The castle complex consists of a group of objects originating from the 12th to 20th century, thanks to which a visitor can see how the castle changed over the centuries from the fortress through a royal palace, garrison and finally into a state prison. At a place, where the castle stands now, was a fortress already in the 6th century, built by King Edwin of Northumbria – after whom the city is named.

Edinburgh Castle can be visited either by yourself or you can use the services of local guides, who tell you about the history of the castle, about the battles that took place here and other interesting legends. Another option is to rent an audio guide, which costs about £3.

Visitors should not miss a tour to the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are located about 3.2 km from the castle. Do not be surprised if among the plants you find a cannon ball – during the wedding celebration of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, a cannonball was fired in her honour from the castle and fell to the gardens.

The castle is open daily from 9:30 to 17:00 (during the summer to 18:00) and a basic admission is £15. For further information visit official website of Edinburgh Castle.

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More than four hundred twenty years ago, there was an active super volcano that existed in the area. A fierce eruption occurred back in the Silurian period which created most of the cauldron-like formation. After the end of the last ice age, a giant glacier had formed in the region and as it receded, it carved out the coe.

Glen Coe, Scotland, UK by Christian Kadluba

The area is less than seven hundred meters wide in many spots and more than sixteen kilometers long. The narrowest point of the coe is known as the Pass of Glen Coe and can be found roughly in the center.

In order to get top Glen Coe, you will need to enter the area at the base of the Meall a’ Bhuiridh mountain, not too far from Rannoch Moor. For nearly 12 kilometers the coe runs almost due west from the moor before making a turn to the northwesterly direction. At the other end of Glen Coe is where you will find Loch Leven and the famous village of Glencoe.

Throughout the length of Glen Coe, you will see the ancient River Coe which was formed as the glacier melted away. At the Pass of Glen Coe, one can see waterfalls as the water makes its way out to the sea.

The resulting properties of Glen Coe are simply amazing. Each year, countless visitors make their way to the area to see the many attractions that the coe has to offer. The site is very popular for those who just like to walk in beautiful surroundings and is known as an adventure for those who love the idea of climbing a rock face.

For those who come to Glen Coe for walking, the best place to start is at the Devil’s Staircase which was cut into the boulders. The staircase is more than 352 meter high and can be a challenge for most people.

Rock climbers who make their way to the area tend to go straight for the 1,018 meter tall Buachaille Etive Mòr. Over the years, climbing the face of the mountain has grown in popularity as a result of countless races and scrambles that have been held in the area over the years.

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