This route lets you explore the best that central Scotland has to offer. You have a chance to discover the secrets of the two largest cities in Scotland as well as visiting quaint towns and seeing the best in Scotland’s most recent mechanical and architectural achievements.
In 1999 Glasgow won an award for the best architectural city in Britain. This award proved that Glasgow has successfully broken off the industrial shackles of the past and evolved as a city of stature and sophistication. As you walk around the city you can discover the renowned historical buildings such as the City Chambers, Glasgow University and Kelvingrove Art Gallery. More recently architectural innovations include The Lighthouse - a gallery space for young designers built tightly among 19th century brick structures and Glasgow Science Centre. Glasgow Science Centre - which hosts an Imax Theatre, Glasgow Tower that stands over 100m tall and a visitor centre that brings science and technology to life through a series of interactive exhibits – excellent for all ages.
Glasgow is a very friendly city and with many bars, gigs, excellent shopping and a lively arts scene you are assured you will never get bored. In the Merchant City you can shop at Ralph Lauren, Cruise, Armani, Versace and soon to be opening Gaunt. In the West End of Glasgow you can visit the trendy, cobbled street - Ashton Lane. This small street is lined with sophisticated bars and restaurants and it is an excellent place to enjoy a summer afternoon relaxing in one of the many beer gardens.
Half an hour north of Glasgow you reach Falkirk, where you will discover the world’s first and only rotating boatlift. This wheel is simply unique and it links two canals with water levels that are 115ft apart. It’s unusual shape was inspired by various sources including the double-headed spear, a vast turning propeller of a Clydebank built ship, the ribcage of a whale and the spine of a fish. The Falkirk Wheel is the innovative and dynamic solution to the age-old problem of transferring boats between levels that traditionally required a flight of 11 locks. The canal is now the backbone that connects the east and west of Scotland.
A 15 min drive east will take you to the Kincardine Bridge, built between 1932 and 1936 this was the largest swing bridge in Europe when it was built. It used to allow large ships to pass upstream to Alloa, however it has not been used since the 1980’s following the closure of Alloa’s port.
Perhaps though, the most famous bridge in Scotland is the Forth Road Bridge that connects Fife and the north, with Edinburgh and the central belt of Scotland. When construction started in 1958 it was the fourth longest suspension bridge in the world and the longest suspension bridge that was built outside the United States. The bridge is, even today, regarded as an engineering masterpiece standing at 46m above high tide and 1.5 miles long.
Edinburgh, the destination of your route manages to blend old town charms such as Edinburgh Castle with the modern architecture like The Parliament Building. Edinburgh is busy all year round, and there are numerous festivals to ensure that you are entertained. To bring in the New Year, there is a Street Party in the city centre that attracts over 100,000 revellers to watch the fireworks over Edinburgh Castle. Other famous events are the Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe Festival.
The most popular area to visit in Edinburgh is The Old Town, or more commonly known as The Royal Mile. The Royal Mile was given its name, as it is the ridge linking Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace. The Royal Mile is divided into four separate streets - Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Cannongate.
Castlehill is situated at the uppermost stretch of the Royal Mile and is home to Edinburgh Castle situated on top of a dormant volcano. It is the best-known and most visited Historical Building in Scotland and instantly recognisable as a powerful national symbol. Edinburgh Castle houses many attractions including St Margarets Chapel - Edinburgh's oldest building, exhibitions on the history of the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and The Prisoners of War and finally the traditional One o'clock Gun.
As you leave the castle you can visit the former reservoir of the Old Town. It has since been converted into The Edinburgh Old Town Weaving Centre, and visitors can observe the whole process of weaving before selecting their own tartan. A few doors down you will come across the Outlook Tower which has been a top visitor attraction since 1853. Its viewing balcony is one of Edinburgh's best vantage points and it is recommended to visit at midday when there are fewer shadows.
The Lawnmarket, which as its name suggests, was once a marketplace. It is here that you will find Lady Stair's House situated in Lady Stair's Close. This now serves as Edinburgh's literary museum that features a collection of personal mementoes including items that belonged to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Walking further down you will enter the High Street area - the longest section of the Royal mile. Here you will discover sites such as Parliament Square, where you can admire the monument of King Charles II and you will also have the chance to visit John Knox's House - the gentleman who was responsible for the Scottish Reformation during the 15th century.
The final section, Cannongate, has been subject to some of the most ambitious restoration programmes in the Old Town. Examples of this include Chessel's court, a mid-eighteenth-century development and most recently The Scottish Parliament that opened its doors to the public in November 2004.
At the foot of Cannongate you will find a host of other attractions. You can visit Holyrood Palace, however as it is a working Palace you must bear in mind that it can be closed to the public for certain periods, this includes the last two weeks in June and the first week in July when the Queen takes up residency for her annual visit. In the grounds of Holyrood Palace you can visit the evocative ruins of Holyrood Abbey, and then you can also visit Holyrood Park - a natural wilderness that includes a variety of landscapes such as mountains, glens, moorlands, crags and lochs. At the end of it all why not relax and enjoy something to eat in Dynamic Earth - a visitor attraction that will take you on an exciting journey back in time to learn about our planet.
