Mad Edinburgh

[cessna152towser]

My wife's bridesmaid is over from the Netherlands in Edinburgh on holiday this week and we met her and her boyfriend there for lunch today. First time I have had to suffer Edinburgh city centre for more than a year, with its awful Royal Mile full of tourist tat shops. We live just 55 miles from Edinburgh but it is the one place in Scotland I would rather avoid. Much too touristy and too gimmicky and the locals are probably the least friendly of all Scots. Even though the frivolities of the festival and the tattoo are over for another year there were still plenty of tourists around today. I wore my Hunting Wallace kilt. Thankfully I never met any smart asses who claimed to be direct descendents of William Wallace. As far as I know William Wallace never sired any children and the surname Wallace simply denotes someone of Welsh ancestry. The only reason I occasionally wear a Wallace kilt is that I had a great grandmother who bore that surname. Mercifully there was no shortage of kilt clad busking pipers on the streets with their begging bowls and wearing those silly beefeater hats and white hose to amuse and entertain the tourists and submitting to being the subjects of many photographs so I was able to sneak unmolested under the radar, wearing my kilt casually with black hose and polo shirt, without being hassled as some sort of curio by our visitors. I did spot a few other casually kilted persona, may have been like minded Scots or perhaps American tourists. I just don't get why anyone would ever choose to visit mad manic Edinburgh when there is so much more of the real Scotland to see, from the majestic mountains of the Highlands, through the splendid architecture of Glasgow with its beautiful parks, vibrant waterfront and friendly locals to the rolling hills of the Southern Uplands and the fine sandy beaches of the Western Isles and of the Solway Coast. Ah well, perhaps I best not rant, the magic of the name EDINBURGH somehow conjures up the idea of a must see destination for folks worldwide and provides a much needed boost for our Scottish tourism.

[Father Bill]

So tell us what you really think, Alex.

[Liam]

Alex....When Mrs. Liam and I visited Scotland a few years ago, I found Edinburgh very touristy and much preferred Glasgow and the countryside, so can identify. It is much like coming to Western Canada and going to Banff. The Royal Mile is the equivalent of Banff Avenue.
Slainte...

[The Q]

The only Good reason to visit Edinburgh is to visit the many museums, galleries and perhaps the Castle ( and in my case the Harburns Model railway shop on Leith walk). Though I'd prefer to do it in the winter to avoid the majority of the tourists.
But that applies to most cities I hate crowds....

[hector]

Alex, Edinburgh is a very nice destination for a city trip. The museums are very interesting and your portrait gallery can beat the one of London! However, I agree 'The Royal Mile' is to be avoided. I cannot understand that Scots accept that this central historical part of their capital city is exploited to sell the most unthinkable silly items one could imagine, and not in the least 'their' beautiful masculine garment 'the kilt'.
Genuine kilt shops are very few and difficult to find as they are located close to the end of the mile or have their premises in side roads.
A bit of more national proud, not to confuse with chauvinism, would be on its place.
And your promoting the Highlands and the West.....please keep them unspoiled!

[Peter Lowe]

Yes as someone who lives close to Edinburgh and "comes into town" very regularly I understand what has been said. There are still many things to see and do that make visiting a great experience. The trouble is that the business rates (essentially a charge for occupying the buildings) in central Edinburgh have been used as a "cash cow" by the town thus chasing the quality out from the centre. Also the "shopping experience" has changed and the customer wants something different.

Princes Street is still great but I remember it as it was. Then words could not describe it's magnificence. Nevertheless it is still a great place to visit.

Maybe I have not moved with the times!

Peter