Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Heriot Row
Turn right into
Heriot Row
, a typically elegant New Town terrace. At No 17, an inscrip-
tion marks the house where writer Robert Louis Stevenson spent his childhood. It's said
that the island in the pond in Queen Street Gardens (not open to the public) was the inspir-
ation for Treasure Island.
George Street
Go uphill to
George Street
and turn left. This was once the centre of Edinburgh's finan-
cial industry; now the banks and offices have been taken over by designer boutiques and
cocktail bars. Pop into the
Dome Grill Room
at No 14, formerly a bank, to see the ornate
Georgian banking hall.
St Andrew Square
The New Town's most impressive square is dominated by the
Melville Monument
, com-
memorating Henry Dundas (1742-1811), the most powerful Scottish politician of his
time. On the far side is
Dundas House
, a Palladian mansion that houses the head office of
the Royal Bank of Scotland (another magnificent domed banking hall lies within).
Scott Monument
South St David St leads past
Jenners
(
Click here
)
, the grand dame of Edinburgh depart-
ment stores, to the
Scott Monument
(
Click here
)
. Climb the 287 steps to the top for an
incomparable view over
Princes Street Gardens
(
Click here
)
to the castle.
Calton Hill
Head east along Princes St and Waterloo Pl to the stairs on the left just after the side street
called Calton Hill. Climb to the summit of
Calton Hill
(
Click here
)
, one of Edinburgh's
finest viewpoints, with a panorama that stretches from the Firth of Forth to the Pentland
Hills.
