111 Places in Edinburgh that you shouldn't miss

The ultimate insider's guide to EdinburghFeatures interesting and unusual places not found in traditional travel guides.Edinburgh is rightly celebrated for its famous historical and cultural attractions. But for the discerning visitor it has much more to offer away from the well-worn tourist trail. This book takes you to hidden corners and secret sights in this city of contrasts, exploring fascinating locations unknown even to most residents, and revealing unexpected aspects of some familiar local landmarks. Marvel at a unique underground temple hewn out of the living rock; learn how a world-famous illusionist came to be buried here - with his dog; find out why the city council once commissioned an enormous electric blanket; look out for the ordinary Edinburgh post box with an explosive history. Discover the human stories behind a wide range of places, both exceptional and commonplace, bringing to life the greatly varied cityscape where people have been leaving their mark for at least 5,000 years.Entdecken Sie versteckte Orte und Geschichten abseits der bekannten Pfade, die den wahren Charakter Edinburghs enthüllen.Edinburgh ist berühmt für seine historischen und kulturellen Sehenswürdigkeiten. Aber es hat abseits der ausgetretenen Touristenpfade noch viel mehr zu bieten. Dieses Buch führt Sie zu versteckten und geheimen Plätzen in dieser Stadt der Gegensätze, es zeigt faszinierende Orte, die selbst den meisten Edinburghern unbekannt sind, und enthüllt unerwartete Aspekte bekannter Wahrzeichen. Bestaunen Sie einen einzigartigen unterirdischen Tempel, der aus einem Felsen gehauen wurde. Erfahren Sie, wie ein weltberühmter Zauberer hier gemeinsam mit seinem Hund beerdigt wurde. Finden Sie heraus, warum der Stadtrat einst eine riesige Heizdecke in Auftrag gegeben hat. Oder halten Sie Ausschau nach einem gewöhnlichen Edinburgher Briefkasten, hinter dem eine explosive Geschichte steckt. Entdecken Sie Geschichten, die das vielfältige Bild einer Stadt zeigen, in der Menschen seit mindestens 5.000 Jahren ihre Spuren hinterlassen haben.

List of contents

Abbey Strand The privilege of sanctuary | 10 Ann Street Homes of quality | 12 Ashley Terrace Boat House Reviving the mathematical river | 14 Barnton Quarry Bunker Cold comfort in the Cold War | 16 Blackford Hill A ringside view of the Ice Age | 18 The Botanic Cottage An enlightening garden centre | 20 Bruntsfield Links Play the course as you find it | 22 The Café Royal A palace of a pub | 24 The Caiystane Strange sentinel in the suburbs | 26 The Caley Station Gates Regal relic of the war of the railways | 28 The Camera Obscura Through a glass, darkly | 30 Cammo Park Wild domain of the Black Widow | 32 Castle Terrace Farmers’ Market From the field to the fork | 34 The Catherine Sinclair Memorial A philanthropic friend to children and animals | 36 Chalmers Memorial Church For those in peril on the sea | 38 Craiglockhart War Hospital Shellshocked in Dottyville | 40 Craigmillar Castle This castle hath a pleasant seat | 42 Cramond The ferryman and the lion | 44 Cramond Island A haven and a barricade | 46 Dean Bridge A colossal masterwork | 48 Dean Cemetery A fashionable spot to rest undisturbed | 50 Dean Village Old mills by the stream | 52 Debenhams’ Library Room Victorian gentleman lurking in ladieswear | 54 The Dominion Cinema Grand old lady of the silver screen | 56 Dovecot Studios Textiles that make a splash | 58 Dr Neil’s Garden Horticultural healing | 60 Dreaming Spires Walking tall outside the multiplex | 62 Dreghorn Practice Trenches Preparing for the hell of the Somme | 64 Dunbar’s Close Garden The spirit of gardens past | 66 Dundas House Banking Hall The star-spangled vault | 68 Edinburgh College of Art Sculpture Court Casting around for classical perfection | 70 Edinburgh Printmakers The freedom of the press | 72 The Elephant House A place of wizard inspiration | 74 Fettes College OTT old school of 007 | 76 The Flodden Tower Keeping the English out | 78 The Forth Bridge Made in Scotland, from girders | 80 The French Institute An old and cultured ally | 82 General Register House Rotunda A Pantheon for the nation’s archives | 84 George Heriot’s School The great soul of Jingling Geordie | 86 Gilmerton Cove A subterranean rock-cut mystery | 88 Gladstone’s Land From pigsties to painted ceilings | 90 Glencorse Reservoir Still waters and deep history | 92 Glenkinchie Distillery Tak aff yer dram | 94 Gorgie City Farm A reclaimed rural enclave | 96 Greyfriars Kirkyard Much more than a legendary dog’s home | 98 The GVIR Postbox at the Inch Defusing an explosive situation | 100 I J Mellis Cheesemongers Taste before you buy | 102 Inchcolm Ancient battleground in the Forth | 104 The Innocent Railway When trains went at a horse’s pace | 106 The International Climbing Arena Taking rock sports to new heights | 108 The James Clark Maxwell Birthplace The forgotten giant of physics | 110 Lady Stair’s House The men behind the pen | 112 Lady Victoria Colliery A mine of information | 114 Lauriston Castle Edwardian time capsule with a long history | 116 The Mansfield Traquair Centre The rainbow at the end of the world | 118 The Meadows Sundial Well-arranged time | 120 The Merchant Navy Memorial Sustaining this island fortress | 122 The Millennium Clock Towering circles of life and death | 124 The Miller Mausoleum Craigentinny’s marvellous marbles | 126 The Moray Estate A grand alternative to the monotonous grid | 128 Moray House Garden Pavilion The unspeakable act in the summerhouse | 130 The Mound The mud heap with an electric blanket | 132 Mr Purves’ Lighting Emporium Illumination without electrics | 134 Mr Wood’s Fossils When Stan met Lizzie | 136 Muschat’s Cairn The stones tell the tale | 138 The Museum on the Mound Money matters | 140 The National Monument A magnificent disgrace | 142 Newhailes Original splendour – unrestored | 144 The Oily Well Liberton’s healing balm | 146 Old College Triumphal gateway to knowledge | 148 The Old Palm Stove A venerable tree and a whiff of the tropics | 150 The Old Royal High School The parliament that never was | 152 The Oxford Bar Inspector Rebus’ no-nonsense boozer | 154 Parliament Square Historic hub of genius and learning | 156 Penguin Parade The zoo’s other black and white stars | 158 Piershill Cemetery The sensational last act of a celebrity dog lover | 160 The Political Martyrs’ Monument The cause of the people | 162 The Portobello Pottery Kilns Days of ginger beer and hot water bottles | 164 Portobello Promenade We do like to be beside the seaside | 166 The Portrait Gallery Entrance Hall Gilded heroes of the nation | 168 The Prestoungrange Gothenburg A fine house for responsible drinking | 170 The Radical Road A walk for romantics, built by revolutionaries | 172 Ramsay Garden Castles in the air | 174 Real Foods The principle of natural selection | 176 The Robin Chapel Music and praise in perpetuity | 178 Rosslyn Chapel A unique medieval puzzle | 180 Sam Burns’ Yard From a needle to an anchor | 182 Sandy Bell’s The soul of Scots music | 184 Sciennes Jewish Burial Ground A hidden cemetery for a hidden people | 186 Scotland Street Station The railway under the New Town | 188 The Scott Monument One man and his dog | 190 The Sheep Heid Inn Beer and skittles fit for a king | 192 Springvalley Gardens Lane Ghost town in Morningside | 194 St Bernard’s Well The foul waters of Hygeia | 196 St Cecilia’s Hall Listening to the 18th century | 198 St Giles’ Cathedral Rooftop Crowning glory | 200 St Margaret’s Chapel Simple shrine for a sainted queen | 202 St Triduana’s Chapel Spiritual cleansing | 204 The Stockbridge Colonies By the workers, for the workers | 206 Summerhall Artful revamp of the old vet school | 208 Surgeons’ Hall Museums Gruesome, but gripping | 210 Swanston A quaint little place in the lap of the hills | 212 Thomson’s Tower The curling club and the painting minister | 214 The Treasure Trove Homemade, fairtrade, self-aid | 216 Trinity Apse A truncated Gothic relic | 218 Trinity House A better life on the ocean wave | 220 Tupiniquim Ex-Police Box The afterlife of the bobbies’ temples | 222 21st Century Kilts Skirts for men of the new millennium | 224 Victoria Swing Bridge Keeping the docks in full swing | 226 The Witches’ Fountain Fair is foul, and foul is fair | 228 World’s End The limits of a gated community | 230

About the author

Gillian Tait was born in Edinburgh, and studied at the University of Edinburgh and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. She was employed for many years in the field of fine art conservation, and has written and edited several technical publications. More recently, she has been working as a researcher and editorial assistant, while continuing to indulge her passions for foreign travel and singing. She has lived in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town for the past 30 years.
Gillian Tailt, geboren in Edinburgh, studierte an der 'University of Edinburgh' und am 'Courtauld Institute of Art in London'. Sie arbeitete einige Jahre im Bereich der Kunstrestauration und hat verschiedene technische Publikationen geschrieben und veröffentlicht. Zurzeit arbeitet sie im Bereich Recherche und Redaktionsassistenz, während sie ihren eigentlichen Leidenschaften, dem Reisen und Singen, nachgeht. Seit 30 Jahren lebt sie im Herzen von Edinburghs Altstadt.

Summary

The ultimate insider's guide to Edinburgh
Features interesting and unusual places not found in traditional travel guides.
Edinburgh is rightly celebrated for its famous historical and cultural attractions. But for the discerning visitor it has much more to offer away from the well-worn tourist trail. This book takes you to hidden corners and secret sights in this city of contrasts, exploring fascinating locations unknown even to most residents, and revealing unexpected aspects of some familiar local landmarks. Marvel at a unique underground temple hewn out of the living rock; learn how a world-famous illusionist came to be buried here – with his dog; find out why the city council once commissioned an enormous electric blanket; look out for the ordinary Edinburgh post box with an explosive history. Discover the human stories behind a wide range of places, both exceptional and commonplace, bringing to life the greatly varied cityscape where people have been leaving their mark for at least 5,000 years.
Entdecken Sie versteckte Orte und Geschichten abseits der bekannten Pfade, die den wahren Charakter Edinburghs enthüllen.
Edinburgh ist berühmt für seine historischen und kulturellen Sehenswürdigkeiten. Aber es hat abseits der ausgetretenen Touristenpfade noch viel mehr zu bieten. Dieses Buch führt Sie zu versteckten und geheimen Plätzen in dieser Stadt der Gegensätze, es zeigt faszinierende Orte, die selbst den meisten Edinburghern unbekannt sind, und enthüllt unerwartete Aspekte bekannter Wahrzeichen. Bestaunen Sie einen einzigartigen unterirdischen Tempel, der aus einem Felsen gehauen wurde. Erfahren Sie, wie ein weltberühmter Zauberer hier gemeinsam mit seinem Hund beerdigt wurde. Finden Sie heraus, warum der Stadtrat einst eine riesige Heizdecke in Auftrag gegeben hat. Oder halten Sie Ausschau nach einem gewöhnlichen Edinburgher Briefkasten, hinter dem eine explosive Geschichte steckt. Entdecken Sie Geschichten, die das vielfältige Bild einer Stadt zeigen, in der Menschen seit mindestens 5.000 Jahren ihre Spuren hinterlassen haben.

Product details

• Authors: Gillian Tait
• Publisher: Emons Verlag
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 22.05.2025
• EAN: 9783740825751
• ISBN: 978-3-7408-2575-1
• No. of pages: 240
• Illustrations: Mit zahlreichen Abbildungen
• Subjects: Travel > Travel guides > Europe; Schottland, Reiseführer, der etwas andere Reiseführer, außergewöhnliche Orte, Edinburgh