Things to do
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Arthur's Seat
An extinct volcano rising some 250 metres above Holyrood Park, this is the high point of Edinburgh and a climb that begins in the city centre. The usual route from Dunsapie Loch takes about forty minutes; the Salisbury Crags path is longer and more exposed. Wind at the summit is constant, and the basalt turns slippery after rain.
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Edinburgh Castle
Perched on a volcanic crag above Princes Street, the castle has served as royal residence, arsenal and garrison, and it still holds the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. Queues build sharply from mid morning, so a timed ticket booked ahead saves a long wait on the esplanade. The one o'clock gun fires every day except Sunday.
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Palace of Holyroodhouse
At the eastern end of the old town, below Canongate, stands the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, built around the ruined nave of an Augustinian abbey. State apartments, the Great Gallery and the chambers linked to Mary, Queen of Scots open when the court is away. Closures fall in late June and early July during Royal Week.
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Royal Mile
Four linked streets run downhill from the castle esplanade to Holyrood, threaded with closes and wynds that drop away between the tenements. Tartan shops dominate the surface; the interest lies in the side alleys, in Gladstone's Land and in St Giles' Cathedral. During the August festival the street becomes a performance corridor and crossing it takes patience.