The Big Trip: Edinburgh

26th May

Edinburgh Day 1

We left Glasgow early and arrived at Inverkeithing about 10am.

Our host Karina suggested that we go on the Fife Coast Walk. It was a lovely walk and a great way to start our time in Edinburgh.

After lunch we passed by the Parish Church and Fordell Lodging on the way back to the train station.

We had decided to spend the afternoon in Dunfermline on Karina's recommendation.

The first place we found (while looking for the park) was the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum. It was surprisingly interesting. He was a very rich man but also a generous man. I learnt he even set up libraries in NZ!

From the museum we walked to the Dunfermline Abbey Nave and Palace. The palace was a ruin.

We also popped into Abbey Church which is connected to the old Nave.

The City Chambers were shut but it had a lovely clock tower on the building.

After that we went to the Carnegie Library and Gallery Museum. The museum part was really good, very interesting. It's quite new so the displays were quite interactive. It explained the history of Dunfermline and how things have changed due to the industrial revolution and globalisation.

View of Abbot House from the museum

Then we quickly visited St Margaret's Cave as it was about to close. St Margaret was the Queen of Scotland around the year 1070. She prayed in that cave and now it's been preserved and made easily accessible for visitors.

We finally reached our original destination of Pittencrieff Park. As we were tired we didn't stay very long. We bought food from the supermarket and then caught the train back to Inverkeithing.

At home we cooked enough dinner that Karina could have some later (she was still out).

27th May

We caught the train to Edinburgh. It was so foggy that you couldn't see the castle when you exited the station. In fact, it was so foggy that you pretty much couldn't see anything.

The first task of the day was to locate the bus station so that we'd know where to find it in a few days time.

It was very close to the Andrews Square.

Next we saw the Scott Monument.

After that we visited the Scottish National Gallery. Around it were people behind makeshift fences ready to cheer on the marathon runners. It must've been a huge marathon race as people were running by for about half an hour.

Then we went to the Museum of Scotland. It was excellent.

We'd signed up for a walking tour which met outside the museum. It was about historic murders. Due to the cold the guide did the whole tour inside the museum. I was disappointed as I was hoping to be shown around Edinburgh. The stories were really good (but often gross) though.

We had tried to visit St Giles Church earlier but a service has just started. Now it was over we paid it a quick visit.

Earlier in the day when these people were walking to the service.

After that we headed to Edinburgh Castle popping into the tartan factory on the way. None of the machines were on probably because it was Sunday.

Then we walked along Victoria Street. They claim it inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter - hence all the Harry Potter shops.

Jay dressed up as Dobby

From there we went to Grassmarket. Not sure why it was recommended. Nothing much there, just pubs and cafes.

After that we went to an Indian restaurant where we had a buffet dinner.

Thouroughly exhausted we headed back to the train station for home.

28th May

Our day trip today was to North Berwick. It's a seaside town so a popular holiday spot for the English.

After a quick snack and finding a map we walked about an hour to see Tantallon Castle. It was so foggy that we couldn't see it until we reached the entrance! The views on a nice day from the castle out to sea would've been amazing.

Pigeon holes. They kept pigeons to eat here!

Still foggy....

We stayed there awhile, exploring the castle and hoping the day would clear up.

On the walk back to town everything cleared and we could see where we'd been. We were sad that it cleared after we left the castle.