Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me when we visited Edinburgh, so had to rely on Judy's i-Phone. This was shooting virtually straight into the sun, so I've tonemapped it in Photomax to try and bring out some of the colours.
Edinburgh Castle, which stands on the plug of an extinct volcano, is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city. Archaeologists have established human occupation of the rock since at least the Iron Age (2nd century AD), although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison.
Tags: Scotland Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle Princes Street Gardens castles fortresses
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We first paid a visit to Scotland in the autumn of 2017, when we spent a day in Edinburgh. Although Princes Street is perhaps its most famous street it is fairly bland with modern shops and buildings. Far more interesting is the Royal Mile, which leads from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. It is actually a series of roads a mile in length, and contains numerous beautiful old buildings including John Knox House, in the centre.
The house was built from 1490 onwards, featuring a fine wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. John Knox was a 16th century Scottish minister, theologian and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He is the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and lived in this house for a short time. It is now a museum and is owned by the Church of Scotland. It is administered as part of the adjacent Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Source: Wikipedia
Tags: Scotland Edinburgh Royal Mile High Street, Edinburgh street scenes city centres John Knox House, Edinburgh
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We visited Edinburgh in Scotland in September 2017, and having visited the castle the previous year decided to explore some of the "Old Town", which includes the Royal Mile. This runs from the castle along to Holyrood Palace. Here are many delightful old buildings, including John Knox House, which dates from 1470, making it and the adjacent Moubray House the only original medieval buildings surviving on the Royal Mile.
Tags: Scotland Royal Mile John Knox House medieval buildings Edinburgh
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Although Princes Street is perhaps the most famous street in Edinburgh it is fairly bland with modern shops and buildings. Far more interesting is the Royal Mile, which leads from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. It is actually a series of roads a mile in length, and contains numerous beautiful old buildings including John Knox House, in the centre.
The house was built from 1490 onwards, featuring a fine wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. It had belonged to Walter Reidpath whose grandson John Arres inherited it and left it to his daughter Mariota Arres in 1556. Her husband James Mossman, Goldsmith, refashioned the crown of Scotland for James V. He remained loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots when she was exiled in England. He worked in Edinburgh Castle making coins for her supporters who held the castle on her behalf during the 'Lang Siege'. When the Castle surrendered in August 1573, Mossman was charged with counterfeiting, for which he was hanged, quartered and beheaded. The house was forfeit for the treachery, and was given in the name of James VI of Scotland to James Carmichael. The house and its contents are now a museum. The building is owned by the Church of Scotland and is now administered as part of the new, adjacent Scottish Storytelling Centre.
John Knox was a 16th century Scottish minister, theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He is the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Apparently, the house was Knox's home only for a few months during the siege of Edinburgh Castle, but it is believed that he died here.
Source: Wikipedia
Tags: Scotland Edinburgh The Royal Mile John Knox House medieval buildings architecture
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I suspect that only the older generation will remember the story of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier who, after his master died sat for 14 years guarding his grave until he himself died in 1872. His grave is near his master's in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh's Old Town. The English philanthropist Lady Burdett-Coutts was charmed by the story and had this drinking fountain topped with Bobby's statue (commissioned from the sculptor William Brodie) erected near the entrance to the churchyard to commemorate him.
Tags: Scotland Edinburgh Greyfriars Bobby statues dogs
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