Walking: the best way to discover Edinburgh's historic sights

Walking: the best way to discover Edinburgh's historic sights

In a YouGov poll of 2009, Edinburgh was voted the most desirable city in which to live in the UK - and it's no surprise why. The Scottish capital, often called 'the Athens of the North', is teeming with beautiful scenery, historic sites and grand architecture. While the weather in winter can be bitterly cold and blustery, Edinburgh generally receives less rainfall than Glasgow and the profusion of excellent restaurants and eclectic bars make it an exciting place to be at night. Most importantly, despite its wealth of attractions, Edinburgh is a compact city that is extremely walkable and if you're visiting for the first time, rest assured that walking through the city provides the optimum way of taking in its many sights.

The value of walking in Edinburgh is nowhere more evident than in the city's iconic Old Town. This medieval centre, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is steeped in history and its many alleyways and courtyards can only be appreciated by walkers willing to explore every corner on foot. A walk along the famous Royal Mile, for example, starts at the Royal residence of Holyrood Palace, a grand building that is strikingly juxtaposed against its neighbour, the futuristic Scottish Parliament building.

Walk uphill from here and you'll come across dozens of hidden courtyards between tenement buildings, as well as several small shops, eateries and famous drinking holes like the World's End pub. Keep walking further and you'll encounter the Royal Mile's High Street, which is overflowing with performers during the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. Here, you'll also be able to access Mary King's Close, a network of underground streets that is now the location of one of the city's most popular ghost tours. Finally, at the top of the Royal Mile, the picturesque cobblestone road narrows, leading walkers to the magnificent Edinburgh Castle.

Even if you decide not to enter the castle, its esplanade offers unparalleled vistas of Edinburgh. This includes panoramic views of the celebrated New Town, which is best explored on foot as well. Also a UNESCO-protected area, Edinburgh's New Town is a seductive network of handsome Georgian buildings, originally built in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries so that wealthy residents could move away from the overcrowded Old Town. Even today, the New Town is an affluent area and just a short stroll along its famous streets like Scotland Street, immortalised in Alexander McCall Smith's successful series of novels effectively showcases its architectural grandeur. Walk further north and New Town turns into Stockbridge, where you'll find the lovely Royal Botanic Gardens. Its scenic gardens and abundance of natural attractions means that it's the ideal place to relax after a day's walking through Edinburgh's most beautiful locations.

Edinburgh's relatively compact nature means that if you're staying in the city centre, you're very likely to be within walking distance of most of the stops on your itinerary. For instance, hotels on Frederick Street Edinburgh are conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the heart of the New Town and around 10 minutes from the Royal Mile. The area's popularity with tourists means that visitors will also have their pick of restaurants and bars on Frederick Street too.

However, your stay in Edinburgh doesn't have to be restricted to its city centre. A comprehensive bus network means that it's quite simple to access its northern and southern areas too. For example, take a bus from Princes Street to Leith and you'll find yourself in the centre of this historic port, which is a great place to explore on foot. Or head towards Southside to Arthur's Seat, a distinct feature on Edinburgh's skyline and a popular climbing spot for locals and visitors.

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