Most Popular Attractions in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle
Museum of Scotland
Mary King’s Close
Royal Yacht Brittania
National Gallery of Scotland
Palace of Holyrood
Arthurs Seat
Calton Hill
St Giles Cathedral
Royal Mile
Edinburgh Zoo
Writers’Museum
Camera Obscura
Georgian House
John Knox House Museum
Edinburgh Dungeon
Our Dynamic Earth
Royal Botanic Garden
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Scottish Parliament
Craigmillar Castle
Scott Monument
And much, much more ……..

Festivals & Events in Edinburgh 2009

Hogmany Party
http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/

Edinburgh International Science Festival (6– 18 April 2009)
http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/

The Royal Highland Show (25 – 28 June 2009)
http://www.royalhighlandshow.org/

The Edinburgh Int. Jazz & Blues Festival
http://www.jazzmusic.co.uk/

Edinburgh Military Tatoo (7– 29 August 2009)
http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

Edinburgh Fringe Festival (7– 31 August 2009)
http://www.edfringe.com/

Edinburgh International Festival (14 August – 6 September 2009)
http://www.eif.co.uk/

The Edinburgh International Book Festival (15 - 31 August 2009)
http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

Edinburgh International Film Festival (17– 28 June 2009)
http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/

Edinburgh Mela
http://www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk/

Midlothian

The historic county of Midlothian lies to the south of Edinburgh and Orchard House is in the heart of Midlothian some 8 miles from the city centre.

The scenery of Midlothian varies from the rolling Pentland Hills to the wooded Esk Valleys. It has a rich agricultural and industrial heritage. The paper mills and coal mines are long since gone but you can explore the history of these and other industries at museums and industrial heritage sites.

We have a diverse range of restaurants, pubs and hotels near us but if you want more exotic menus or night life then Edinburgh is only a short distance away.

The major visitor attraction in Midlothian is, of course, Rosslyn Chapel of Da Vinci Code fame which is only 2 miles from Orchard House. This is adjacent to Roslin Castle and the River Esk which runs through Roslin Glen Park. Here you can see the remains of the old Napoleonic era gunpowder factory, Wallaces Cave, Neolithic rock carvings and much more.

Midlothian also boasts the award winning Scottish Mining Museum and the internationally renowned Butterfly and Insect World. There are castles galore, forts, chapels, abbeys, country parks, walks, nature trails, riding establishments, shops, pubs and restaurants and so much more – all within minutes of Orchard House.

http://www.midlothian.gov.uk//Topic.aspx?TopicId=84

East Lothian

East Lothian, sometimes known as the breadbasket of the Lothians because of its rich farmland has a lot to offer the visitor apart from beautiful scenery. It is a bird watchers’, paradise with the famous Aberlady Bay Bird Sanctuary and the Scottish Sea Bird Centre 40 minutes drive from Orchard House.

Castles, historic country towns, fishing ports, John Muir birthplace, Concorde, whisky distillery, 19 golf courses (including Muirfield) and great scenery make East Lothian an attractive destination during your stay at Orchard House. Check out our own suggested Day Trips from Orchard House.

http://www.visiteastlothian.org/home.asp

West Lothian

West Lothian, half an hour from Orchard House, has had a long and proud industrial heritage. The heavy industries are now gone and the largest town, Livinston, is the home of Silicon Glen. One of the most dramatic attractions must be Linlithgow Palace (below) in the town of Linlithgow just over 30 minutes drive from Orchard House.

Hopetoun House, near South Queensferry (30 minutes by car from Orchard House) is regarded as one of the most splendid examples of Georgian architecture in Britain and is also well worth a visit.

http://www.visitwestlothian.co.uk/attractions.htm

These Lothian counties surrounding Edinburgh have an ancient lineage and were previously known as Edinburghshire (Midlothian), Haddingtonshire (East Lothian) and Linlithgowshire (West lothian). The name Lothian is derived from a Pictish King called Loth who ruled over this area during the 6^th Century.

The Scottish Borders

This quiet south eastern corner of Scotland is dotted with a variety of bustling towns and picturesque hamlets and fishing villages. From Orchard House you can be in the heart of the Borders in less than an hour.

All towns are within easy driving distance of one another and once you're here, you'll quickly find that driving along the maze of quiet country lanes and roads that criss-cross the region brings the added bonus of discovering a changing landscape peppered with spectacular views and fascinating out-of-the-way places.

No trip to the Borders would be complete without visiting some or all of the four great Abbeys that were built during the twelfth and thirteenth Centuries and which can give the visitor a glimpse into the extraordinary achievements of that period. They are all within an hour’s drive of Orchard House.

The Scottish Borders is also rich with scores of castles and stately homes, most of which are accessible and can be explored. One of the most amazing is Abbotsford House near Galashiels (less than an hour away) which was the home of Sir Walter Scott.

http://www.scot-borders.co.uk/