ViSIT EDINBURGH
gardens & Parks
Edinburgh has a fair selection of parks. If you are looking to escape the festival to an oasis of calm or just looking for a good walk read on.
Princes Street Gardens (West and East)
The most accessible and obvious park to head for if you are on Princes Street! As well as the place to admire Edinburgh castle perched up on its rock, you can buy tickets to the gardens at Hogmanay and at the end of the Festival in August to watch the fireworks - always massively popular. The Ross Band stand in Princes Street Gardens West frequently has live music, of all types. There is also a childrens' play park in the West End and in the Spring/Summer there are elaborate floral displays.
The Meadows (Melville Drive)
Huge expanse of grass in the heart of studentland. Bordered by a few trees, this relatively featureless setting also makes it a good place to clear the mind. If you are traveling by pedal power make use of its special cycle lanes. Occasionally, mini music fests and fairs take place here in the Summer.
Arthur's Seat, Salisbury Crags, and Holyrood Park
Just keep walking all the way down the High Street and you will end up in this dramatic, hilly park. The park is named after the queen's adjacent Edinburgh residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The ruddy cliff face, Salisbury Crags, and lion-like hill, Arthur's seat, can be seen from all over the city.
Botanic Gardens
A verdant oasis in Edinburgh's New Town area and Scotland's answer to Kew gardens is not only a place to learn about exotic flora, but its lush surroundings make it the perfect place to wile away a sunny afternoon. There is no admission charge and it is cleverly landscaped. Squirrels are common and foxes frequently spotted slinking along its verdant aisles.
Water of Leith
The 12-mile walkway is a hidden-away, green corridor through the city. The walkway (and cycleway) starts at the outlying village of Balerno on the edge of the Pentlands, then moves to Currie, Juniper Green and Colinton and into the heart of Edinburgh. It passes Murrayfield and Roseburn onto Dean Village, Stockbridge and Warriston and on to its mouth with the Firth of Forth in Leith.
Calton Hill
The top of Calton hill is an excellent and usually quiet place to come on any day, with its grassy slopes and panoramic views of the city, including down the length of Princes street (the main shopping thoroughfare) and Edinburgh castle. There is a good view North of the ruddy-coloured cliffs of Salisbury Crags and the undulating slopes of Holyrood Park. It is also littered with historical monuments.

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Edinburgh's Hogmanay
Tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2010/2011; the greatest celebration of New Year in the world, are on-sale later this year!
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