Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIDE TRIPS
FROM
12
EDINBURGH
Although Edinburgh has a full complement of attrac-
tions and plenty of activities, there are also a num-
ber of worthwhile side trips you can take into the
surrounding countryside. Whether in the Lothians (which
surround Edinburgh), south toward the Borders, or north
across the Firth of Forth into the Kingdom of Fife—many
attractions are no more than an hour's drive from the city.
The nearest sights are in West and East Lothian, on either side of the
city. The highlights here include the impressive ruins of
Linlithgow
Palace,
a favorite of the Stuart dynasty; 18th-century
Hopetoun
House;
and the seaside town of
North Berwick,
with its views of Bass
Rock. Further afield, south in the Borders, the historic
Jedburgh
and
Melrose Abbeys
and
Abbotsford,
Sir Walter Scott's majestic home,
beckon day-trippers.
But one of the most popular excursions from the Scottish capital is
north to Fife and places such as the golfing mecca of
St. Andrews,
with
the oldest university in Scotland.
LINLITHGOW & WEST
LOTHIAN
In 1542, Mary, Queen of Scots was born in Linlithgow, some 26km (16
miles) west of Edinburgh. Trains frequently depart from Edinburgh's
Waverley Station, and the 20-minute ride to the ancient royal burgh costs
about £8.50 for a standard return (round-trip) ticket, though you have to
complete your trip on the same day. If you're driving from Edinburgh,
follow the M8 toward Glasgow, taking exit 2 onto the M9, following the
signs to Linlithgow.
Hopetoun House
On the margins of South Queensferry, amid
beautifully landscaped grounds, Hopetoun House is one of Scotland's
best examples of palatial Georgian architecture, with original design work
