Date
Thu-Mon Apr 17th-21st
Organisers
Diane C and Brian G
Cost
£189.00 per person inclusive of supplement for 4 nights at the hostel; additional £10 supplement for attendees from Meetup
Activities
We are spending the Easter holiday in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. With a thousand years of history, Edinburgh, founded on an extinct volcano, has an abundance of attractions and is surrounded by great countryside including the seafront and beaches.
Thursday: Early arrivals will join us for an easy stroll around the Meadows and Grassmarket area of the Old Town. Will see Greyfriars Bobby and the Greyfriars Kirk.
Friday: We will spend the day on a 5-mile walk taking in the main attractions of the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town is the medieval heart of Edinburgh which extends from the Castle, perched on its lofty seat atop the extinct volcano, to the Palace of Holyrood in the east. The Old Town is full of hidden courtyards and twisting alleyways and was built up over the centuries with hidden vaults and underground passageways still existing. We will explore the Castle Esplanade and its dominating position. We continue on the Royal Mile visiting the Writers Museum (in a late medieval town house) and St Giles Cathedral. This is the original parish church of the capital and is famous for the preaching of John Knox which transformed Scotland into a Presbyterian nation. We will explore the famous churches and mansions on the trail before visiting the new Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Then into Holyrood Park which surrounds the Abbey (12th century) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Option to climb to the summit of Arthur's Seat for soaring views out to sea. We then continue if time to the New Town and the memorials at Carlton Hill. Note due to time and cost issues we will not enter the Castle or Palace as both demand substantial time to appreciate the treasures within and have corresponding ticket prices. Suggest people can visit both during rest of the holiday and the draft itinerary has spaces built in.
Saturday: We plan to the take the new Borders railway (rebuilt in 2015 as the longest rebuilt railway in UK) to the Borders towns of the Tweed Valley. We will explore Melrose, the most scenic Borders town which has the finest abbey in Scotland. Created by David I in the 12th century Melrose Abbey has a colourful history and has links to Robert the Bruce. We will take the 7-mile walk to the summit of the Eildon Hills above the valley. If time we plan to visit the gardens of the Scots Baronial-style Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott. Other options are listed at the end of this section.
Sunday: We plan a morning on the Leith waterfront with an afternoon visit to Rosslyn Chapel. Leith is the historic seafront for Edinburgh, easily reached by the new Edinburgh tram system (extended to the waterfront last year). We can explore the harbour area and aim to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia now moored there as a permanent exhibition. Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after decades of royal service. In the afternoon we take Lothian Bus to Rosslyn Chapel which is one of most fascinating churches in the UK. Built in the 15th century it is full of mystery with purported links to the Knights Templars and Freemasonry, and has the finest stone carvings in any church. Other options suggested are the Castle and Palace or guided tours.
Monday: On our final day, the suggestion is for people to book later trains to allow time for other highlights of Edinburgh. Railway fans will want to join us on the short rail journey across the Forth Rail Bridge. Perhaps the most famous railway bridge in the world it is still the longest cantilevered steel bridge in the world. The train journey from Edinburgh takes just 20 minutes and there are trains back every 10 minutes. There are lots of unusual walking tours offered, including one of the underground vaults and another visiting the location sites of the film "Trainspotting". The Museum of Scotland and the Royal Botanical Gardens are well recommended (free entry to both). Some are planning to visit the Castle or the Palace. Hostel allows luggage storage.
Refreshments
Hostel has self-catering kitchen. Lots of cafes and shops nearby. On each day there are plenty of choice on all walks.
Travel
LNER and Lumo express trains from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. Advance reduced tickets normally released 3 months ahead. Arranging lifts is an individual responsibility and is not arranged by leaders.
Accommodation
We have booked dorms at the Argyle Backpackers, 14 Argyle Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1JL. 15-minute walk from the city centre and railway station.
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