Oct 14, 2024 - Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat

We had booked an early entry ticket for Edinburgh Castle at 9:30am, therefore we got up early and walked along Royal Mile to reach the gate of Edinburgh Castle.  There was a long line already, however, it did not take long for us to get into the castle.  There were a lot of people, so we just following the map they provided and the visual media guide we purchased to stop by every attractions and enjoy it.   

Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. With a long rich history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, it is alive with many exciting tales. When you climb Castle Hill, you will walk in the footsteps of soldiers, kings and queens – and even the odd pirate or two.

The main attractions here are The One O’clock Gun, St Margaret’s Chapel, Mons Meg, The Honours of Scotland (on display is the Crown Room with the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain), The Great Hall, Scottish National War Memorial and Prisons of War.  We went to all of attractions and the only one with a long line was the Honours of Scotland for the crown jewels.

Right before 1 o’clock, we walked to the One O’clock Gun area to witness the daily 1 o’clock gun firing.  There were a lot of people waiting to see it,  It was exciting. However, it went by so fast and the excitement went away fast too.  It made us to wish that they shall do a little more firing to make it more exciting.

After that we walked along the Royal Mile and got to the Victoria Street. We witnessed a picturesque and winding cobblestone lane which is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic thoroughfares. It is named after Queen Victoria. With its colorful facades and unique shops, this street showcases Edinburgh’s architectural diversity and historical legacy.

Then, we had Fish and Chips lunch at Bertie's Restaurant & Bar as recommended by Tripadvisor.  It was a busy and pleasant place for lunch, however we were not impressed with their fish and chips due the the type of fish they used.  We had fish and chips made of cod and it was way more tasteful than this one.

After lunch, we continuously to walk along Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyrood House (closed on that day), we walked by it and started to climb to Arthur’s Seat.   It stands as the main peak within a group of hills that form Holyrood Park. Arthur's Seat offers captivating views of the city and beyond. The hike is a steady, gradual climb and not overly strenuous.  It also provides different wonderful views of the city in 360 degree all the way to the top.

At the highest point of Arthur's Seat you will find a large metal compass that shows you the directions to different hills and attractions. You will also find a white Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar.

After the climb, we took our time to come down following the same route.   We rested a little bit at hotel and then went to Howie’s for dinner. Howie’s is a typical Scottish restaurant and they serve Haggis.  Since we are in Edinburgh, we had to try it. We ordered it as an appetizer and it was good.

After dinner, we just walked across the street and got back to our hotel.