Yes, you are mostly like to go to the Royal Mile (I am 98% sure) while in Edinburgh to shop at the tourist shops as well as see attractions such as The Real Mary King Close, The Scotch Whisky Experience or Edinburgh Castle at one end and Holyroodhouse Palace at the other end. There are also multiple museums of all types up and down the Royal Mile as well but what about the some of the other unusual or forgotten attractions.
One site to do other than The Real Mary King Close is the Vaults which are underneath Edinburgh as well. Just a bus ride or taxi away, you can go to see Rosslyn Chapel (45 min bus ride) from the DaVinci Code movie or visit the beautiful Dean’s Village which you can walk from Holyroodhouse Palace in 30 mins- if you want. Many people don’t think about visiting Craigmiller Castle or Arthur’s Seat (you can hike up the front side or take a taxi 2/3 way up the back side and walk the rest yourself). I loved taking the tour on the Royal Yacht Britannia which is actually connected to a mall or walking the Botanical Gardens. Don’t forget about Inchcolm Abbey on an island in the middle of Firth of Forth!
Another interesting place just a block off the Royal Mile is the Surgeon’s Hall but be prepared for some weird so in specimen jars so if you get squeamish, this is not for you! I mentioned in my last blog Greyfriar’s Bobby Bar but it is the Skye Terrier outside the pub you might want to rub for good luck after your lunch. Many of these attractions have website so just google and read away.
Next blog we start to move at Stirlingshire/Falkirk area then move towards Newtonmore and the Cairngorms National Park.
Gwen McNeill hesitates to call herself a “travel expert” but instead a “travel aficionado or enthusiast”! Over the past 12 years, she has learned many travel tricks and tips but find cool items for packing or apps to make the travel experience even better.
After becoming a member of CMAA in 2005, Gwen experienced her first adventure to Scotland when she traveled to the 2006 Clan Gathering on Isle of Barra. She not only fell in love with Barra but also with Scotland and the UK as a whole. She has since attended three more Gatherings on the Isle of Barra and also travels to Scotland every 12-18 months on a solo trip or with friends. As often as she goes, can you believe she hasn’t seen all of Scotland?!
Gwen has also created a travel guide that is available on the Clan Macneil Global Alliance website, www.clanmacneilglobal.org This includes all the tools she’s blogged about on the CMAA blog and much more information beyond that. She is happy to answer questions for anyone and can be reached via email: gwenmcn.cmaa@gmail.com, please put in the Subject line: CMAA – Going to UK.