SCOTLAND Group Forum
To promote Scotland and it's culture, scenery, history, humour, poetry, music, literature, art, architecture .... etc, etc. This is for everybody, not just the Scots, it is not a club or clique. Please contribute as you see fit. I have initially invited a few fellow Scots to join, in the hope they can contribute to build up a good data base of information should any of you globe trotting str...
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Edinburgh (25)
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Edinburgh Castle is a castle fortress which dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle here since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. As one of the most important fortresses in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle has been involved in many historical conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on several occasions. From the later 17th century, the castle became a military base, with a large garrison. Its importance as a historic monument was recognised from the 19th century, and various restoration programmes have been carried out since.
Few of the present buildings pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century, when the medieval fortifications were largely destroyed by artillery bombardment. The notable exception is St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, which dates from the early 12th century. Among other significant buildings of the castle are the Royal Palace, and the early-16th-century Great Hall. The castle also houses the Scottish National War Memorial, and National War Museum of Scotland.
The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland, and is Scotland's second-most-visited tourist attraction. Although the garrison left in the 1920s, there is still a military presence at the castle, largely ceremonial and administrative, and including a number of regimental museums. It is also the backdrop to the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and has become a recognisable symbol of Edinburgh and of Scotland.
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and the spire of St Giles' Cathedral.
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formed by receding ice deposits. On this is built the highest street called the Royal Mile.
On the south side is the old town and on the north side is the new town, filled with fine examples
of Adam and Georgian architecture.
At the foot is Holyrood Palace.
Still used as Royal residence it is used by Her Majesty about just one weekend per year for a garden party
( crazy IMO )
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During the annual Edinburgh Festival, the High Street becomes the city's central focus,
and is crowded with tourists, entertainers and buskers. On the left is the High Court of Justiciary,
Scotland's supreme criminal court. On the right, about one-third of the way down from the
Castle toward the Palace is Parliament Square, named after the old Parliament House which housed
both the law courts and the old Parliament of Scotland between the 1630s and 1707
(when it was abolished by the Act of Union). Parliament House is now the home of the Court of Session,
Scotland's supreme civil court. St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh, also stands in Parliament Square.
More @
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace,
is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland.
Holyrood Abbey was founded by David I, King of Scots in 1128, and Holyrood has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots since the 15th century. The Palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle. Queen Elizabeth II spends one week in residence at Holyrood at the beginning of each summer, to host garden parties and official ceremonies. She then continues to Balmoral Castle (which she owns) for her annual two-month summer holiday.
Holyrood is an anglicisation of the Scots Haly Ruid (Holy Cross).
more .....
The Tax payer agreed ( Ha ! ) to it's construction at an estimated cost of £ 43m.
It was 3 + years late and finally cost us £ 400+ m. What's more it was designed by a Spanish Architect !!
Personally I think most views of it are ugly. It's most redeeming angle I am told is an arial one where it
looks like a harbour of upturned boats. Now that's nice if you are a pigeon which is probably why it attracts
so many as they are having major roosting and fouling problems.
They have asked falconers to tender for what could be a £40,000 contract to chase off the pigeons.
more ....
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with wounderfull views of the castle. The sunken gardens in the middle used the be a loch ( lake )
The Nor('th) Loch was drained in 1759 and the gardens were formed.
Bridges at each end and in the middle ( The Mound ) were constructed to expaned the city northwards.
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Due to the city's vast amount of historic buildings and monuments, Edinburgh is often given
the nick name ‘Athens of the North'.
The Royal Scottish Academy Building (RSA)( Art Gallery ) complex is shown in the centre,
modeled on the ancient temples of Greece.
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Inspired Bicycles - Danny MacAskill April 2009
Amazing cycle stunts shot in Edinburgh
is a block of sixteen private apartment buildings in the Castlehill area of Edinburgh, Scotland. They stand out for their red ashlar and white harled exteriors, and for their prominent position, most visible from Princes Street.
Developed into its current form between 1890 and 1893 by the biologist, botanist and urban planner Patrick Geddes, Ramsay Garden started out as Ramsay Lodge, a block of Georgian "garden homes" built by the poet and wig-maker Allan Ramsay the Elder in 1733.
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These could easily be used for a calendar or post cards, great photography, are you a pro ?
? Did you enjoy your visit to Edinburgh ?
Thanks for your interest
Do you know if there is a similar 'SPAIN Group' here on CS ? It just so happens that I am visiting Madrid soon and it might have helped as a guide for me. Can you help perhaps ?
RSVP por favor ....
Do you know if there is a similar 'SPAIN Group' here on CS ? It just so happens that I am visiting Madrid soon and it might have helped as a guide for me. Can you help perhaps ?
RSVP por favor ....
of course!!
If I am available at the time you are here then I can help show you a bit of Madrid, no problem. I like bars with live music for evening,museums, picnics, sightseeing
Drop me an email nearer the time
See you soom
I know this sounds a bit cheeky, but when I am there
can I be your boyfriend ? ......
I know this sounds a bit cheeky, but when I am there
can I be your boyfriend ? ......
Such a cheeky man...
Yes of course...
Behind it, The Balmoral Hotel..
So nice!
Down, Ramsay Gardens and finally National Gallery of Scotland
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View to the West, looking down Princes Street
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