Exploring Edinburgh

We decided to add a day before our tour began to explore Edinburgh. We had already seen Princes Street yesterday so we decided to climb the steep steps up to Calton Hill

Here we got great views over the city and surrounding area

Glimpses of Forth Railway Bridge

Meadowbank Stadium

Castle

Great View down Princes Street

Government building

They started but did not finish!

Observatory

We then went off to the Mecure Hotel in Princes Street where we dropped our bags before heading off by bus to Leigh. Luckily our room is on the back. Much more expensive than the Premier Inn but apart from mega fast internet not as good!

A major road is closed because of building works so we stood at the right bus stop unaware of the fact buses were on diversion. Was there a sign saying buses were diverted and a map showing where to go: answer no. There was a note on the electronic real time indicator saying our route was on diversion and full details on the web but no use to us non smart 'phone users. I had been on the net to check the route but nothing alerted us - you had to check the diversions section!

Eventually we made it to Leith to see The Royal Yacht Britannia and it was very impressive!

Queen's bedroom

Phil's bedroom

Charkes and Diana's bedroom 

Officer's dinning room!

Formal dinning room

Royal Drawing room 

Even an operating theartre

and mini hospital

Crew bunks

Rolls normally lived here!

Back to the City centre and a well deserved rest in the hotel! After a recharge of batteries a stroll along Princes Street and return through Princes Street Gardens

First meeting of our group at dinner tonight in our hotel and then off tomorrow by train to Fort William