Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, home to the Scottish Parliament, and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Christened 'the Athens of the North', Edinburgh has a rich architectural heritage, from the thousand years of history that is Edinburgh Castle, to the Georgian New Town and the Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood.

History

Edinburgh History and Edinburgh Castle begins on the rock on which Edinburgh Castle stands.The rock was formed 70 million years ago. Recent archaeological excavations in Edinburgh Castle have uncovered evidence that Bronze-Age man was living on the rock as long ago as 850 BC. Two thousand years ago, during the Iron Age, the rock had a hill-fort settlement on its summit.

Edinburgh is first recorded in history in AD 600, as the stronghold of King Mynyddog at Din Eidyn.

In the 11th century King Malcolm III built his castle at Edinburgh, and his wife Queen Margaret (who was made a saint by Pope Innocent IV in 1250) had a chapel on the castle rock summit dedicated to her memory.

Georgian Edinburgh

After the Act of Union (with England) in 1707 Parliament ceased in Edinburgh, but the city prospered anyway. The loch below the North side of the castle was drained and filled, and new streets and thousands of houses were planned and built.

It is this period of energetic building, which lasted into the 1800's, that contributed most to the architectural beauty of the city.

To Present Day

During the Victorian era the city continued to grow, but the Old Town tenements around the Royal Mile (the high street leading from the Castle at the top to the royal palace of Holyrood House at the bottom) declined into slums.

After a period of tearing down and rebuilding in the 1960's, conservation bodies formed in the 70's channelled development into more sympathetic renovation and refurbishment of old buildings, as well as forcing new buildings to match the existing ones in style and materials.

Many Attractions

Edinburgh has many attractions, from the historical interest of the Castle and Palace, to the entertainment of theatres and concert halls, and the education of the many museums and galleries. The Edinburgh International Festival attracts visitors from all over the world, and the Festival Fringe performances enhance the richness of the atmosphere - and the crowds.

There is much to see, and many people wanting to see it all, resulting in a shortage of quality accomodation. So why not make the most of a stay in Pinewood House, where you can relax in the country and make the short trip to the capital to see as many of the attractions as you like? The best of both worlds - how can you lose?