Article: Alan Boyd & Stephen Bishop.

Photos: By guests, collated by Alan Boyd.

The holiday to Peebles and Edinburgh was a great success visiting many sights north of the border over 6 days. Edinburgh, dominated by its imposing castle on top of an old volcano, overlooking the city, along with the cities many other sights including the Royal Mile in the Old Town, the Palace of Holyrood, and a tour of the retired Royal Yacht Britannia. The Falkirk Wheel proved a great attraction, trying to understand how the water did not fall out of the ‘gondola’, as our barge was raised 115 ft from the lower Forth and Clyde Canal to the upper Union Canal. The world’s only rotating ‘Boat lift’ – a 21st century, state-of-the-art engineering achievement. Scotland’s finest stately home provided a magnificent panoramic main façade, as we arrived into the extensive grounds of Hopetoun House, overlooking the Firth of Forth. The Firth of Forth featured again in our ‘3 Bridges Tour’ – on board a small boat, out into the bay, looking upwards- dominated and impressed by the sheer size and engineering involved in three iconic bridges. [SB]

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Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, with the castle being a fortress sitting atop an old volcano, ancient buildings scattered across the city and the seat of Scotland’s parliament , lying close to the royal residence of the Palace of Holyrood, and a UNESCO City of Literature, provided a wealth of interest and the focus for our holiday.

Edinburgh Castle itself, provided a wide range of interests – its ancient gun emplacements on the battlements at different heights making it impregnable, the Royal Jewels and the Stone of Destiny (used at the recent coronation), the Great Hall with display of weapons but originally for feasts , the fantastic views from the highest battlements, and St Margaret’s Chapel – all brown stone brickwork, providing a friendlier environment than granite castles. Plus a gaggle of military museums of the Scottish regiments.

Edinburgh is famous for its multitude of statues to writers, soldiers, kings and queens, and the different religions, many of which could be found in the old town in the centre of the city and in the Princes Gardens. Plus multiple museums – both Scottish and Edinburgh-biased, and for the Parliament building, infamous for exceeding cost but praised for its architecture. Unfortunately, we were unable to enter Holyrood House since security was high for the King’s Scottish ‘inauguration’ in the forthcoming week, but we did visit many of the locations before the event. The Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith, now has 5 decks which record impressive status world travelling by the late Queen and the essential crew support facilities.

The Falkirk Wheel proved a great attraction, trying to understand how the water did not fall out of the barge ‘gondola’ as our barge was raised some 115 ft from the lower Forth and Clyde Canal to the upper Union Canal, followed by a short trip into the Roughcastle Tunnel. The world’s only rotating boat lift, a 21st century state-of-the-art engineering achievement, recognised as an iconic landmark worthy of Scotland’s traditional engineering expertise. It certainly excited us.

Scotland’s finest stately home provided a magnificent panoramic main façade as we drove into the extensive grounds of Hopetoun House overlooking the Firth of Forth. The contents of furniture, paintings, carvings, wainskirting and painted ceilings illustrated the elegance of the Georgian era of social life and entertaining. The guides pointed out many ‘balancing elements’ in the architecture and a unique circular staircase not seen elsewhere.

The Firth of Forth featured again in our ‘3 Bridges Tour’, this time on board a small boat out into the bay. Looking upwards, we were impressed by the sheer size and engineering involved in three iconic bridges, each a groundbreaker in its own time. The cantilevered Forth Rail Bridge, first major steel bridge in the world opened in 1890 which revolutionised the link across the Bay. The Forth Road longs pan suspension bridge of 1964 and the Queensferry Crossing 3xtower cable stayed bridge of 2017. In contrast were the seals basking on a buoy, the concrete ‘decoy ship’ on an island and nature reserves. A fascinating and enjoyable experience.

Some folk took the opportunity for a break in the beautiful town of Peebles or the Rosslyn Chapel of Knights Templar fame. Members, partners and friends, friendship and fellowship and companionship, ensured that the 6 day holiday was enjoyed by all. [AB]

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