Friends visiting Edinburgh - any "must sees"?

[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