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Scotland what to do in Edinburgh and Glasco
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what to do in Edinburgh and Glasco

leichmann010407
leichmann010407 over 2 years ago

We will be one a Best of Scotland trip in early May and have 3 extra days in Edinburgh and 1 extra in Glasgow.  Does anyone have suggestions about what to do?

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  • PamInIdaho
    PamInIdaho over 2 years ago

    Lots to do in Edinburgh! I've not done this program but have toured Scotland with a Rick Steves tour. It looks like you'll see Rosslyn Chapel and Edinburgh Castle on the tour. (And I see you are going to Culross House which I found very interesting!)

    I'd add in the National Museum of Scotland - really a fantastic free museum. It's huge and I might divide it in to 2 visits if you like. They have a wonderful new wing of things relating just to Scottish History and the other part of the museum which is more generalist but very interesting. They have a GREAT gift shop. I had a problem paying with a credit card as I did not have my passport with me so make sure you've got it with you for picture ID. If you are still needing some "Made in Scotland" souvenirs they have some lovely, interesting "non-tourist tat" stuff.

    Some other things off the top of my head:
    - Royal Botanic Gardens which should be wonderful that time of year.
    - Royal Yacht Brittania
    - Holyrood Palace - www.rct.uk/.../palace-of-holyroodhouse
    - When you are at the National Museum, walk across the street to see the statue of Greyfriars Bobby (dog) and then go into the church and churchyard of the Greyfriars Kirk. Apparently J K Rowling used to write in a nearby pub (Elephant House) and got some of her character names from the headstones in this churchyard!
    - If you haven't done a walking tour with the group, I'd check in to one with the Edinburgh Tourist Office. Your RS leader may have some suggestions. They will walk you through some of the tiny passageways and the Grassmarket area.
    - National Gallery of Scotland
    - St Giles

    I'd have a waterproof jacket with a hood. An umbrella or poncho are useless in the wind which you'll have a lot of. I visited in June and had a few days where I wore glove liners! Mull and Iona were particularly soggy the day I visited. That is the only day on 11 Road Scholar and 11 Rick Steves tours that I've wanted waterproof rain pants. If you are from a warm climate I'd also pack a puffy vest or jacket that can be layered under your rain jacket.

    Sorry, not been to Glasgow so no advice there! Glad you are staying extra days!

    ~Pam

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  • TravelHound
    TravelHound over 2 years ago
    Your tour looks lovely. My mother was from Glasgow so we visited Scotland often.

    I agree with PamInIdaho, Scotland can be very damp and chilly. Of course it's also a great excuse to buy a nice Scottish wool cardigan.

    Edinburgh:
    Edinburgh is a very walkable city.
    I would add Mary King's Close - an underground tour en.wikipedia.org/.../Mary_King's_Close
    Princes Street has interesting shops and pubs.
    The Balmoral - Palm Court for high tea or any of the whiskey tastings on the Royal Mile
    Leith - near Britannia is great place for seafood by the water
    Calton Hill - great views of city and castle UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Glasgow:
    Kelingrove Art Gallery
    Glasgow Cathedral - where my mother got married
    The People's Palace and Winter Gardens
    The Glasgow School of Art - Everything MacIntosh
    Pollok Country Park
    St. George's Square
    Fish & Chips , Haggis (it's actually very good)
    Horseshoe Bar on Drury St - over 150 year olf pub, longest continual bar in th UK
    Buchanan Street - shopping
    Take a walk down to the River Clyde
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  • PamInIdaho
    PamInIdaho over 2 years ago
    BTW, have you read any of Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series? If you haven't, you'll want to read them in order. If you have, you'll see SO many familiar street names! I was just laughing to myself the whole time I was in Edinburgh, thinking about the various places Bertie and the other characters visit!
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  • leichmann010407
    leichmann010407 over 2 years ago in reply to PamInIdaho
    Thanks for the tip. It has been years since I read them but fortunately I still have them. I plan to do that.
    LE
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