Edinburgh, Scotland

Early this morning Endeavour was poised outside of Leith, the port for Edinburgh, which is the capital city of Scotland. From the southern shores of the Firth of Forth we proceeded through the locks to enter the lagoon-like, enclosed port, and came alongside our berth nearby the famous, but now retired Royal Yacht, Britannia. Traditional sounds of Scottish bagpipes beckoned us ashore, and we made our way onto the pier to meet our comfortable coaches for a tour of both old and new Edinburgh. The dominating landmark of the city is the massive Edinburgh Castle; located on Castle Rock and overlooking the expansive countryside below. We had a marvelous guided visit to this impressive and distinguished national landmark.

Up at the castle, we visited the famous 11th-century Chapel of Saint Margaret, the city’s oldest structure, and nearby Holyrood Palace, the 16th-century residence of Scottish royalty. To and from the castle, we drove along the famous Royal Mile, past Parliament House and the National Church of Scotland, all the while hearing old-time tales of thieves and poets, writers and politicians, pubs and plundering. Our final stop was at the Scottish National Museum, filled with everything from natural history and Charles Darwin displays to early geological and fossil findings.

Our afternoon was at leisure for strolling through the city, shopping along the fabulous storefronts, visiting museums and art galleries, exploring more of the city, or relaxing onboard the ship. There was truly something for everyone, here in the dynamic, historic and scenic city of Edinburgh.Text: Brent Houston, Naturalist; Photo: Nick Candy, Video Chronicler