Have you seen the movies of the era to get to the castle you cross the whole city walking a steep cobbled street? This road, in Edinburgh, is the Royal Mile.
Wear, comfortable sports shoes, and starting from the Holyrood Palace which is locating on the edge of Holyrood Park. The Holyrood Palace is the residence of the queen in Scotland, and you can visit the royal apartments and the reports that are hosted in the halls when she is not in the palace. I didn’t visit it because we chose to go and the two of us at the same time. I recommend you book your tickets online.
https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse
In the park, that part of which is Arthur’s seat, (I didn’t climb the cliff because I’m tired of halfway through and popped in for fish and chips), I went, and it is very nice, especially, if the sun is shining outside.
Somewhere near, is the Holyrood Abbey, a ruined abbey that is worth seeing. The entrance is free if I remember correctly.
Walking on the royal mile, at each stop, you will meet a confusing patchwork of romance and horror stories, intrigues, etc. There are some tours you can do and to learn the stories relating to hot spots of the royal mile. Usually, including the various closes and the stories behind them.
I, wrongly, went at night! I’ve never seen movies with Jack the Ripper after that.
Still, you can see the marks of the time in the restaurants, the tourist shops, and the museums. Like they came from the Middle Ages.
By the way, if you endure it, you, possibly, can explore the underground part of Edinburgh. It contains a tour full of witch and ghost stories throwing in parallel, and a look at the collection of instruments of torture at the time.
Where was I? … oh yeah, going uphill, I willfully chose to go to the museum of childhood (free entrance), and it was like I made a journey in time. You will see toys of the previous years and various ways of entertainment of children and adults. It’s worth!
Continuing on the pedestrian path towards the castle, you will observe many jugglers even if you won’t be there for the fringe festival.
Take a break, merely enjoy and drink, the national beverage called irn-bru that tastes like a babaloo (I would not say I like it… I guess I’m the only one.) and continue until you discover the bronze statue (1883) of Alexander the Great, who tames Bucephalus in front of the city chambers.
I hope you don’t feel exhausted because a guided tour of the history of the 300 years of whiskey at the Scotch Whisky Experience waits for you! Don’t forget that you are entitled to one dram of your preferred whiskey. At the same time, the bar counts around 300 ranges of whiskey. Whiskey lovers will be thrilled!
Last stop before the castle of Edinburgh, my favorite part is coming! Camera obscura.
Starting from the third floor of the establishment, you will observe the Edinburgh City through a system of mirrors. As you get down to the downstairs, you will cross over a world of illusions that will surprise you! It is, inevitably, an incredible experience!
So yes, you have arrived directly at the beginning of the Royal Mile to the castle of Edinburgh (Yes, I went only a little uphill and started from the end.). I didn’t explore it because of the enormous tail in the entrance, but now I’ve been gone to Stirling Castle, which is, critically, considered to be the most impressive. However, it is on my travel list. It is an excellent choice to book your tickets via the internet ( www.edinburghcastle.scot ) because you don’t want to spend the rest of your day waiting in line recklessly! The personal trademark of Edinburgh is made up of a cluster of reconstructed buildings and includes all the history of Scotland. Every day, at noon the one you hear the cannon fire from the castle, a tradition that holds, from 1861.
