The Royal Mile of Edinburgh

2 days ago
2 min read

Edinburgh. It is known as the capital of Scotland and home to one of the most iconic castles in the world. Yet, what lies beyond the castle's ancient walls is just as equal in capacity, if not moreso, in its world history and renowned fame. One of our employees was lucky enough to make the trip to Edinburgh, and along with plenty of photos (a few of which are shown in this blog), they have brought back some fun knowledge and tidbits about this place of Scottish heritage!

A bustling, vibrant, and lively marketplace, filled with whisky experiences, pubs, tartan shoppes, and busking pipers and entertainers, makes up Edinburgh's Old Town, a jumble of criss-crossing cobble streets and alleyways (called closes or wynds) built around a single stretch of road known as the Royal Mile. Starting at the gates to the Castle and heading ever downward to the new Scottish Parliament Building to the east, the Royal Mile boasts history as far back as the Middle Ages, mixed with today's modern indulgences and conveniences. One recommends you make sure your cardio is kept up to par, as the stairs are not forgiving (dust off that Stairmaster), and you quickly realize there is no shortcut anywhere without encountering a steep climb!

Some other fun facts about the Royal Mile:

1) The name "Royal Mile" hasn't always been so; it actually originated as recently as the 20th century! It is suspected the name came about due to it running between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, two significant locations in the royal history of Scotland, and is almost exactly one mile long.

2) Edinburgh Castle sits atop the remnants of a volcano, which is simply named "Castle Rock", or Creag a' Chaisteil in Scottish Gaelic. Estimated to have formed some 350 million years ago, Castle Rock serves as a fantastic defensive position for Edinburgh due to its sheer, drop-off cliffs and high elevation compared to its surroundings.

3) Many pubs along the Royal Mile date back to the existence of the Flodden Wall, the original border to the city of Edinburgh, which was built back in the 1500s. One such pub, "The World's End" (not to be confused with "At World's End" Pirates of the Caribbean Movie), earned its name due to its location at the old city gates, sharing one of its walls with Flodden Wall itself. Residents of Edinburgh considered anything that existed or occurred outside of the wall was not their business or concern, hence the name "World's End" came about. If you go to this pub, I highly recommend their East Coast IPA BBQ sauce for their wings! It was a struggle to not order more than 2 baskets worth!

And most of all, if you find yourself unsure of where to start shopping or sight-seeing on the Royal Mile, I suggest wandering to your nearest bagpiper and listen to the sounds of the Highlands for a good while, letting honor, tradition, and heritage seep into your very soul. Alba gu bràth!