Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh Saturday Morning Walk

 

The next morning, we woke up really early. The plan for that day was to walk to Castle Terrace to visit the Weekend Market first, before going to visit Edinburgh Castle which we got tickets for at 930am. But mainly I wanted to photograph the empty streets of Edinburgh along Royal Mile in the early morning. Looking at these photos now, I felt lucky that it was such a beautiful day. Isn't it awesome that every blue skies day makes me happy, and rainy days makes me feel comfy? Lol. It's hard to lose if your frame of mind is like mine :P

Walk along Royal Mile again, it was so much more quiet and peaceful in the morning. This is probably around 8am? You could see some of the natives out having their morning run. Shops are yet to open, and the cold air is just so refreshing. Plus the sunlight made everything shine!

We walked pass a Central Library. There wasn't any big sign, just this plaque. Maybe I can try visiting it the next time I'm in the city again. I love visiting library.

We walked towards Victoria Street area, but not down towards it. I wanted to visit a vantage point just a level above Victoria Street itself, a place I often see on my social media. I roughly know where it was,  but wasn't too sure of it. Luckily we had a lot of time for wandering!

At this junction, going towards the left side is where the vantage point was. Edinburgh's layout is kinda odd, yet every classic old town. Can we also take some time to appreciate how clean the roads are? And so empty too! 

Some info on this beautiful small church that we walked pass. There were so many lovely churches all around, I wonder why only St Giles' is the one everyone seems to crowd towards to. Sometimes the smaller ones are more much intimate. 

Love the welcome sign of this church. 

Here is a map of Edinburgh from were we were at. 

While we venture further into the alley, we saw interesting houses. Like a Quaker House. I only know Quaker Oats, were the Quaker originated from here? Actually as I learn more about the history of Scotland and the religion in their region, I realised that I also enlighten myself with things I've heard about all my life, yet knew nothing about. So Quaker is one of them.

FreeMason is also another gathering that I learn more about. Sometimes we are taught that these are cults. But actually the more I learn about them, the more I admire them. It seems all these groups were so advance for their time, why is it that they aren't more popular? Why is God and religion more popular to the masses instead?

Finally I was at the edge of the vantage point when I saw these more 'atas' looking dining area. I have read that you could actually have a meal or drinks here while you enjoy the view below of Victoria Street. Ah, if only unlimited money was a thing for me, I would have love that. I love fine dining, and it's not that I can't afford it, but I could never make myself spend ridiculous amount of money to dine for ambiance. If the quality and experience is worth it, I guess I won't mind it so much. But just for ambiance sake? That's a pass for me. 

And here is the view! Victoria Street in the early morning. I love the colourful flags that they have hung all over the street below. It kinda made it felt like a fun fair day. Like something very medieval feel to it. Like a small town festival about to happen!

Here a different view. I took this because of the very British flag on the windows. 

A wefie of us outside The Castle Arms, with Victoria Street below. Edinburgh is such an interesting city in the sense that it's sloped and multi-level. So it takes a lot of leg work to explore the town! Unless you know some shortcuts of course!

Here is one of just me taken by my husband :)