Scotland Things to see and do Articles

An Insider’s Guide to Festive Edinburgh (1 Aug 2001)

1 August 2001
Imagine yourself slightly overwhelmed: surrounded by people you don’t know, events you can’t control, and weather that constantly seems to work against you. Now, that’s just me on a good day.
Add a few thousand tourists and the excitement of eight simultaneous festivals – and you’re right where I want you.

My name is [...]

On the Streets

Where else in the world can you legally be this weird?

Three girls – wearing fishnet stockings, swimming caps and some sort of bathing-suit-turned-lingerie thing – look like they could be the only naughty synchronized swim team this side of Amsterdam. Of course, I should hope that a swim team doesn’t need to wear inflatable swimmie [...]

Fringe No Longer Alone

As of this past weekend, the beginning of the International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), means that the Fringe is no longer going it alone.

The Book Festival brings in world-renowned authors such as feminist Andrea Dworkin, Norman Mailer and J.K. Rowling, of Harry Potter fame.

With the International [...]

Fireworks End Festive August

Festive August is over. With the beginning of September, summer winds down. Where recently the sun wasn’t truly set until 10:30pm, already Edinburgh is dark by nine, and the growing shortness of the days brings winter ever closer to the city. The Fringe, Film and Book festivals all finished this past Monday, leaving the International [...]

Festivals Bring Edinburgh Alive

From Rose Street to the Royal Mile, roaming crowds of tourists and flier-hawkers clog the veins of Edinburgh. Yet despite needing 20 minutes to walk the same distance as 10 used to suffice, the city thrives, pulses with a vibrancy that is understated or in hibernation much of the year.

Even at 11 on a [...]

A Golden Night

“How in the world can all these people possibly fit in there?” a woman next to me asked her companion. A hundred meters and a thousand Military Tattoo attendees in front of us, the stadium seating in the esplanade – on three sides, with Edinburgh Castle on the west – did not look as if [...]

Breakdown of Edinburgh’s Festivals

Edinburgh Military Tattoo
August 4-26.
Office: 32 Market Street. Box office: 0131 225 1188.
Military performances from Scottish and worldwide forces, including the Massed Pipes and Drums, and the Canadian Mounted Police.

Festival Fringe
August 6-28.
Office: 180 High Street (Royal Mile). Box office: 0131 226 5138.
Dance, drama, comedy and music, from the zany and avant-garde [...]

A Guide to Surviving Edinburgh’s Festival Season

Edinburgh calls itself the festival city and it’s no idle boast. In August of each year there are five of them I’m aware of, and there could be more. First it’s jazz, then four more that run concurrently for three weeks: The Books Festival, a Film Festival, the International Festival, and the [...]

Scotland, UK – July 1999

This summer is going to be a wonderful time for visiting Scotland, with numerous festivals throughout the season.

June 12-27th
West End Film Festival, Glasgow – Kitch old films for all the family. Phone 0141 339 4298 for details.

July 10th and 11th
T in the Park – All the big name bands you could possibly [...]

West Lothian, Scotland – May 1999

Historic Sites
I love really ancient places so don’t be surprised if I enthuse more about these than other things.

Linlithgow Palace – This is everything a castle should be. It’s in pretty good repair and none of it is closed to the public (except those bits that could fall on you at any moment). It’s a [...]