posted by Travel Cat on Mar 24
Travel to the Capital of Scotland to see the secret side of the city - and some of it is underground!
If you are looking to visit a great city but without all the hassle of getting around London or New York, then why not try Edinburgh (pronounced Ed-in-bra) in the south-east of Scotland.
You must have heard of Edinburgh Castle and the Military Tattoo - but what about some of the less visited sites there too? Many of them are free and you can stay as long or as little as you like!
Be aware though, that this city is the most hilly place I have been to since visiting the Monte Verde mountains or Costa Rica! If you don’t like walking up and down steep hills or skipping up and down endless flights of stairs, then maybe stay home!
1) The Leith River Footpath.
This delightful stroll will take you along the short river that winds around the western edge of the city. In the summer it is bursting with wild flowers and trees in bloom - and you may even see a kingfisher along the way! The path is interrupted at many points by alternative cycleways and footpaths, as well as museums, houses and great architecture.
2) The Royal Botanical Gardens.
A short walk north from the city (and along the top part of the Leith river if you want) is the well proportioned botanical gardens - an oasis of peace. The rock gardens are delightful and seemingly endless, and you are allowed to climbs all over the rockeries! You can also visit one of the oldest palm houses in the UK, see a heron eating a frog (!) from the Chinese pagoda as well as visit a small aquarium!
3) Step Back In Time.
There are plenty of houses open to the public in Charlotte Square to the very west of the New Town. They have been restored to how they would have looked when the area was first built, and how society has changed since then. Step down into the servant quarters and see how dingy their lives were, or read the magnified newspaper of the past centuries when dentists offer to come to your home and ‘painlessly’ extract your teeth!
4) Sit In The ‘CessPit’ Park.
I know it doesn’t sound that nice, but these days the quiet park directly below the Castle to the north is a haven for tourists. Sitting here, you can look up towards the bastions of the great castle and admire the local church - but in Edinburgh’s hey-day, this was a marshy wetland where all the city’s waste (including toilet waste) was flushed down into. It’s no wonder it is so fertile and green these days!
5) Museum Of Childhood.
Definitely have a peak in here - and it’s free! It’s got little to do with the history of the city, but it’s great fun to have a look around for your own sake! Just be warned that there is a room completely filled with (scary) dolls and clowns!
See you soon for Part II

