In the present day I need to share my free self-guided Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll with you. The Scottish capital is a lovely place to discover on foot. With its beautiful hilltop fort, fairly inexperienced areas, bustling purchasing streets, and hidden closes, there’s loads to see on a stroll in Edinburgh. My self-guided route and map will present you one of the crucial well-known components of town.
Self-Guided Edinburgh Royal Mile Stroll
From the awe-inspiring structure of St Giles’ Cathedral to the bucolic surroundings alongside the Water of Leith, Edinburgh is among the most lovely cities within the UK.
Whether or not you want seeing heritage buildings or sweeping views, searching retailers or exploring museums, Edinburgh has one thing for each traveler.
Irrespective of you probably have 1 day in Edinburgh or 4 days in Edinburgh, you’ll have the ability to uncover loads on this a part of Scotland.
I’ve been to town numerous occasions, and every go to has proven me extra of Auld Reekie’s most important sights and under-the-radar areas.
However on each go to I discover myself strolling down the Royal Mile, a succession of roads within the Previous City that runs between Edinburgh Fortress and the Palace of Holyrood Home. I hope my stroll helps you get pleasure from exploring this a part of Edinburgh as a lot as I’ve.
If you need a guided tour, you may see good choices on the GetYourGuide web site. I’ve taken many excursions with them over time and I’ve all the time had a superb expertise. From Harry Potter excursions to fort excursions and Previous City strolling excursions, there’s no scarcity of selections. You’ll be able to ebook one right here.
If you need extra concepts, you’ll find numerous extra routes and maps within the ebook Edinburgh’s Hidden Walks. You’ll be able to get it on Amazon right here.
Edinburgh Strolling Tour
My self-guided strolling tour of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh begins on the fort. It’s centrally positioned, so it’s simple to get to from Edinburgh Waverley station, coach and bus stops, and on foot from the Royal Mile and different components of town.
Edinburgh Fortress
If you wish to, you may discover the fort earlier than you start. You’ll be able to ebook tickets right here. Whenever you’re accomplished, begin your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by going through away from the fort and heading straight down Castlehill.
You’ll move The Scotch Whisky Expertise, the Digital camera Obscura & World of Illusions, and The Witchery by the Fortress lodge as you make your option to Tolbooth Kirk and Lawnmarket.
Whenever you get there, flip proper on Higher Bow and comply with it down the hill. Upon reaching the staircase, descend it to get to Victoria Road.
Victoria Road & Grassmarket
Victoria Road is among the prettiest and most colourful streets in Edinburgh. There are many nice retailers and eating places right here. Don’t miss the Harry Potter store in case you’re a fan. Should you’re hungry, Oink is a neighborhood favourite.
Spend a while strolling round Victoria Road, then proceed all the way down to the suitable it because it turns into West Bow and leads you to Grassmarket. Grassmarket Sq. was as soon as an execution web site, however immediately it’s a energetic area lined with enjoyable pubs and eating places.
You’ll be able to stroll round a bit and climb the Vennel steps within the southwest nook if you wish to see a well-known view of Edinburgh Fortress.
Both means, proceed your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by heading again in direction of West Bow and veering proper on Cowgatehead once you get there.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Stroll a brief distance down Cowgatehead, then veer proper once more on Candlemaker Row. In your proper you’ll see an arched entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. Undergo it and also you’ll end up in a historic graveyard.
This place is stuffed with headstones with names you would possibly acknowledge from the Harry Potter books. J. Ok. Rowling acquired inspiration for her characters’ names right here (she wrote among the novels in a restaurant close by).
George IV Bridge
Spend as a lot time exploring as you’d prefer to, then exit the churchyard on Greyfriars. Head throughout Candlmaker Row and switch left to get to George IV Bridge. In your proper you’ll see the Nationwide Museum of Scotland.
In your left you’ll see the well-known Greyfriars Bobby Fountain. It commemorates a loyal Nineteenth-century Skye Terrier who supposedly spent 14 years standing by the grave of his proprietor till he himself died in 1872.
After paying homage to the well-known pup, proceed your stroll alongside George IV Bridge. You’ll move by the location of The Elephant Home, the aforementioned cafe the place J. Ok. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books.
Hold strolling down the highway, passing the Nationwide Library of Scotland in your proper as you make your option to Lawnmarket and the Royal Mile.
The Writers’ Museum
Flip left on Lawnmarket, then proper into the archway resulting in Wardrop’s Courtroom. As soon as by it, you’ll end up in an atmospheric courtyard that’s dwelling to The Writers’ Museum.
You’ll be able to go to the museum or spend time taking images and movies, then exit by Woman Stair’s Near get again to Lawnmarket and the Royal Mile.
Parliament Sq. & St Giles’ Cathedral
Flip left on Lawnmarket, strolling previous the Statue of Walter Scott and the Coronary heart of Midlothian Mosaic earlier than you come to Parliament Sq. and St Giles’ Cathedral in your proper.
You’ll be able to go contained in the cathedral if you wish to (don’t miss the beautiful Thistle Chapel), or proceed strolling down the Royal Mile because the identify modifications to Excessive Road. You’ll move the Mercat Cross and the Adam Smith Statue as you go.
Museums & Closes
You’ll additionally go by The Actual Mary King’s Shut, one in every of my favourite secret locations in Edinburgh. If you wish to get into town’s historical past, it’s value touring. You’ll be able to ebook tickets right here.
No matter you select to do, you may peer by the arches of the closes in your left as you head down the Royal Mile. A few of them have nice views of the New City.
You may also take a detour down Cockburn Road. This winding Victorian highway has nice eating places and cafes alongside it. It’s a enjoyable place to cease for a snack, drink, or meal in your stroll. The Milkman is my favourite spot for a espresso.
Whether or not you’re taking the detour or not, proceed strolling down Excessive Road, passing the Museum of Childhood and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Hold straight because the identify of the Royal Mile modifications to Canongate.
You’ll move by extra cultural establishments like The Folks’s Story Museum as you go. Should you’re an Outlander fan, you may take a detour into Bakehouse Near see a filming location from the well-known TV present. It was the setting for Jamie’s print store in Season 3.
If not, proceed down the highway, going by the Museum of Edinburgh and Canongate Kirk. If you wish to, you may head by Dunbar’s Near get right into a secret backyard. It’s a lovely inexperienced area, and a pleasant place to take a relaxation in peaceable environment.
Whether or not you go to the backyard or not, proceed your Edinburgh Royal Mile stroll by heading all the way down to White Horse Shut. This historic road on the left facet of Canongate is dwelling to a courtyard full of gorgeous heritage properties and buildings.
Scottish Parliament & Palace of Holyroodhouse
Again out on Canongate, you’ll see the eye-catching Scottish Parliament Constructing in entrance of you and the Sixteenth-century Palace of Holyroodhouse (aka Holyrood Palace) in your left.
The latter is the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, and it’s dwelling to beautiful royal interiors. It’s value touring you probably have time.
Whether or not you go to or not, your self-guided strolling tour of Edinburgh ends right here. There’s heaps extra to discover close by, from the well-known Arthur’s Seat to Calton Hill.
Edinburgh Stroll Map & Particulars
Self-Guided Strolling Tour of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
I hope my self-guided strolling tour of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile has made you need to get out and uncover one of the crucial well-known components of the Scottish capital.
Edinburgh numbers among the many greatest UK metropolis breaks, and it’s one in every of my favourite locations to go to within the UK. I’m positive you’ll like it as a lot as I do once you go.
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