Visit Edinburgh, Day 2
The second day is dedicated to the discovery of different areas – and hidden gems – in and around Edinburgh city centre.
Dean Village
This old grain milling village is situated in the west area of Edinburgh New Town, a 15-minute walk from Princes Street. Nestled among the trees and crossed by the River Leith, Dean Village is a tranquil area where to go for a walk along the Water of Leith, a walkway that leads to the port of Leith. Other two places to see are Well Court – with tenement flats that enclose a communal courtyard – and the Dean Cemetery, in which many well-known people like David Octavious Hill and Thomas Bouch are buried.
In my case, as I went to Edinburgh in August for the Fringe Festival, the village was a tranquil oasis where to escape for a while from the chaos and the crowd of the centre.
Holyrood Park
Ponds, hills, crags and several paths in a unique place in Edinburgh city centre. This is what makes Holyrood Park so special.
Going for a hike in this Royal Park set just behind Holyrood Palace permits to discover the traces and the remaining elements of the ancient volcano named Arthur’s Seat. Today this is the highest point of the park as it sits 251m above sea and you’ll enjoy one of the best 360° views of Edinburgh and its surroundings. Excluding the steady wind, the climb is quite easy and you can follow different trails that lead to the top.
Next to Holyrood Park you can reach the village of Duddingston where you can relax along its loch and visiting Dr Neil’s Garden.
Portobello
Located east of the city centre, Portobello is a coastal village that became part of Edinburgh in 1896. Along its promenade – facing the wide sand beach – there’re many restaurants, even takeaway, where to stop and enjoying an amazing view of the Firth of Forth and the Fife coastline on the horizon.
There’re several bus services operated by Lothian Buses that link Portobello with Edinburgh city centre. The single ticket costs £1,60, please remember to take with you the exact amount of money as the bus driver can’t give you the change.
Grassmarket
With its several pubs and restaurants Grassmarket is a lively place that attracts a lot tourists during their visit of the Old Town. From here – and from the nearby The Vennel – you have a stunning view of Castle Hill and obviously Edinburgh Castle.
Did you know that in the past Grassmarket used to be a traditional square of public executions and many criminals lived here?
For example Burke and Hare, two serial killers that in 1828 murdered 16 people. They sold their corpses to the doctor Robert Knox for dissections during his anatomical studies.
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