The Grass is Always Greener in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the quintessential Scottish city; adorned in tartan shops and streets filled with the sounds of bagpipes and that great Scottish accent. Every year, visitors flock to Scotland's capital city, seeking out the world-famous Edinburgh Castle and taking a stroll down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. However, some of the best sights in Edinburgh are actually those away from the main tourist draws and instead lie in the green spaces that are situated across the city.

Edinburgh Castle sits atop an extinct volcano and can be seen from numerous vantage points across the city. Below the imposing fortress lies the Princes Street Gardens, which are a beautiful stretch of manicured lawns and trees which line the valley that was once a marshy body of water. Walking through the gardens on a crisp Edinburgh morning is a glorious feeling, where depending on your location within the gardens' expanse, you are able to watch the sun rise on the Castle.

A little further afield lays Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags, both of which belong to Holyrood Park, which is located at the foot of the Royal Mile. Arthur's Seat is another extinct volcano, and was formed from glacial erosionin centuries past, fashioning the shape seen by tourists and locals today. The climb up to the top can be arduous and windy, but the views afforded of Edinburgh from the summit are superb and not to be missed.

Salisbury Crags are a series of cliffs while sit at the top of a spur of Arthur's Seat and rise up from the middle of the park. Rising around 150 feet high, they make an ideal spot for rock-climbing, but those wishing to indulge need to apply for a permit first which can be had free of charge from the park's education centre. Other landmarks to be found in Holyrood Park include Samson's Ribs, St. Margaret's Loch and St. Anthony's Chapel.

From Arthur's Seat you can see the Meadows, which is a glorious semi-circle of grass, trees and paths at the base of the Old Town. The Meadows comes alive in summer with hundreds of people flocking to enjoy the sunshine and the Edinburgh Festival. It's also a great place to get the heart pumping on your city break, with a track running the circumference of The Meadows, measuring just over one mile.

Another natural part of Edinburgh to discover is the Botanic Gardens. You can meander along the paths to see beautiful examples of native Scottish flowers and plants, as well as a collection of fauna from around the world.

With so much to see and do away from the bustle of the main tourist areas, a city break in Edinburgh affords the chance to enjoy some of the best parts of the city in a more natural setting.

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