Beyond the Kilt:

Your Guide to Conquering

EDINBURGH

download full book: http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/beyond-the-kilt/19464376

Table of Contents
Layout

Annika Balzer
Heather Herczak
Lina Hbner

Editors

Annika Ehinger
Julia Weidemann
Mariana Rivas
Samantha Seitz

Writers

Alina Drechsler
Amy Hopes
Annika Balzer
Annika Ehinger
Annika Hofbeck
Hannah Grner
Heather Herczak
Julia Weidemann
Katrin Brehm
Lina Hbner
Linda Feyen
Mariana Rivas
Natalie Kttel
Samantha Seitz
Selina Sieben
Stephie Ulm

Guide Intro
History
Survival Guide
Sights & Monuments
Museum & Galleries
Streets & Tours
Entertainment
Nightlife
Shopping
Food & Drinks
Contributor Profiles

Price range

Guide Intro
H

rs Seat

Th

of Arthu
p
o
t
n
o
s
r
e
w
e revie

ello and welcome to Edinburgh!

In your hands you hold all the
best this incomparable city has
to offer. For almost a month,
we, the reviewers, have worked
tirelessly exploring museums, cafes,
monuments, and so much more
so you could experience Edinburgh
to its full potential. Each location
was visited personally, and every
review is honest and unbiased. Our
reviewers come from all over the
world and each place we chose to
investigate reflects our own personal
interests. We have strived to give you
an essential guide so you can enjoy
every facet of the Scottish capital.
Whether your curiosity is geared more
towards art and culture, or you are
just dying to know where the best

guide

above 15 pou
nds:
10-15 pounds
:
1-10 pounds:

pubs are, we have covered it all.

No stone has been left unturned
in this city. So, read on knowing
that this guide has been created to
ensure you miss nothing and see
the very best of Edinburgh. Go and
explore this remarkable and unique
destination for yourself and, if you
need any suggestions, we are here to
help! Take us along for your incredible
adventure and we promise we will not
let you down. Take in as much as you
possibly can and once your stay is
through, haste ye back! Edinburgh is
a place you will want to see again and
again. It is a city that will never cease
to amaze.

-Stephie Ulm

History

Quick History
Edinburgh dates back to the Iron and Bronze Ages. Castle Rock was important as
it was high enough to be used to look out to the North to watch for invaders.
In the 7th to 10th centuries, Edinburgh was not in fact in Scotland, but was in the
region of Northumbria. This was ruled by a man called King Edwin which is where
the name Edinburgh originated from. It went from Edwins Fort (Din Eidyn
untranslated), to Edwinseburgh and finally Edinburgh.
For the next few centuries Edinburgh alternated between being Scottish and
English due to the Wars of Independence.
Edinburgh became the capital city of Scotland in 1437.
In 1560, the population was only 16,000 out of 1 million in Scotland.
The plague, which affected people across Britain, deeply reduced the number of
citizens. It was recorded in 1645 that there were under 60 men able and well
enough to fight and defend Edinburgh should it be needed.
Leith, just outside Edinburgh became a successful trading and whaling port in
the 16th and 17th centuries.
In 1603, James VI, King of Scotland, succeeded the English throne, as well
as, drawing together England and Scotland. Four years later, Great Britain was
formed with the Act of Union.
Rising population caused overcrowding in the middle of the century resulting in
a competition being launched for an architect to design the New Town. It was
planned to be the largest city development in the world at the time with plenty of
housing and open spaces. Names of the streets were chosen to be patriotic, with
Rose and Thistle Street (English and Scottish national flowers), as well as George
Street after the current king.
In 1821, Edinburgh was no longer the largest city in Scotland. However, it
continued to flourish as a capital city and was a great place for educational
advances, technology and literacy.

- Amy Hopes

Lauriston Castle

Public Transportation
T

he major bus service in Edinburgh which is operating

throughout Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian is called
Lothian Buses.
A single ticket costs 1.6 for adults and 0.8 for children.
There are day and night buses and an Express Bus, number
100, coming from the Airport directly to the city centre. For an
Airport Day ticket you have to pay 9 for an adult and 4.5 for
a reduced ticket. If you want to buy a Night ticket it is 3 and
a Day & Night ticket costs you 3.5 including a One Day ticket.
Buses number 104 and 113 run from East Lothian to the City
Centre and beyond, 7 days a week.
To plan your journey in detail, check out the Lothian Buses
webpage: www.lothianbuses.com

Accommodations
I

f you are looking for a real Edinburgh, but still a cheap,

experience, the Castle Rock Hostel is your place to be. The
old building looks more like a museum or an art gallery than
a hostel. You can get a dorm room between 10 and 14
and if you like it more private a double room with shared
bathroom is between 45 and 50. For breakfast they will
charge you 1.5 and for using towels 0.2.
The Castle Rock Hostel is located at 15 Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh EH1 2PW.
Another good option for a low budget vacation is the
Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel. A dorm room is also between
10 and 14 and for a private double room you have to pay
40. You can get Breakfast for 4.95 and use towels for 1.
You can find the Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel at 65
Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1BU. For more details about this
hostel, you can read the review in this guide.

Survival Guide

Survival Guide

Food and Drinks

I

n Edinburgh there are many stores where you can buy

something to eat and to drink, so you will definitely find a
shop nearby. The main supermarkets in the Scottish city are
Sainsburys and Tesco. If you want to get budget products, you
can choose Lidl as well.
The supermarkets are normally open seven days a week, so
even on Sundays you can go grocery shopping. Most shops
open early around 7am and close late in the evening between
8pm and 11pm. Even in the smaller stores you can find a
large choice of food and drinks. If there is a long queue at the
cash point, do not worry. Most supermarkets even have a selfservice checkout, where you can scan your chosen products
and pay by yourself.
At the weekend there are also some markets like the Farmers
Market where you can buy some fresh food. More information
about this can be read in the reviews.

Survival Guide

Survival Guide
Emergency
I

f you have a fire emergency, need an ambulance for an

emergency or you have to call the police 999 is the number to
call.
If you would like to book an ambulance call 0131 447 0434
for non-emergencies where the person is considered medically
unfit by a doctor to travel by other means.
111 is the number for NHS 24, the medical phone advice in
the Scottish capital. It is available 24 hours a day and even 7
days a week.

- Selina Sieben & Alina Drechsler

ou love to travel and meet other

people from different cultures but do
not want to spend too much money
for your hostel. Then the Budget
Backpackers Hostel is the perfect
choice. It is centrally located at the
37-39 Cowgate and only five minutes
away from the castle.
You can choose between different
room offers, depending whether
you travel alone or as a group. The
rooms are equipped with bunk beds
including bed linen and washbasins
as well as free lockers. The rooms are
cleaned every day. Bathrooms are
on the corridor, but even so they are
always kept clean.

The staff is very friendly and available

at all times to help you if you have
any requests. If you are a fresher
in Edinburgh you get tourist
information and a city tour for free.
You want to be up to date? No
problem, Wi-Fi is included as well.
On the ground floor of the Budget
Backpackers Hostel is a caf.
There are different foods and drinks
available and the best is: low
prices and a relaxed atmosphere.

- Annika Balzer
Budget B

ackpacke

rs Hoste

37-3
www.budg 9 Cowgate
et
Price ra backpackers.com
nnge: 1
3 per nig
ht

Survival Guide

Accommodations

Sights & Monuments

Sights &
Monuments

dinburgh thrives with over

centuries of dynamic history.
From its influential literature
and writers to its architecture
and royals, Edinburgh is sure to
have something for everyone!
Influences from people such as
Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott,
Mary Queen of Scots, and John
Knox are sure to be seen around
the city. Make a trek up to
Edinburgh Castle for a step back
into time and a wonderful view
of the Old Town and New Town.
Here, you can see wonderful
monuments such as the ones
on Calton Hill and the Scott
Monument. If looking for some
darker tales or even a light tale
of a friendly dog named Bobby,
check out Greyfrairs Kirkyard
and St. Giles Cathedral.

While seeing the main

monuments is amazing,
Edinburgh has some hidden
sights, which are not largely
talked about. For something off
the beaten path, make sure to
check out the Sherlock Holmes
Statue and the Runestone in
Princes Street Gardens.
In Edinburgh, you can take a step
through several periods of the
citys history and delve into the
stories behind its monuments
and sights. There are always
good stories when visiting these
monuments!

- Samantha Seitz

David Hume statue on the Royal Mile

s the landmark of
Edinburgh, the castle is a
mandatory visit. It is located on
a volcanic hill, 134 metres above
sea level, so you have a fantastic
view over the city. In later times,
it was used as a residence for
the Royals of Scotland and
for military purposes; hence,

you can get a good picture

of Edinburghs history. Its
oldest surviving building is St
Margarets Chapel, which was
built about 1130.
In the castle, there are various
museums about military history.
Another building to visit is the
former prison where you can get
an impression of a prisoners life
in the 18th century. A highlight
is the Scotlands crown jewels,
which were worn for the first time
by Mary Stuart in 1543.
If you want to visit the castle you
should plan about three hours.
You can buy tickets beforehand,
so you do not have to wait in

Cas
Everyda tlehill
y
www.edin 9:30am 6pm
burg
Admission hcastle.gov.uk
price: 1
6.50

line. An audio guide or a guided

tour is available for an additional
fee. Some specials are the one
oclock gun fired every day at
1pm, apart from Sundays, or the
historical live performances in
the main hall which take place
at 11:15am, 12:15pm, 2pm and
3pm.

- Hannah Grner

Sights & Monuments

Edinburgh
Castle

uite a challenge to find but if

you make it through Princes Street
Garden, over the bridge and up
the hill to Ramsays Garden you
will find the Runestone. Not only
will you just find a beautiful view
over the city and the sea, you will
also be able to admire a quite
rare thing in the whole of the UK.

Sights & Monuments

Princes Street
Gardens Runestone
=A gift donated from Sweden
to the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland, the rune stone reminds
you that the Vikings not only came
from Norway and Iceland but
they also explored Scotland and
England.
The stone was built as a memorial
from Ari to his deceased father
Hjalmr ari + rasti + stain + aftir +
(h)ialm + faur sin + ku + hialbi
+ ant hans. This translates into
Engish as: Ari raised the stone
in memory of Hjalmr, his father.
May God help his spirit. It has
everything that is expected from
an old historical Viking legacy:
mysterious rune inscriptions and
symbols as well as a huge snake,
better known as Jrmungandr, a
sea serpent known from Odins

Story in the Prose Edda.

Even if you are not familiarised
with Old Norse, runes or Vikings,
the Runestone in Princes Street
Gardens guarantees a beautiful
view far away from all the other
busy, touristy places in Edinburgh.

- Selina Sieben

Princ
Edinbur es Street Ga
gh
rd
a fence Castle Espl ens, below
a
d enclo
sure ad nade, set wit
h
jacent
to Ram in
Garden
say