Thursday, 15 July 2010

Edinburgh Festival in Scotland's Capital City By Eric Sutherland

Military Tattoo based on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at night allows the lighting to show up the national dress of the visiting acts. Finishing with the lone Piper on the Castle.

The best walk for visitors on a short visit is to take in the views from the Castle Entrance and then walk down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace at the bottom. Nearly every entrance has some Historical background, indicated by the name plates.

On the first Sunday the Pipe Bands march along Princess Street and show how far around the world the Scots have settled.

The Opera is popular and attracts full houses, an opportunity to try out new Opera's before taking them to London or New York.

Film Festival apart form a good mix of budget films, there are classes on different aspects of film making and raising funds. French silent movies and the use of mime will make the film goers grabbing of the movements to understand the message and to put them together to follow the film.

Music, Plays and Comedy Acts are all Fringe shows that end up in every possible hall around the City, with Universities, School Halls, Pubs and Church Halls being used. Some are outside in the Parks or on the Pavements. The recent move to go mobile asks a lot of the people to view a smaller stage (i.e. inside a camper van).

The main attraction at the Book Festival is to hear Authors speak or explain their ideas that led to writing their books.

© Eric Sutherland

Eric Sutherland T/A Trog Associates Ltd

Business Networking on ecademy Marketplace : http://www.ecademy.com/user/ericsutherland1

Author and Publisher Services : http://www.trogassociatesltd.biz/

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4 Things You Have to See in Edinburgh By Matthew Sorrow Platinum Quality Author

Edinburgh is a place where many amazing things can happen and many amazing things can be seen. It is worth to visit Edinburgh and have a plan to see there most important elements - if we can find there a lot of things and have a lack of time we should decide on something. Here you can find list of four subjective things.

Castle
That lies upon the town is a part of the town that can't be left unmentioned. This amazing building had in the history the major meaning in wars. Today it isn't playing the same role but it still makes a huge impression - on tourists. This castle is a mix of different traditions and trends which shows that the castle played different roles during the ages. Now it doesn't have anything in common with war or army but has become a symbol of the town.

National Gallery Complex
It is situated in the center of the Edinburgh on the Princess Street, is the most important attractions not only in the city but also in whole Scotland (the entrance is for free). The Gallery consists of three connected with each other buildings and presents inside major of what has left after the ages of changing culture in Scotland but not only that. Collections has pieces of arts of some famous artists like El Greco, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, and many, many more. But there are also Scottish artists like Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie i McTaggart. Really worth to visit!

Palace
This palace was for the last time a royalty house in 1617. It is worth to see this place just even to see audiovisual exhibition of Honors of Scotland - Scottish royalty jewels, with originals in the Crown Room, on the end of the exhibitions halls. These great jewels that come from the restoration bring memory about the history of Scotland. For the last time they play their role in 1651, when Carol II had his coronation.

Royalty Mile
It is a common name for the combination of streets, that gives a main road to Edinburgh Old Market. It is one of the most crowded streets in Edinburgh. You can find there different shops with Scottish Whiskey, kilts and handmade products. On this street we can also find a saint Idzi Cathedral, the one and only church that was built in middle ages and has left till today. In this street we can find a Parliament House, that was built in the beginning of 17th age.

If you love Scotland and you are also interested in kilts and other Scottish goods like tartan blankets you should just check the Highlandstore.com website.

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A Visitor's Guide to Edinburgh in Scotland By James C Patrick

Scotland's capital city Edinburgh is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Steeped in history and tradition; awash with culture, landmarks and stunning architecture, Edinburgh is a fantastic destination for visitors of all ages, and should be the first place on your list if you are visiting Scotland any time soon.

The most popular attraction by far is Edinburgh castle. Built at the end of the 10th century, the castle towers over the city landscape and is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Visitors to the castle can witness spectacular views over the city and the castle also hosts the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo - the showcase event of the Edinburgh International Festival. The famous fireworks events both during the Festival and also at the famous Scottish New Year's Eve celebration - Hogmanay also take place at Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh is renowned for its tourist attractions suitable for culture vultures, travelling groups, families, and visitors of all ages. There is something to see in Edinburgh for everyone. Some of Edinburgh's best places to visit include Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, The Royal Mile, Palace of Holyrood, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, St. Giles Cathedral, Mary Kings Close, The Museum of Childhood, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, and Royal Yacht Britannia.

Although a lot of tourists enjoy the historical tours around Edinburgh, there are many sites all around the city that are more modern and up to date. The Scottish Parliament building is a great example of mixing the old and the new in Edinburgh. This post- modern building designed by a Spanish architect was completed in 2004.

Edinburgh is a vibrant historical city and there is no better place in the world to celebrate the New Year. Live entertainments, bands, street parties, dancing, singing and fireworks all make Edinburgh the place to be as the cannon is fired from the castle on the stroke of midnight to bring in the new year.

In August Edinburgh is swamped by performers from all over the world taking part in the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival. During these summer weeks Edinburgh's population swells, almost doubling and the streets are buzzing with excitement. The atmosphere day and night is electric with visitors and performers from all over the world mixing and having a great time together.

For shopping lovers, Princess Street is a hotspot for some retail therapy whether you are looking for everyday items or traditional Scottish items to take home as souvenirs. The Royal Mile is another busy shopping area with more traditional gift shops - perfect for souvenirs.

Edinburgh is easy to reach by car, train or plane but the city itself is very compact so once you're there, you'll find it much easier to get around on foot. Parking is not easy and with the tram works in development, the traffic problems can be considerable at times.

A word of warning, though. Plan well ahead if you're visiting Edinburgh. Organise your days, your activities, and make sure you book your accommodation well in advance. There are lots of great hotels in Edinburgh but they get booked up very quickly. During the Festival, there won't be a spare room anywhere in Edinburgh. Shop around online and so some research before booking your accommodation in Edinburgh. If you can make your arrangements early enough you're sure to enjoy a great stay in wonderful historic Edinburgh.

James Patrick is a travel writer specialising in reviews for Edinburgh hotels, tourist accommodation, and information on short breaks in Edinburgh for visitors to Scotland.

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VIDEO 72 Slides, Royal Botanic Gardens

VIDEO Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh By Mark Breed

Edinburgh is one of the international tourist attractions of the world but most visitors tend to stay in the centre, especially walking through the Old Town and visiting the magnificent Castle.

There are however many equally fascinating places that should not be overlooked and premier among them is the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith Row, on the north side of the city, within a one mile bus ride of perpetually thronged Princes Street. Numbers 8, 17, 23, and 27 buses all stop at the gate as do the buses of City Tours. "The Botanics", as Edinburgh folk call the gardens, cover a spread of 78 acres and are visited by over 660,000 visitors a year who go there to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a magnificent oasis in the heart of a teeming city.

One of the major advantages for families of a trip to the Botanics is the fact that entry is free, though a charge of £3.50 a head for adults is levied for visitors to the awe inspiring glasshouses where Britain's tallest palm tree grows in the world famous tropical rainforest, as well as banana and rubber trees and a huge range of beautiful orchids. A large collection of rare rhododendrons from New Guinea and Borneo can also be seen in the Tropics House.

A recently opened - and free - Chinese Hillside rising above a beautiful pool is also very popular with visitors. Growing there are unusual specimens which were brought back to Edinburgh from China by plant collectors in the early 20th century. There is also an internationally renowned rock garden with rare Alpine plants, a Scottish heath garden and an arboretum that dazzles the eye during autumn. Altogether the Botanics is home to over 6 per cent of all known plants in the world and is a centre of scholarly research as well as a sojourn of delight for visitors.

The origin of Edinburgh's famous garden goes back to 1670 when two doctors, Andrew Balfour and Robert Sibbald, opened a physic garden beside Holyrood House and five years later established a second garden on the site of what is today Waverley Station. In 1763 the two combined gardens were re-located on Leith Walk where they stayed till 1820 when a horticulturist called Robert Graham moved them to the present site at Inverleith.

The two Palm Houses were built in 1834 and 1858 and have been maintained in their original form since then. Another range of exhibition plant houses was started in 1967 and today they provide a range of environments from tropical forests to arid deserts. There is a well stocked shop at the main gate and also a terrace café. A team of guides take visitors on garden walks at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day. The informative walks last an hour and tickets, costing £3, can be bought at the shop or at the Palm House reception desk. No pre booking is necessary.

The Botanics are open every day of the year except January 1st and December 25th.
In summer, closing time is 7 p.m. From November till February the Garden closes at 4 p.m.

Article courtesy of Ecosse Unique - Holiday Cottages in Scotland

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Edinburgh - Top Tips For Visiting Families in Good Weather By Janet Unsworth Platinum Quality Author

Edinburgh is a great place to visit. There are lots of reasons Edinburgh so many people come here and whilst it may not be an obvious place for a family visit, it is a great one, whether you come for a few days City break or a longer holiday, there is lots to do.

In this article I give a few suggestions about what to do as a family visiting Edinburgh when the weather is good.

The Castle. This is the big tourist attraction in Edinburgh. It dominates the skyline, and it's very easy to understand why it was built where it was! An interesting aspect is that there are still soldiers based here which is not the case in most of the castles that tourists visit in Scotland.

The views are phenomenal in good weather. You can get an audio guide and listen to stories as you go round. It is a large complex with lots of areas to explore. The prisons where prisoners of war were held has proved popular with many children I have taken to the castle.

Do try to be there at 1pm. Then you can see the one O clock gun fired. I like the idea of doing this early in your holiday, then every time you hear the gun, you get reminded of your visit to the castle.

Arthurs Seat and Salisbury Crags. At the bottom of the Royal Mile go between the Parliament and Holyrood Palace and walk up Arthurs Seat, the higher point, or if you are feeling less active, go for Salisbury Crags. Do be careful, there are some steep parts. As you climb you get some great views initially of Holyrood Palace and the Park with the Lochs. You can imagine you are in the Highlands rather than in the middle of Edinburgh. Both hills give you magnificent views to the castle, over the town, the Forth of Firth, Fife and the Pentlands.

There are often people flying kites in Holyrood Park and it is great fun to get above the kits and watch them, or join in if you have a kite.

The children need to be able to walk confidently for a couple of hours, so this is for older children unless someone can carry babies in a sling; it is not suitable for pushchairs.

Do not do Arthurs seat on a very windy day. It can be dangerous at the top.

Calton Hill: This is at the East end of Princes St and a much easier walk than Arthurs seat and doable with a pushchair. You get great views from the top, especially of the town because you are very close to it. It is even more interesting because it has the replica of the Parthenon which gives Edinburgh the nickname of Athens of the North, and the two observatories. The new observatory has exhibitions and viewings of the night sky.

Princes St Gardens. Princes St Gardens are one of the jewels of Edinburgh. They are the lovely gardens that sit beneath the castle and form one side of Princes St. They are large, there is a great playground at the West End of the gardens and a picnic in the gardens is a real joy.

The Zoo. Edinburgh Zoo is outside the city centre but easily accessible by bus. It is on the side of Corstorphine Hill, so does have some steep paths, but there is a vehicle that will give you a ride up the hill and you can walk down. There are very good views of the Pentlands. Highlights are the Penguin Parade which happens at about lunchtime and the koalas.

Crammond. Crammond is a very pretty little village on the outskirts of Edinburgh. What makes it very special is the tidal Island that has featured in many a mystery story based in Edinburgh. You need to check the tides, and if the tide is out, you can walk to the island. It is uninhabited now, but it is easy to find the remains of gun placements from the war and the ruins of old farmhouses. I knew someone who used to visit relatives who had a dairy farm on the island before World War II, so it was uninhabited not too long ago.

Portobello: Portobello is another village on the outskirts of Edinburgh, but it has a very different feel to Crammond. This is where people who lived in Edinburgh in the Victorian days came for their seaside holidays. It is not so twee as Crammond and has more of the Victorian stone architecture that you see lots of closer in to the city centre. What makes Portobello really special is the beach. It is huge. Not well developed in terms of facilities, but just a lovely long, wide stretch of sand.

Stay in self-catering accommodation. Hotels are expensive and they are frequently booked. Hotels in Edinburgh are reputed to be second only to London in the UK in terms of cost and occupancy. You can get a wide range of self catering properties that work out to be even cheaper than hostels, and at the other end of the scale there are some wonderfully luxurious self-catering properties available that will come with maid service and you can even hire a chef if you want to have self catering luxury and space without the effort of cooking!

Self-catering is a particularly good option for families. The sleeping arrangements are normally more appropriate with children being able to have separate rooms from Mum and Dad without huge cost. You have a kitchen so you can feed them food you know they will eat (at least for some of the time!). When they get tired you can retire to your apartment and let them rest or just watch TV for a while.

Whatever you choose, you should have plenty to do and see in Edinburgh. Have a great time!

Author: Janet Unsworth. Janet is a partner in a holiday letting company which provides short term self catering accommodation in Edinburgh. Edinburgh self catering apartments are available in a range from budget to luxury accommodation which can be booked for anything from a few days to a few months. You can see the properties with photographs, their location, prices and availability at http://www.edinburgh-flats.com where you can book on-line. If you'd like more information, call Janet on 0044 789 420 5600.

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