Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
up-close animal encounters, and the heralded arrival of two
giant pandas
in 2012 has
bolstered the zoo's already impressive collection. Other highlights include the 2.15pm
Penguin Parade
, the
Budongo Trail
- a huge modern chimpanzee enclosure with
intimate viewing positions - and the walk-through
primate enclosure
where you
might come face to face with a curious Saki monkey. Given the zoo's steep incline you
may want to hop on the regular free Hilltop Safari bus to the top of the hill and work
your way back down.
1
Duddingston
2.5 miles southeast of the centre of town • Bus #42 south from Waverley Bridge
he beautiful conservation village of
Duddingston
, at the opposite end of Arthur's Seat
from the centre, is attractively set on the shores of
Duddingston Loch
- best known as
the setting for Henry Raeburn's
Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch
,
on show at the National Gallery (see p.77). Most visitors come here for a stiff drink at
the
Sheep Heid Inn
(see p.97) after a hike over Arthur's Seat.
Cramond
5 miles northwest of the centre of town • Bus #41 westbound from central Princes St • For tide times, either check the notice board on
shore or look for tide times for Leith on the BBC weather website
he enduring image of
Cramond
- a picturesque village by the Firth of Forth - is of
step-gabled whitewashed houses rising uphill from the waterfront, though it also has
the foundations of a Roman fort, as well as a tower house, church, inn and mansion, all
from the seventeenth century. he best reason to come here is to enjoy a stroll around
and a bit of fresh air. he
walk
along the wide promenade that follows the shoreline
offers great views of the Forth; or head out across the causeway to the uninhabited bird
sanctuary of
Cramond Island
- though be aware that the causeway disappears as high
tide approaches and can leave you stranded if you get your timings wrong. Aim to get
to and from the island in the two hours either side of low tide. Inland of Cramond,
there's another pleasant walk along a tree-lined path leading upstream along the River
Almond, past former mills and their adjoining cottages towards the sixteenth-century
Old Cramond Bridge. hese walks should take around an hour each.
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle Rd, 5 miles southeast of the centre • April-Sept daily 9.30am-5.30pm; Oct daily 9.30am-4.30am; Nov-March Sat-
Weds 9.30am-4.30pm • £5.50; HS • Take bus #8, #33 or #49 from North Bridge to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, from where the castle is a
10min walk along a signposted footpath
Situated amid a small tranche of green belt,
Craigmillar Castle
offers an atmospheric,
untrammelled contrast to packed Edinburgh Castle in the city centre. Before Queen
Victoria set her heart on Balmoral, Craigmillar was considered her royal castle north
of the border - which is hard to imagine now, given its proximity to the ugly council
housing scheme of Craigmillar, one of Edinburgh's most deprived districts. hat said,
the immediate setting feels very rural and Craigmillar Castle enjoys splendid views
back to Arthur's Seat and Edinburgh Castle. he oldest part of the complex is the
L-shaped
tower house
, which dates back to the early 1400s - this remains
substantially intact, and the
great hall
, with its resplendent late-Gothic chimneypiece,
is in good enough shape to be rented out for functions. he tower house was
surrounded in the 1500s by a quadrangular wall with cylindrical corner towers and
was used on occasion by Mary, Queen of Scots. It was abandoned to its picturesque
decay in the mid-eighteenth century, and today the peaceful ruins and their adjoining
grassy lawns make a great place to explore - and kids, in particular, love having run of
their very own castle.
