64 Hours in Edinburgh (Part 1)

A long time ago, the city of Edinburgh was known as “Auld Reekie” This was back in the days of peat fire smog, overpopulation and a lack of modern plumbing. Thankfully, Edinburgh has come a long way since then. The city today is filled with history (both its Old and New towns are UNESCO World Heritage Sites), amazing architecture, plenty of Scottish culture and of course who can forget to mention the TWO castles! As one is not enough!!! 

I am going to have to break this blog into two parts. My purpose of the trip was to spend time with Janice a dear friend from New Zealand. That we did, yet we covered a lot of base in doing so. I will unpack some of the highlights. 

The bus trip took a while, a whooping 6.5 hours to be exact. The drive up through the green hills was so breathtakingly beautiful. Although we drove what felt like 4 hours on the same stretch of road - I think I’ve driven the entirety of the M6/A1 - every bend we went around there was a view that looked like something from a postcard.  After awhile my head was in a book and we arrived in early evening. 

On the first evening we went out for a meal after dropping bag off at the house. We had Indian curry in this very cute little restaurant that was full of colour and rich spice smells. After our meal and few hours of non stop talking we went to the southern to grab a drink and continue until it was time to retire for the day. 

Waking up the following day the sun was out in full shine. We walked through the mellows and along the path to a small village on the other side. It was here that we darted in and out of cute little boutique shops having different charms and playfulness in each. We settled on a place for lunch gaining a little shelter as a sun shower came. After which we head back towards this house. 

The Meadows

The Meadows

   

Arthur's Seat

This the path we about to embark upon

In the evening we decided to walk - hike - up the hill to get a better view of the city. We headed for Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat. These two hills are based on the East side of the city - I think - they part in the middle allowing walkers to adventure down into the valley and head towards the port village on the other side. 

It is a wilderness right in the heart of the city from where you can get panoramic views of Edinburgh’s stunning skyline and the Firth of Forth in the distance. It was through this gap we walked and down towards the village. We saw a ruin on the edge of the hill top so thought we would be adventurous and climb up. I have to admit that once again I was in ballet flats dreaming about my running shoes sitting so tenderly in my cupboard in AU! So helpful!! 

  

St Anthony Chapel

We got to the ruins, discovering it was a chapel - St Anthony Chapel from 15th Century. It had little information about it, however I recall the information post saying that the Pope gave funds in the 12th Century to help with maintenance and upkeep of the building. It was used until the late 15th century and then I would say it was left to nature. Today its only one face of the wall left, which is not complete. There still is something beautiful about it all the same. 

J at the top of the hill, over looking port

After completing our walk we return to watch the sunset over the city landscape. 

Photo credit to Rosslyn Chapel Website

The following day we adventured out to Midlothian, Roslin. It was here that we visited the Rosslyn Chapel. The chapel is built completely of stone, with fine detail and amazing features. In 1446 Sir William St Clair founded the Chapel to spread intellectual and spiritual knowledge and to ensure his place in heaven. 

The beauty of it’s setting and the mysterious symbolism of its stonework have attracted, inspired and intrigued artists and visitors ever since. 

The Chapel is only one part of a larger scheme, however the buildings were never completed. Excavations in the 1800’s uncovered foundations stitching a further 30 metres beyond the west end of the chapel. 

Taking 40 years to complete, the small village adapted housing the number of craftsmen who helped with the build. Quarriers hewed the stone, masons carved it, blacksmiths sharpened tools, and carpenters modelled designs in wood before they were sculpted in stone by the masons. If you look carefully of the Chapel’s Crypt you can still see a drawing incised into the stone by one of the masons who worked on the Chapel nearly 600 years ago. An amazing thing to see, feel and experience. 

There was no photos allow to be taken in the chapel, to be honest it would be hard to take images all the same with the small space and amount of people present. I did take a couple of photos down in the Crypt of some of the stone. It was the largest and most modern Crypt I have ever been in, with tiles on the floors and wooden room built on. In truth I would say this has been modernised so much it is in contrast to the Chapel which is rather sad. 

After we left the chapel we went for a walk, trying to find the river using google maps on our phones, we landed upon a forest walk, which we took. It twist and turned around the upper cliffs through woodlands until we arrived at the bottom of the chapel near the villages grave yard. I have to admit that the adventures I have been on walking on this trip are amazing. Nature at its raw and beauty. 

In the afternoon we return to meet Janice’s friends, went for Mexican and listen to some live jazz music and experience some latin dancing in the evening… well that was the plan with a few hiccups along the way we had an amazing night full of exploring, laughter and joy. Perfect ending to a packed two days. A journey to renew our friendship, picking up where we left off and just spend time together while Edinburgh embraced us with its atmosphere, exploring and general charm.