Heather on her travels

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT

In today’s guest post, Ryan Morrison of Scotland Here and Now, gives you an alternative view of Edinburgh, with recommendations for a few things that may not be on the tourist’s radar.

The beautiful city of Edinburgh is a delightful place for a trip at any time of year, with such a diverse range of things to see and do you’ll be spoilt for choice. I’m guessing a visitor’s itinerary would include a visit to Edinburgh Castle for the world famous Military Tattoo, attend a performance at the Fringe Festival, a gentle hike up Arthurs Seat and maybe some shopping on Princes Street. Don’t get me wrong, these main attractions are fantastic and are the lifeblood of Edinburgh’s tourist trade, however if you look hard enough you will discover that there is so much more to this magnificent city.

So for the more inquisitive visitor I’ve put together a wee list of Edinburgh’s hidden gems;

Edinburgh Farmers Market

The market is held every Saturday throughout the year in the stunning location of Castle Terrace, in the shadow of the castle. The majority of stallholders are local primary producers, guarenteeing that the produce sold here is as fresh as it gets. So what is on offer here? Well just about everything really; meat, fish, free range eggs, dairy products, seasonal fruit and veg, fresh bread and you can even purchase organic beer and liquors from the speciality producers. The guy and gals that work the stalls are really friendly and always willing to talk about the products they are selling and in most cases will offer you a free sample before you buy. All in all, Edinburgh Farmers Market is a welcome assault on the senses.

Edinburgh Farmer's Market

Water of Leith

Not many people realise that Edinburgh has a river. The water of Leith flows down from the imposing Pentland Hills on the south side of the city to the sea at the port of Leith. It provides a surprisingly beautiful little getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, in fact I often spend my lunch breaks here. Not only is it a great escape from uptight bosses, but it’s also an ideal place for family walks, picnics and cycle rides. And such is the nature of the walkway winding through the heart of the city, there are many places of interest that you can visit during your stroll such as Colinton Village, Saughton Winter Gardens, Gallery of Modern Art and Murrayfield Stadium the home of Scottish rugby to name but a few.

Water of Leith in Edinburgh

The Real Mary King’s Close

Edinburgh is considered one of the most haunted cities in Europe and if you delve into the history of the place, it soon becomes apparent as to the reasons why. There are dozens of ghost tours in the city but the one that I find the most enthralling lies deep underground beneath the cobbled old roads of the Royal Mile. For hundreds of years the true story of Mary King’s Close went undiscovered in a secret warren of hidden streets that had remained frozen in time since the 17th century. Stories of sightings, blood curdling screams and even the cries of a little girl are all common occurrences in this place so if you are a fan of the paranormal then I highly recommend you take the tour of the close, just be careful…please be careful.