A brief introduction into Scotland and its capital Edinburgh

2. Scotland is part of Great Britain
to the north of England.
Scotland is a mountainous country
washed by the North Sea in the east
and the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
North Sea
Atlantic
Ocean
Edinburgh
Its capital city is Edinburgh.
Scotland has 790 islands but only
130 are inhabited.

3. Aberdeen
Dundee
Historically and geographically
Scotland is divided into
Highlands and Lowlands.
Administratively Scotland
consists of 32 local councils.

4. Symbols of Scotland
The national flag of
Scotland is known as the
Saltire or St. Andrew's
Cross.
The thistle is the
nation's floral emblem.
Unicorn is the
official animal of
Scotland. It can be
seen on the Royal
coat of arms of
Scotland.
Tartan is a
checked woolen
cloth of different
colours associated
with a particular
Scottish clan.
The Lion Rampant of Scotland, is the Scottish
Royal Banner of Arms. It is used on special
occasions to represent the Monarch in Scotland
when he is not present, for example at royal
residences.

5. Scotland is Famous for....
Its fresh water lochs (lakes). One
of the most famous is Loch Ness
where a mysterious monster is
said to live.
Its medieval castles, clans, kilts, as well as poetry and
songs of Robert Burns.
Eeilean Donan Castle
Theatre lovers
from around the
world come to
Edinburgh for its
famous festivals.

6. Famous People of Scotland include:
Robert
Burns
(1759–
1796) is a
national
poet of
Scotland.
Walter Scott
(1771–1832)
was a
Scottish
historical
novelist,
playwright,
and poet
famous for
such
historical
novels as
Ivanhoe, Rob
Roy and
others.
Robert Louis
Stevenson
(1850–1894)
was a Scottish
novelist, poet,
essayist, and
travel writer
who wrote
Treasure
Island (1883).
Arthur Conan
Doyle (1859–
1930) was a
Scottish
doctor and
writer, most
famous for
his stories
about the
detective
Sherlock
Holmes.
Sean Connery
(1930) is a
Scottish actor
and producer
best known for
playing the role
of James Bond
between 1962
and 1983.

7. Like Rome, it
was built on
seven hills.
The highest hill is called
"King Arthur's Seat".
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and
the second largest city in the country.
The city has
its own flag
and coat of
arms.

8. Every August
the city hosts
the Edinburgh
Festival.
What is it?
The Edinburgh Festival is the name given to a group of 12 festivals all happening in
Edinburgh during August. Among them are:
•The
•The
•The
•The
•The
•The
•The
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
International Festival
Festival Fringe
International Book Festival
International Jazz & Blues Festival
Military Tattoo
International Film Festival
Mela (a multi-cultural festival)

9. At the International Festival
you can see lots of opera,
theatre, ballet and classical
music.
The Fringe is the world's largest arts
festival. There you can see everything
from juggling to opera, pantomime,
theatre and dance.
What's more the performances are on
all day and all night and take place
anywhere.

10. The Plan of the City Centre of Edinburgh
New Town
Edinburgh Castle
Financial District
The historic
centre of
Edinburgh is
divided into two
parts by a public
park called
Princes Street
Gardens.
Old Town
To the south
you can see
Edinburgh Castle
on the top of the
rock and the Old
Town.
To the north of Princes Street lies the New Town.
To the west of the castle lies the financial district with lots of banks.

11. The New Town of Edinburgh
is a beautiful example of good
city planning. It was built
between 1765 and 1850. The
main road is Princes Street.
The best buildings are
situated along the Water of
Leith, the main river flowing
through Edinburgh .
The Old Town has its medieval
plan with narrow streets
known as closes and wynds and
old buildings. The main road of
the Old Town of Edinburgh is
the Royal Mile which connects
Edinburgh Castle with the
Palace of Holyroodhouse.

12. The main road of the Old
Town is The Royal Mile.
It consists of 5 streets
and is over 1800 m long.
Edinburgh Castle
It runs from Edinburgh
Castle at the top of the
Castle Rock down to
Holyrood Palace.
Holyrood Palace

13. Five streets make up the Royal Mile:
Castlehill
Lawnmarket
High Street
Canongate
Abbey Strand

14. Edinburgh
Castle is the
best and most
well known
attraction,
which receives
around a
million visitors
each year.
Edinburgh Castle is atop the volcanic Castle Rock.
It used to be a royal castle, a fortress, a prison and
now it’s a historic monument and a museum.

15. Lang Stairs
Entry gate
View to Calton Hill
Cannons lined up ready to
defend Edinburgh Castle

16. Main Entrance
Crown Square
Hammocks used by prisoners in
the 18th and 19th centuries
Fireplace in the Great Hall

17. The earliest parts of
the building date from
the late 15th century.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is
located at the bottom of
Edinburgh's Royal Mile and is the
official residence of HM The
Queen in Scotland.
The earliest parts of the building
date from the late 15th century.

19. At a garden party at Hollyroodhouse
in Edinburgh in July, 2012
The Queen stays at the
Palace for a week during July.
This is known as Holyrood
Week, when she does some
official work and has the
Royal Garden Party where
around 8,000 of guests are
invited to take tea and cake.

20. The Royal Dining Room
Holyroodhouse Palace Main Gate
The Main Entrance to the Palace
The Great Gallery

21. When the Queen is in residence
the Royal Standard of Scotland
is flown above the Palace.
The Royal Standard of Scotland
When she is not in residence the
Lion Rampant of Scotland is
flown.
The Lion Rampant of Scotland

22. The Palace is built next to
the Ruins of Holyrood Abbey
which was founded in 1128.
The name "Canongate" derives from the "Canons" of the Abbey
and "gaet" meaning way or passage.

23. One John Gray was an Edinburgh
policeman during the 1850s. His friend
and police watch-dog was a Skye
Terrier named Bobby. Their
friendship, however, was short when
Gray died of tuberculosis in 1858 and
was buried in Greyfriars Kirk
graveyard.
Bobby followed the funeral
procession, but was taken home
afterward. However, the little
dog soon ran away and stayed on
his master's grave until his death
in 1872. Many people took pity
on the little dog. James Brown,
the church gardener, gave Bobby
food and water. Eventually, a
doghouse was built for him near
the grave.

24. Let his loyalty &
devotion be a lesson
to us all.
Bobby's headstone in Greyfriars Kirkyard

25. Princes Street
Gardens is a public
park in the centre of
Edinburgh, Scotland,
in the shadow of
Edinburgh Castle.

26. The Ross Fountain

27. Princes Street is one of the major streets in central
Edinburgh, Scotland, and the main shopping street .

28. The tower is 61.11 m high,
and has several viewing
platforms reached by narrow
spiral staircases. From there
you can enjoy great panoramic
views of central Edinburgh.
The highest platform is
reached by 287 steps.
The Scott Monument is a
Victorian Gothic monument to
Scottish author Sir Walter
Scott. It stands in Princes
Street Gardens in Edinburgh.

29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/uk/edinb
urgh_festival/newsid_2161000/2161132.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_International_Festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_Scotland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland
http://projectbritain.com/britain/scotland.htm
http://helpfors.narod.ru/GreatBritain/great_britain.html
http://www.scotland-flavour.co.uk
http://www.novareinna.com/bridge/bobby.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Monument

30. Edinburgh became a major cultural
centre and got the nickname Athens of
the North because of the Greco-Roman
style of the New Town's architecture.

31. Other annual events include the
Hogmanay street party and the Beltane
Fire Festival.

32. Edinburgh attracts over 1 million overseas
visitors a year, making it the second most
visited tourist destination in the United
Kingdom.

33. In 1706 and 1707, the Acts of Union were
passed by the Parliaments of England and
Scotland uniting the two Kingdoms into the
Kingdom of Great Britain.

35. Today the Royal Mile is probably
the busiest tourist centre in
Scotland, alongside its New Town
equivalent, Prince’s Street.
Princes Street and its gardens represent the
very heart of Edinburgh. The street is the
City's main shopping area while the gardens
offer people a respite from the hustle and
bustle of the shops. Main landmarks and
attractions on Princes Street include the
Balmoral Hotel, Scott Monument (with
gorgeous panoramas of the gardens, Old
Town and the Castle) and the Floral Clock.
The best views of Princes Street are from the
very top of the Scott Monument, from
Calton Hill,

36. Calton Hill is without a doubt the best
vantage point in Edinburgh. It offers
amazing views towards Edinburgh Castle,
the Balmoral Hotel, the Scott Monument
and other City Centre attractions and
buildings, including the Palace of
Holyroodhouse down at the foot of the
Royal Mile. On a clear day you can see all the
way to Fife, across the Firth of Forth. Calton
Hill is also ideal for photographing the
Edinburgh Fireworks Concert or the New
Year Fireworks display. It also offers the
highest vantage point in the City Centre, the
top platform of the Nelson Monument.

37. Large squares mark the location of markets
or surround public buildings such as St.
Giles' Cathedral and the Law Courts. Other
notable places nearby include the Royal
Museum of Scotland

38. The Canongate Tolbooth was built in 1591
and over the years served as the municipal
building, court and prison for the Burgh of
Canongate as well being used for a number
of other purposes. The prominent clock was
a later addition, in 1820. Today the building
houses a great little museum called "The
People's Story" which tells the story of the
ordinary people of Edinburgh from the late
1700s to the present day. It is a popular
attraction with locals and tourists alike and,
best of all, admission is free.

39. Canongate Kirk
Antlers and Cross set above Canongate
Kirk

40. The Maiden
Site of the Girth Cross
The Girth Cross was a place for public
executions.
Criminals were beheaded by the "Maiden"
an early type of guillotine that was used in
Scotland at the time. This device, which can
still be seen at the National Museum of
Scotland

41. Less than 100 metres long, Abbey Strand lies
at the bottom of the Royal Mile, running
down to the gates of Holyroodhouse.

42. To the right of Abbey Strand is The Queen's
Gallery, which was opened in 2002 by HM
Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Golden
Jubilee celebrations. The Gallery forms part
of the Holyroodhouse complex and is used
to exhibit works from the Royal Collection.
Palace of Holyroodhouse

43. The King’s Bed Chamber
The West Drawing Room, used by members
of the Royal Family as a private sitting room
and not normally open to the public

44. Perhaps the most famous
resident of the Palace was
Mary Queen of Scots
(1542 –1587).
The oldest part of
the Palace is the
north-west tower,
built between 1528
and 1532. Mary's
bedroom was on the
second floor.

49. Dunnottar Castle