From Friday, September 20th to Saturday, September 28th, I journeyed across the UK by train, stopping in London, Windermere, and Edinburgh. In this introduction, I will focus on Edinburgh, the final city on my trip.

September 25th (Wed)
Today, I traveled by train to Oxenholme Lake District station from Windermere, departing at 10:57, and then transferred to a train bound for Edinburgh (Waverley). My concern about potential cancellations, due to a previous experience when arriving at Windermere, was alleviated as the service operated normally. The Windermere station building was rather unassuming. Conveniently, there was a large supermarket named Booths behind the station, where I managed to purchase a sandwich for lunch during my wait.

Just like when I arrived, I had a sandwich and a local beer.

The train reached Edinburgh (Waverley) station at 13:32, right on time. My accommodation for the night, the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, appeared close to the station on the map, leading me to believe I’d arrive swiftly. However, I found myself hauling my heavy suitcase up a flight of stairs to reach it. Upon seeking advice from a local passerby,I was instructed to use the elevator at the Scotsman Hotel, which would lead me directly to the street where the Hilton is located. On that day, the hotel was encased in scaffolding due to exterior renovations, so the image below is a screenshot from their official website.

Upon checking into the hotel, I immediately made my way to the day’s first destination, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Conveniently situated near the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the old town linking Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the hotel offers easy access to both landmarks. The historic cityscape stretches along the Royal Mile, presenting a picturesque view at every turn.

As you can see from the clothes of the people on the street, the temperature is like early winter in Japan.

The photograph depicts the front view of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which has served as the residence of Scottish monarchs since the late 15th century. James II, born here in 1430, was both crowned and married at this palace. Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in 2022, also favored it as her summer residence. I managed to purchase tickets directly, avoiding any queue at the ticket counter, likely due to the late afternoon timing.

The palace’s predecessor was a church built by David I in 1128, the ruins of which still remain on the site today.

Palace courtyard

Photography inside is prohibited, so here are screenshots from a website showing the King’s bedroom and reception room.

After spending over an hour exploring the interior with an audio guide, I took a different back road towards the station. To the right, atop a hill, stood a structure resembling a castle tower.

Upon ascending the slope, you are greeted by a stone bridge. Edinburgh is known for its numerous slopes, which can make walking somewhat exhausting.

The structure facing us is the Edinburgh Waverley station building, and situated across from the station lies the New Town.

This evening, I dined at a pub named Abbotsford, enjoying traditional Scottish fare such as haggis and fish and chips, complemented by some local ale.

Two elderly gentlemen were seated at the counter across from me, conversing amongst themselves while observing me drizzle whisky sauce over the haggis. They inquired about the taste of the haggis, and upon my affirmative response, they returned the smile.

On the return journey, the Scott Monument stood in the park, illuminated against the night sky.

September 26th (Thr)
I was surprised to see haggis on the hotel breakfast buffet, but today I’m going to explore the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. The first place I visited was St. Giles’ Cathedral. This cathedral has been the religious center of Edinburgh for 900 years and the mother church of Presbyterianism.

A short walk from the Royal Mile brought me to Greyfriars Church, where a small bronze statue of a dog sits in the lower right corner. Legend has it that this loyal dog remained by the grave of its owner, John Gray of the Edinburgh Police, for 14 years following his death in 1858, reminiscent of Japan’s Hachiko.

En route back to the Royal Mile, one can find The Elephant House cafe, renowned for being the place where author J.K. Rowling penned the Harry Potter series. This cafe has recently undergone repairs due to a fire incident. Meanwhile, Chinese tourists have been spotted taking photographs at a newly opened store in the vicinity.

Edinburgh is a city with lots of picturesque sights wherever you look.

I enjoyed an early lunch en route and subsequently arrived at Edinburgh Castle. Having purchased our tickets beforehand, entry was seamless.

Inside St. Margaret’s Chapel, there is a seating area at the top where I took a brief respite due to the windy and cold conditions that day, before observing The One O’clock Gun fire a blank round precisely at 1:00 p.m.

Following that, I explored the castle’s facilities. There was a line at the entrance to the building housing the Crown Jewels.

Prisons are facilities designed to house prisoners.

Next, I visited The Scotch Whisky Experience. Scotland is renowned for its whisky, and this tour offers insights into the whisky-making process, complete with tastings. It’s the brown building on the right side of the photo.

There were lots of whiskey bottles displayed around the tasting room.

Returning to my hotel, I dined at an Italian restaurant where the credit card machine was out of order, necessitating cash payment. Fortunately, a waiter assisted me in locating an ATM, enabling me to withdraw the needed cash and proceed with my day’s agenda without further delay.

September 27th (Fri) and September 28th (Sat)

Today’s flight departs from Edinburgh Airport at 3:30 pm, giving me the morning for sightseeing. The photo below shows Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile, close to the hotel. Once the principal parish church, it stands as a notable landmark on the Royal Mile and currently appears to accommodate a tourist information center and gift shops.

This morning, I chose to visit the National Museums Scotland, conveniently located near the hotel. Similar to the British Museum, it offers free admission.

The exhibits are divided into regions, cultures and themes.

The exhibition also featured Buddhist statues from a Japanese temple and ukiyo-e prints.

A stuffed specimen of Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, is also on display. She originated from a laboratory in Scotland.

The rooftop terrace offers views over the old town.

Following the tour, I headed back to the hotel and then caught a taxi to Edinburgh Airport, a journey that lasted approximately 30 minutes. Post-lunch at the airport, I boarded flight JL7134 (a BA codeshare flight) scheduled for 15:30 to Heathrow Airport. Despite a near one-hour delay, I successfully made it onto flight JL044, which was set to depart at 19:20 for Haneda Airport.

Despite facing several issues, including a cancelled train, a store’s credit card machine breakdown, and a postponed return flight, my trip to London, the Lake District, and Edinburgh was nearly as I had scheduled. I often visit World Heritage sites during my travels, and on this occasion, I managed to visit four: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, and the Lake District in England.