Friends visiting Edinburgh - any "must sees"?

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

Greetings.
Some friends of mine are traveling on a cruise around the British Isles - which I believe will include a couple days in Edinburgh. This will be their first visit to Scotland. Are there any "must sees" they should try to do? I know they're going to the Tattoo and will be wandering up/down the Royal Mile - so anything not too far from there (time or distance, depending) would be nice for them.
Thanks much!
Rob

[Jock Scot]

OK, seeing that the Tattoo option has gone, my one suggestion is :The National Portrait Gallery of Scotland(Queens St.).

[Baldybrown]

Don't miss the Royal Mile! Tour the castle, visit the woolen mill, soak in the awe of the Cathedral, Have lunch at the Whiskey Museum Restaurant, and while you're at it visit the Writers Museum and the Scottish National Museum. After that walk down the hill to Grassmarket Street and check out the second-hand stores. (You might find an antique kilt) The Brittania is moored close to your ship, also worth a look. Edinburgh is a city that can't be seen in just a couple of days, but you'll see enough to experience the flavor and I guarantee you'll want to go back!

[MacRobert's Reply]

Jock and Baldy have provided an excellent itinerary for Edinburgh. If your friends' ship is to anchor off the Hawes Pier at South Queensferry (as most cruise ships do) and if you PM me with dates I may be able to meet them with some information on events.

For used highland dress, try the wee shop just opposite the Hawes Pier. It generally has better stock and at better prices that Edinburgh.

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

Thank you very much!

I will forward your input to them - or probably point them to here - or both. Maybe they'll join . I don't think he has a kilt (yet) but they did have a Scottish-themed wedding. I kilted up for it, of course.

Thanks again!

Rob

[cessna152towser]

My first thoughts on the matter, why Edinburgh, there are lots of nicer places to visit in Scotland, in my opinion Edinburgh is too touristy, its a shame they don't have more time ashore to visit the Highlands, Glasgow, the Clyde Coast, the Southern Uplands etc.
However, given that their visit is going to be restricted to the Edinburgh area, I'd go along with suggestions already made, The Royal Mile, the Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith and of course Scotia Kilts shop opposite Hawes Pier! If time permits, it is only a half hour train ride along the coast to North Berwick where they can view the wild birds on the offshore islands through CCTV, or climb North Berwick Law, or visit Tantallon Castle.

[madmacs]

The camera obscura...

There used to be a nice french restaurant called "Ducks at le marche noir" last time i was there (10+ years)

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

My first thoughts on the matter, why Edinburgh, there are lots of nicer places to visit in Scotland,
...

They are also, as far as I know, going to be visiting Glasgow and Invergordon. Possibly other places -- I don't have their actual itinerary.

They requested my input on Edinburgh, since I'd been there, but -- memory is the second thing to go (can't remember what the first is) so thought I'd ask here. And me, being a literal-minded engineer type - limited my query to just that locale...

If you have suggestions for absolutely gotta see, must visit, don't miss, places or things for a "once in a lifetime trip", post them here -- I'll see to it that they're passed on...

Thanks!

Rob

[The Wizard of BC]

Literal minded Engineer you say --------

Then here is my Engineer must see.



The Falkirk Wheel.

A nice 30 min train ride from downtown Edinburgh.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Try www.nts.org.uk, the website for the National Trust for Scotland for a list of "be sure and visit" sites in Edinburgh, and throughout the country.