Walk Down Royal Mile in Edinburgh (Scotland)

Walk down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh (Scotland)
by

We didn’t take the Hop On Hop Off bus when in Edinburgh. With a little more than 2 days in our hands, we wanted to walk ‘Edinburgh thorough’. 🙂 With a lovely weather, clear skies and flowers everywhere, it wasn’t a bad decision at all. But to all those travellers/tourists who might not have adequate time in their hands, we would still urge you to walk down the Royal Mile stretch.

The Royal Mile stretch in Edinburgh? Yes. It starts from the Edinburgh Castle on one end of the road and ends at the Holyrood Palace, at the other extreme end. A little under 2 kilometers, and stretching from east to west, the Royal Mile is more popularly referred to as the Old Town.

Why Must You Walk Down The Royal Mile in Edinburgh? Many reasons. Here are a few of them!

  1. Walking down from Edinburgh Castle is easier. The street being somewhat steep, walking up could be difficult for those not used to walking.
  2. Walk past the CastleHill flanked by the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions on your left and the Scotch Whiskey Experience to your right.. Fool around for a few minutes at those mirrors placed outside and laugh at your own silly reflections. Our daughter loved it.
  3. And then is the Lawnmarket, the part of the street selling memorabilias and a whole lot of Scot items such as woollens, Kilts, caps; the Parliament Square, also known as the High Street, with the towering St Giles Cathedral to your right. Hover around for photos.
  4. Next, Canongate and Abbey Strand, is flanked with pubs, restaurants and high-end shops. Stop by for the coffee or the ice-cream. And you get the best Haagis here!

Seeped in history, stroll down the Royal Mile reading the road signs, and the addresses of every building. If you have a travel book to refer to, better still. Stop by for photographs, for the music from the pubs and shops, the colourful people, the wide-eyed tourists and the view right in front.

So what if it is just a 2km stretch. You could spend hours unearthing some interesting story from the past, admiring the architecture, and the eclectic feel of the old world charm in the 21st century.

Also read — Calton Hill in Edinburgh

******************

Plan your holiday in Scotland with the help of our experiences, itinerary and suggestions. Read this: Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon –A Holiday in Scotland