside its stomach), the food at the hotel was good and they offered a delicious Banoffee Pie and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Can you see where my priorities lie on holiday? Maybe I’ll next do a dessert tour of the world. How sweet that would be!
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