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UNITED KINGDOM - Scotland
Location - Western Europe; Capital - Scotland - Edinburgh; Population - Scotland - 5.2 million; Currency - Pound Sterling MORE UK - SCOTLAND
I made a last minute decision to go to Scotland, after my flight to Canary Islands was disrupted by snow and a Spanish air traffic controller strike - December 2010. I've also added a few from a sunnier time in May 2016
The Scottish version of 20 Pounds Sterling
The snow clad slopes below Edinburgh Castle makes great scenery - Edinburgh
A statue on Princes Street (not sure of whom) stands in front of the castle - Edinburgh
Across Princes Street Gardens to the Old Town - Edinburgh
Walking on treacherous ground along Rose Street, parallel to Princes Street - Edinburgh
The Bank of Scotland head office as seen from Waverley Bridge - Edinburg
On my way back to my hotel on Shandwick Place I passed this quaint looking café restaurant - Edinburgh
Also close to Shandwick Place is St Cuthbert's Church - Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle dominates the city from Castlehill - Edinburgh
Taking the south approach to the Castle along Johnston Terrace - Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle on a sunny day in May - Edinburgh
A royal castle has occupied the site since the 12th century, though - with the exception of 12th century St Margaret's Chapel - the earliest the present-day buildings date back to is the 16th century - Edinburgh
The entrance to Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh
Head for the area in front of St Margaret's Chapel for fine views of the city - Edinburgh
In the foreground is the National Gallery of Scotland with the Scott Monument behind the Christmas wheel.
Balmoral Hotel lies behind Waverley Station; the Firth of Forth sets the background - Edinburgh
Edinburgh's New Town, leading to the Firth of Forth. Princes Street is the road right at the front.
The snow covered Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags through a Castle window - Edinburgh
The Royal Palace houses the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Scone - Edinburgh
Windows of the Castle's Great Hall - Edinburgh
A bird's eye view of Edinburgh Castle from the Camera Obscura terrace - Edinburgh
Traditional Scottish dancing accompanied by the bagpipes, with the castle as a backdrop - Edinburgh
More views from the Camera Obscura, this time of the Old Town with the Firth of Forth in the distance - Edinburgh
Looking down the Royal Mile - Edinburgh
Camera Obscura is a Victorian invention whereby mirrors are used to project a live image of the city on to a table inside the museum. It's fascinating to see what looks like a video image using a 19th century innovation. But this photo has nothing to do with that, as the rest of the exhibition relates to optical illusions - (no) prize for spotting the hidden tiger! Edinburgh
This was a rotating drum of flourescent lights. Walk through it and you completely lose balance - Edinburgh
The 17th century Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile has been converted to a market - Edinburgh
The steeple in this photo belongs to the Church of Scotland's former Assembly Hall which is now a café called The Hub - Edinburgh
Walking away from the Castle down the famous Royal Mile - Edinburgh
On the Royal Mile is St Giles' Cathedral - Edinburgh
St Giles' Cathedral on a chilly December night - Edinburgh
The Palace of Holyrood House is the Royal Family's official Scottish residence - Edinburgh
The obelisk of the Political Martyrs' Monument on Calton Hill - Edinburgh
Beyond the pond lies the Scottish Parliament Builidng - Edinburgh
Close to the Scottish Parliament Building is Holyrood Park. Climb one of the paths along the Salisbury Crags for some great views of the city, or go higher still to Arthur's Seat - Edinburgh
The snow covered roofs of Edinburgh
Rising above the city is Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh
The Nelson Monument (tower, left) and National Monument on Calton Hill - Edinburgh
At 251m Arthur's Seat is the highest point in Edinburgh
A section of the Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park - Edinburgh
Behind the Winter Wonderland slide is the huge Scott Monument - Edinburgh
Sir Walter Scott was an 18th/19th century Scottish novelist and poet - Edinburgh
A temporary ice rink in the Princes Street Gardens; to the left, the Winter Wonderland ferris wheel and beyond, the Balmoral Hotel - Edinburgh
Shops and stalls at Winter Wonderland, off Princes Street - Edinburgh
When it's around -5°C a mulled wine goes down a treat - Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street - Edinburgh
Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh
Another look at the Castle and Princes Street Gardens - Edinburgh
North west of city centre is an area called Dean Village, formerly a grain milling hamlet - Edinburgh
The Water of Leith river passes through Dean Village - Edinburgh
There's more views to be had from Calton Hill, again with the Castle in the distance - Edinburgh
Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat - Edinburgh
Across the New Town to the Firth of Forth - Edinburgh
Making a snowman on Calton Hill, in front of the National Monument; the Nelson Monument is on the left - Edinburgh
The Dugald Stewart Monument overlooks the city centre - Edinburgh
There's many narow alleyways, called closes, in Edinburgh. The Real Mary King's Close tour is definitely worth doing, taking you to centuries-old streets that lie beneath present-day Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a world famous performing arts festival held every August - Edinburgh
The curving Victoria Street - Edinburgh
If you have time take a half-day or more to Cramond, a suburb in the north west of Edinburgh, about 4km from the Forth Bridge
A lovely walking trail follows the Almond River from Queensferry Road to the coast - Edinburgh
Boats line the River Almond as it flows (?!) into the Forth of Firth at Cramond - Edinburgh
If the tide is out take the causeway to Cramond Island - Edinburgh
The Forth Bridge from Cramond Island - Edinburgh
I heard of another war bunker opening soon as a museum, but couldn't see anything obvious in the location off Clermiston Road North - Edinburgh
The white stuff caused lots of delays and cancellations to trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow
A statue of Scottish explorer David Livingston stands in front of Glasgow Cathedral - Glasgow
The Glasgow City Chambers sit behind the Cenotaph in George Square - Glasgow
George Square, Glasgow
The Victorian era George Square - Glasgow
Sir Walter Scott stands in the centre of George Square - Glasgow
The Merchant City area of Glasgow, where wealthy tobacco importers built grandiose buildings in the 18th century
Glasgow Green is a park in the east of the city centre, on the banks of the River Clyde - Glasgow
The Winter Gardens and People's Palace in Glasgow Green, Glasgow
Queen Victoria must feel a bit chilly - Glasgow Green, Glasgow
An icy River Clyde - Glasgow
The Clyde Arc spans the River Clyde - Glasgow
The Finnieston Crane and Clyde Auditorium (part of the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre, or SECC) lie on the banks of the River Clyde - Glasgow
The Clyde Auditorium, left, and Finnieston Crane - Glasgow
Opposite the Clyde Auditorium are the studios of BBC Scotland - Glasgow
At Glasgow Harbour is The Tall Ship - Glasgow
I think the pub has a sense of humour rather than illiterate barstaff - Glasgow
Christmas shopping on the streets of Glasgow
Lively bars on the streets of Glasgow
Website and content Copyright © 2008-2016 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.
LINKS
www.visitscotland.com - Scotland tourist board
www.travelinescotland.com - public transport info for Scotland
www.visitbritain.com - Britain's official tourism website
www.thetrainline.com - train information across Britain
www.nationalexpress.com - National Express coaches cover Britain
I am not responsible for the content of external websites.
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