The Scottish language, or Scottish Gaelic, can be tricky. Take the capital city, Edinburgh think of it as saying “Eh-Din, Bru” when you’re trying to pronounce the name of this beautiful city. Celtic names can be quite confusing.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s historic capital, filled with dramatic architecture, winding streets, ancient history, and enough character to make you want to wander without a map just to see what you’ll find.
Scotland holds a VERY special place in my heart, and Edinburgh was no exception.
I have visited twice, and both times my love for Scotland only grew!
My first trip was short, only a few short days to Edinburgh. My second trip? I was blessed enough to spend 2.5 weeks touring the country, from Edinburgh and Glasgow all the way to the northern Highlands, the Isle of Skye, and Inverness.
There is something about the crisp Highland air, the centuries of history, the hills, the architecture, and yes—even the food—that makes Scotland feel different from anywhere else I’ve traveled.
Some places you visit and enjoy. Some places stay with you. Scotland is one of those places for me. And honestly… I can already feel those hills calling me back.
Pro Tip: Stretch Your Legs
I highly recommend looking at where your hotel is actually located. And while you’re at it… Practice your stretching. Because Scotland is HILLY! My first time staying in Edinburgh, I made the mistake of not really looking at where my hotel was located. Turns out, it was at the bottom of a VERY steep hill.
Which meant every morning, my pre-coffee butt had to trek up that hill just to start my day. And let me tell you: Wheezing and coughing is NOT the best part of waking up.
I love walking when I travel, but there is a big difference between “I’m going to walk around the city today” and “I’m going to climb a small mountain before I’ve had coffee.” So save your lungs. Save your legs. And maybe save yourself from questioning every life decision you’ve ever made before breakfast. Check your hotel’s location before you book it. Because that charming little hotel at the bottom of the hill? It might be absolutely perfect. Until you have to walk back up.
Have you ever heard bagpipes echoing through the streets of Edinburgh? There is something about hearing them here that feels completely different. Scottish folklore is filled with stories of faeries, ghosts, and mysterious things lurking beneath the landscape.
One legend tells of the Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay. According to the story, a brave—or perhaps foolish—piper entered a series of caves said to belong to the faeries, playing his pipes as he went. He never came back. His dog did. Apparently, the terrified animal came running out of the caves without his master. And the legend says that on certain summer nights, people can still hear the distant sound of bagpipes coming from underground.
Now, is it actually a ghostly piper? Probably not. But I’m not volunteering to go find out.
What we do know is that bagpipes are deeply woven into Scottish history. They have been used for centuries, including in military traditions, and became an unmistakable symbol of Scottish culture. And then you hear them in Edinburgh. Walking down the Royal Mile, you might suddenly hear that unmistakable drone echoing between the old stone buildings. And something happens. The sound carries. It bounces off the buildings. It seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It feels ancient. It feels haunting. It feels… Scottish.
Which brings me to my completely scientific conclusion:
Bagpipes in the United States: “Okay… that’s loud.”
Bagpipes in Scotland: “OH MY GOD. I’M IN A FAIRY TALE.”
Maybe it’s the cold Highland air. Or maybe… The faeries really are listening.
As if the city doesn’t have enough hills… I made the decision to hike Arthur’s Seat. Because apparently walking up and down Edinburgh wasn’t enough exercise for me. Arthur’s Seat is an ancient, extinct volcano that rises 251 meters above Edinburgh.
I’ll translate for the Americans… 823 feet.
On the day of my trip, I decided to hike it. And let me tell you… It was steep. It was muddy. And there were several moments where I thought, “Well… this could end badly.”
BE CAREFUL!
I did NOT fall in the mud this time, but I had several close calls. Apparently, my hiking abilities are better suited to dry ground. Guidebooks will tell you that Arthur’s Seat is moderately challenging. Moderately challenging?! I’m going to call it: “Just hike up the mountain and hope for the best.” There isn’t one particular trail that you absolutely have to follow. There are several paths you can take, depending on how you want to make your way up. And the best part?
It’s free!
Arthur’s Seat is open to the public, so you don’t need a ticket to enjoy the hike. It is sometimes said that the name may be connected to legends surrounding King Arthur. Now, is that actually where the name came from? Who knows. But I’m going to choose to believe it. Because if I’m going to climb an ancient volcano, slip around in Scottish mud, and question every decision that led me there I might as well add a little King Arthur mysticism to the adventure.
And yes… STRETCH. I cannot stress this enough. Your legs will already have opinions about Edinburgh. Arthur’s Seat will give them more.
One of the things I love about Edinburgh—and Scotland in general—is that you can find some amazing places tucked into the most unexpected corners. While wandering down an actual back alley, I stumbled across… The Writers’ Museum.
Yes. A museum. In an alley. Because apparently that’s just how Edinburgh works.
The Writers’ Museum is located inside Lady Stair’s House, tucked away in Lady Stair’s Close just off the Royal Mile. Inside there are exhibits celebrating three of Scotland’s greatest literary legends: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Three names that have left a pretty serious mark on Scottish literature.
And I’m sorry… How did I just wander upon this?! This is exactly why I love exploring Scotland. You never really know what you’re going to find. A little close. A tiny doorway. An old stone building. And suddenly… BOOM. You’re standing in front of hundreds of years of history. Scotland seems to have a way of finding a use for its old buildings because they were built to last. Instead of tearing everything down and starting over, history is still tucked into the streets, buildings, closes, and corners. You cannot walk three feet… Or three meters, for my European friends without finding something worth stopping to explore and investigate.
Edinburgh has absolutely embraced all things spooky. Every night, a haunted double-decker bus rolls through the streets of the city. Did you see a ghost driving? Was that mist part of the tour? WAS THAT A MOAN?! Were the people on the bus, ALL DEAD?! Okay, probably not.
This was an absolute blast to do!
The tour takes you through the haunted side of Edinburgh, stopping at some of the city’s most historic—and supposedly haunted—locations, including old cemeteries. They’ll tell you stories about Edinburgh’s darker history while you’re sitting inside a very appropriately creepy black double-decker bus. They even offer to take you to “the dark side.” Okay… I’m kidding! But you really will see that dark bus rolling through the streets of Edinburgh, stopping at cemeteries and other places where the city’s history gets a little… uncomfortable. And honestly? That’s exactly what makes it so much fun. You get history. You get ghost stories. You get creepy locations.
And you get to ride around Edinburgh at night wondering if that sound you just heard was part of the tour… or something else.
I want to add: NOTHING will jump out at you or grab your ankles… well nothing that is part of the tour.
10/10. Would get haunted again.
Edinburgh is a city you discover by wandering.
