The New Town Trail

Edinburgh's New Town was designed and developed in the second half of the 18th century. Its creation was necessitated by severe overcrowding in the Old Town which stretched downhill from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, bounded to the north by a deep loch (now Princes Street Gardens). By strolling along this trail, the visitor can track the development of the New Town from the original grid design centred around George Street out to the graceful Georgian and Victorian Terraces which extended the development. Beyond the commercial facades of busy Princes Street and George Street, you find yourself in the tranquil environment of elegant offices and residences.

1. The North Bridge from outside the Tourist Information Office

The essential starting point for this trail is the Tourist Information Office above Princes Mall. Inside the information centre there are many services on offer: information, accommodation bookings, exclusive souvenir shopping, bureau de change, theatre tickets and you will have the chance to stock up on film for your camera. The view beyond the brightly decorated bridge which links the Old and New Towns extends to the spectacular Salisbury Crags.

2. The View from Calton Hill

Continue along Waterloo Place at the eastern extremity of Princes Street and you will come to a set of steps on your left which lead to the summit of historic Calton Hill. From 328ft you can see right out to the Pentland Hills which skirt the south of the city as well as having the best view of one of the most famous shopping thoroughfares in Europe - Princes Street. Turn about completely and you can see out as far as the East Lothian coastline with the Bass Rock and out in the Firth of Forth. Amongst the buildings you will encounter on the hill are the City Observatory, a Grecian-style monument to philosopher Dugald Stewart (right) and the Nelson Monument. The latter is in the shape of an upturned telescope and has a time ball on top which drops at one o'clock each day in unison with the cannon fire from the castle battlements.

The most curious construction however is the incomplete National Monument, copied from the Parthenon: it was to have been a memorial to Scottish soldiers killed in the Napoleonic Wars. Funds for its completion were unfortunately not secured and the monument has therefore acquired the tag of "Edinburgh's Disgrace"!

3. George Street, Frederick Street Intersection looking north

From St Andrew Square, walk along George Street with its exclusive shops and offices, you will not fail to be impressed by the northerly vistas at each street junction. Look down the sloping cobbled street out to the Firth of Forth and beyond to the Kingdom of Fife and the Lomond Hills. From this particular stance you will see William Playfair's St Stephen's Church built in 1827.

4. The East End of Princes Street and the New Town from the Mound Steps

Cut down to Princes Street and the pedestrian area at the east side of the Royal Scottish Academy and National Gallery, straight ahead you will come to a set of steps leading up to the top of the Mound. At the top of the steps you will have a fine view across the railway station and Princes Street Gardens to North Bridge. The Scott Monument and the Victorian railway-built Balmoral Hotel are also visible.

Back to top  

5. Edinburgh Castle from St Cuthbert's Churchyard

This is said to be the oldest church site in Edinburgh dating back to the 8th century. A number of different edifices have occupied the site, with the building of 1689 being badly damaged during a siege of Edinburgh Castle. The present church (www), built in Renaissance style with an 18th century steeple was erected in the 1890's. The view through the pleasant leafy churchyard up to the western end of the Castle is at its most impressive in afternoon sunlight. From the churchyard you can step into the adjoining Princes Street Gardens West, where similarly impressive view of the Castle can be gained from the gilded Ross Fountain.

6. Charlotte Square

The internationally famous architect Robert Adam was commissioned to design elevations for the four sides of Charlotte Square in 1791. It had been observed by the city planners that up until that point little of the building construction in the New Town had shown any uniformity of design. Today the National Trust for Scotland own the property at No. 7 Charlotte Square - The Georgian House. Here the visitor can gain an insight into life in the 1790's by visiting three floors furnished with a fascinating array of china and silver, pictures and furniture.

7. Moray Place

One of the last major developments of the New Town, the Moray Estate was developed in strict accordance with designs drawn up for the Earl of Moray in 1822, which even included specifications for the design of the railings! The 12 sided Moray Place is the showpiece of this vicinity with its majestic Tuscan porticos and wooded central garden.

8. The Dean Village and the Water of Leith

Dean Village, 'dean', or 'dene' meaning deep valley, was a prosperous milling community as long ago as the 12th century. At one time there were 11 mills and granaries in operation, deriving their power from the Water of Leith. Although none of the mills are in operation today, most of the old buildings and houses of the times are still standing. Recent modern housing developments built in harmony with the styles in the old village have made the Dean Village a fashionable and desirable residential area. From Telford's Dean Bridge (1832), one can enjoy a splendid view over the red roof tiles of this unspoilt, peaceful haven, just a stone's throw from the bustling city centre.

9. Dean Village from the Waterside

Walking back off the Dean Bridge towards town, turn sharp right after the Antique Shop to head down steep Bell's Brae into the heart of the village. If you head left along the waterside you will discover some of the best photographic opportunities. [Turn left along Hawthornbank Lane to find the plaque and the best views]. On turning right you can join the leafy Water of Leith Trail which leads initially to Stockbridge; a historic community where shoppers and browsers will find a fascinating collection of shops selling gifts, jewellery, crafts, books and second-hand clothes.

10. St Mary's Cathedral from Grosvenor Crescent

This Neo-Gothic cathedral was designed in 1879 by Sir George Gilbert Scott and completed in 1917. It is the largest ecclesiastical building constructed in Scotland since the Reformation. The front of the cathedral with its two massive towers, named Barbara and Mary after the Misses Walker of Easter Coates who bequeathed the money for its construction, can be viewed best from Lansdowne and Grosvenor Crescents.

Back to top