A Walk Around Edinburgh: Part One

This week is 'Edinburgh Week.' At least it is on North West Images this week. A day trip to Scotland's capital city last Friday resulted in numerous images being taken, some of which will appear here today and during the rest of the week. It will follow a walk that we did around mainly the old part of the city, namely the Royal Mile and Canongate. As soon as you step outside of Waverley station and head toward Princes Street Gardens, you hear the skirl of pipes, and needless to say the piper is a popular tourist attraction for photographs as above. 

The Scott Monument is in Princes Street, overlooking the gardens. It is a monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott and is just over 200 feet high. It was completed in 1844.  Note the blue sky, for we were really lucky as far as the weather was concerned, although there was a chill in the air. 

Looking across Princes Street Gardens with Edinburgh Castle on the sky line. 

A closer look at the Castle.

The upper level of Princes Street Gardens with the well known Princes Street on the left. 

The gorgeous Autumn colours of Princes Street Gardens. 

A William Wallace exhibition was being staged here. Wallace, who died in August 1305, was a Scottish landowner and one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence, fighting the English.

Fleshmarket Close was the location of one of Ian Rankin's 'Inspector Rebus' novels. It leads up to Cockburn Street and the old part of the city. 

Mid way up the flight of steps, and conveniently, is the Halfway House, which is said to be Edinburgh's smallest pub. A regular port of call when we are in Edinburgh, and the first refreshment stop of the day!

Suitably refreshed, it was on up the steps of Fleshmarket Close. This view is from the Cockburn Street end of the Close looking down towards Waverley station. Time to stop and take a deep breath after the climb!

The old part of the city has numerous alleys, or Close as they are called. This one is Carrubber's Close. The origin of the name of the Close is unknown although it is possibly linked to Sir William de Carriberris, a merchant and magistrate who lived nearby in the 1450s. 

The decorative entrance to Morrison's Close. Named after a merchant from the 1750s, John Morrison, who owned property nearby. 

Bailie Fyfe's Close. Imagine going down here in the dark! It is named after Gilbert Fyfe from the late 1600s, a merchant and magistrate (also known as a Bailie). 

Rabbie Burns restaurant and whisky bar.  

Paisley Close leads to the Celtic Craft Centre. The Close is named after Henry Paisley who bought the land in 1711. 

Chalmers' Close is named after a former belt maker, Patrick Chalmer. 

Walking down towards Canongate, an inevitable kiltmakers shop. 

Baron Maule's Close. Henry Maule bought a property at the end of the Close in 1711. 

A glimpse of Carlton Hill in the distance, with the approaches to Waverley station below. The castellated structure is the former Governor's House of the Old Calton Gaol.

Some wholesome traditional Scottish food here. Not sure about the Puffin Poo though!

Estabished in 1949, Maddocks and Dick manufacture ties and scarves. 

Simply Scottish and Cadenhead's Whisky Shop on Canongate. 

This colourful shop  is where Celtic crafts and knitwear can be purchased.

(We continue our walk tomorrow, down the hill of Canongate, toward Holyrood Palace).