The beautiful Cramond Island

Almost cut off from the western edge of Edinburgh by a line of golf courses, Cramond is not an island in the strict sense of the word. It’s actually a tidal island connected to the mainland at low tide across the Drum Sands, with a paved path that gives easy access to visitors desiring to cross over.

The path to Cramond Island

On Cramond Island

However, at high tide Cramond Island is completely cut off from the mainland, with the path getting submerged several feet below sea level. So better take that into account when you “get on the other side”, otherwise you could be left stranded, as tides change quickly. Miss the two hour window that allows exploration and you’ll probably spend your night over there. Makes you feel like it’s your very own private island, unless you’re afraid of being all alone with no access to mainland.

Like many of the other islands in the Firth, Cramond Island was meant as a fortification to protect the coasts if enemy warships were to enter the channel. And evidence exists even today.There’s a narrow pier, topped by a line of concrete pyramids (which also connects the island to the shore), built during the Second World War as an anti-submarine defense.

Military buildings on Cramond Island

Beach on Cramond Island

But there’s more to the whole history stuff. With evidence of habitation dating to around 8500 BC (which makes it the earliest known site of human settlement in Scotland), throughout most of its history Cramond Island has been used for farming and fishing purposes. And the stone-built farmhouse that you can find half hidden in a tree, is living evidence that people used to inhabit the whole area. Apparently at the 1901 census, there were three people living on Cramond Island: James Hogg (59), the head farmer, his nephew Peter Hogg (29) as assistant farmer and a Margaret A Gibb (21), the housekeeper.

Enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike, nowadays Cramond Island is a popular area of recreation during the day, and the perfect place for any “party animals” when the sun sets off. But there’s also a controversial side to the whole story. Cramond Island have also been host for unofficial punk rock festivals where local Gaelic punks Oi Polloi performed in front of more than 300 people.

Path to Cramond Island

Tide on Cramond Island

Cramond Island and beautiful skies

And now that the journey is over and you’re heading back to Edinburgh, how about a piece of advice. Make sure you pay Cramond Inn a visit. It’s a cozy little pub that has some of the cheapest beer in Edinburgh and a village atmosphere that will definitely charm you.

Images courtesy of riggott, blyth, kyz, maniacyak (1+2), pinkyogamuffin, gazh, patrickdown

Scotland has given rise to many famous people that have become notable in arts, literature, sciences or architecture, but little know that such a small country is home to a bunch of great actors known for their notoriety. And just to narrow things down, how about knowing which famous actors have something to do with Edinburgh.

Sir Thomas Sean Connery

Sean Connery

Considered by many to be the “greatest living Scot”, Sir Sean Connery (knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July 2000) is probably the most famous actor Scotland ever got. Born in 1930 in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Connery’s first job was as a milkman in the city. He also served in the Royal Navy (but got discharged for medical issues), and was a lorry driver, a labourer, a coffin polisher and a bodybuilder.

But the real call was as an actor. Connery found fame and fortune as the suave, sophisticated British secret agent, James Bond, where he starred in nothing less than seven Bond movies. But other than the Bond image, Connery also starred in many more other films that brought him lots of Oscars, Golden Globes or BAFTA Awards. Some of these are Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Rock (1996), Entrapment (1999) or Finding Forrester (2000).

Sean Connery retired in 2006 and that was because of the “idiots now in Hollywood” that came up with roles he never “understood”. [Images via Wiki]

Ian Richardson

Ian Richardson

Renowned for his portrayal of Machiavellian chief whip Francis Urquhart in 1990 political thriller, House of Cards, Ian Richardson has been a versatile actor born in Edinburgh. A great appearance on Broadway, musicals in the West End and best known for the American public as the guy in a Rolls Royce to ask “Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?” in a Dijon mustard ad, Ian Richardson had great roles in Dark City (1998), as Martin Landau’s butler in B*A*P*S (1997), Cruella de Vil’s solicitor, Mr. Torte, in 102 Dalmatians (2000) and From Hell (2001). His latest role was as Judge Langlois in Becoming Jane. He died age 72 due to a heart attack. [images courtesy of BBC]

Neil Connery

Neil Connery

It’s not easy to cope with having a famous sibling and to follow their great career. Eight years younger than his more-famous brother Sean Connery, Neil Connery was born in 1938 in Edinburgh. Looking a lot like his brother, Neil starred in a few minor films down the years; The Body Stealers with George Sanders and Patrick Allen and the James Bond satire, OK Connery. [image courtesy of thepaisleysnail]

Ernest Torrence

Ernest Torrence

Used with Hollywood, Ernest Torrence had a passion for playing cold-eyed, imposing, bad-guy characters. Born in 1878 in Edinburgh, the brutish, slack-jawed Torrence excelled as a pianist and a baritone, to later learn that he could be a great actor. He has made his mark in cinema with the role of moronic, twitch-eyed thief in Tol’able David (1921). Other great roles for Torrence where as Captain Hook in the 1924 version of Peter Pan and as the unspeakable Professor Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes (1932). [image via blindman.be]

Morag Siller

Morag Siller

Born Edinburgh, Morag Siller is a successful TV, film and theater actress, voice-over artist and radio presenter. Adopted at the age of three, Siller tried to become a pianist and a policewomen before realizing that she’s great at acting. That’s why after moving to London at the age of 18 and after attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School, she managed to get a role in BBC’s production Doctors and to play Marilyn Dingle in British Soap Opera Emmerdale (until 1989). [image via MoragSiller]

Ian Charleson

Ian Charleson

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Ian Charleson (1949) initially studied architecture to later find out that he had a real passion for acting, especially drama and thriller movies. After a lengthy sojourn with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Ian had a distinguished stage career. He won an Oscar with his performance in Chariots of Fire (1981) as the Olympic hopeful Eric Lidell who refused to compete on the Sabbath. Ian died of AIDS in 1990. [image from Britannica]

Anthony Dawson

Anthony Dawson

Although born in Edinburgh, Anthony Dawson loved to star in British films as an Englishman. Born in 1916 in Edinburgh, Dawson began his career in 1943 with They Met in the Dark and after starring for a few years in England, he moved to America. Renowned for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder (1954), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), or as Professor Dent in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962). [image courtesy of mptvimages.com]

Ewen Bremner

Ewen Bremner on the Red Carpet, Cineworld 2008

Son of two teachers, Ewen Bremner’s (born 1972) first passion was to become a circus clown. But things went on a different direction when television director, Richard D. Brooks, offered him a leading role in Charles Gormley’s Heavenly Pursuits in 1985. Ewen is best known for his roles as Spud in Trainspotting, the wimpish street thug in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch or blockbusters Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down where he plays with star Ewan McGregor. [image courtesy of eiff]

Lindsay Vere Duncan

Lindsay Vere Duncan playing Margaret Thatcher

Famous stage and television actress born in Edinburgh, Lindsay Duncan was trained at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama for later to star in On Approval (1982), Dead Head (1985) and Traffik (1989). She also starred as Servilia Caepionis in the 2005 HBO TV series Rome and for 2010 she’s expected to play Alice’s mother in Alice in Wonderland. [image courtesy of phnk]

Ken Stott

Ken Stott

Renowned for his many television roles in the UK, the black-haired, dark-eyed Kenneth Campbell Stott was born in Edinburgh in 1955. A great ballet dancer until 15, Ken Stott took the long way to becoming a star. He first graduated the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and then pursued a theater career. But recognition was extremely slow and his earnings from acting on stage were minimal. Hence why he became a double glazing salesmen to support himself.

By 1985 Stott became a great actor at the National Theater but it was in 1996/97 that he got the credit he deserves. And today he’s finally a star, renowned for his parts in Shallow Grave, King Arthur, Plunkett and Macleane and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. [image courtesy of RadioTimes]

Rebecca Pidgeon

Rebecca Pidgeon

Born in America in 1965, Rebecca Pidgeon moved to Edinburgh with her family at the age of five. She graduated drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, became the lead singer of folk/pop band Ruby Blue and then in 1988 started her acting career where is mostly known for her roles in The Spanish Prisoner (1997), The Winslow Boy (1999) and Heist (2001). [image from wiki]

Alastair Sim

Alastair Sim

Born in Edinburgh in 1900, Alastair Sim was son to prosperous businessman Alexander Sim. An eccentric character that never gave autographs, Sim starred in 61 films and 46 West End productions. His theater debut in London started as a Messenger in Othello (1930), but with a great dome of a head and bulging eyes it wasn’t hard to foresee a great career to come. Alastair Sim is best remembered for his role as Ebenezer Scrooge the Scrooge film in 1951. [image from wiki]

Iain Glen

Ian Glen

Born in 1961, film and stage actor Iain Glen also comes from Edinburgh. Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Iain got his prestige after staring as a hypnotic gang leader in The Fear (1988). Also known for his excellent role as John Procter in the RSC version of the Crucible, as Manfred Powell in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and as a village priest in Pope Joan (2009), Iain Glen is a charismatic actor that makes Edinburgh proud. [image from IainGlen]

John Stuart (John Alfred Louden Croall)

Born in Edinburgh on July 18th in 1898, John Stuart is a very famous actor that starred in British 1920s silent movies and two films directed by Alfred Hitchcock. His first feature-length movie with sound was Kitty in 1929 where he played “Alex St. George” and the last was Superman in 1979 where he played the 10th Elder. John Stuart died at 81. [image via isdky]

Finlay Currie

Finlay Currie

Edinburgh-based Finlay Currie took 54 years to make his first movie, The Old Man (1932). A monumental character renowned for terrifying a generation of schoolchildren with his role as Magwitch in David Lean’s Great Expectations (1946), the craggy, white-haired Currie also starred in multi-Oscar winning Ben-Hur (1959), as Balthazar. [image via foulaheritage.org.uk]

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city's skyline

The huge, forbidding presence is a major tourist attraction that spell bounds with its wonderful 3000 years story and an unparalleled potential to explore its rocky perch. That’s because throughout the centuries, Edinburgh Castle played an important role as a fortress built to protect its inhabitants, as a royal residence where kings, queens and their households lived in the past, and as a military base and prison.

Edinburgh Castle shrouded in mistery?

Edinburgh Castle at night

Among the few destinations in the world to charm with its amazing historical attraction,  Edinburgh Castle is located at the top of the Royal Mile— Old Town’s busiest tourist street, which connects the Holyrood Palace (queen’s residence in Edinburgh) with the Castle Rock.

Divided into three wards (Lower, Middle and Upper ward) separated by gates, with sheer cliffs to north and south, and a steep ascent from the west, Edinburgh Castle is an uncompromisingly defensive structure that seems to grow organically out of the living rock beneath. It’s a stronghold in its true meaning, with the coat of arms and motto above the main entrance, “Nemo Me Impune Lacessit” — Latin for “No-one assails me with impunity”, standing as fiercely proof.

Inside Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle views of the city

Edinburgh Castle and the Firth of Forth

First meant as a parade ground in 1753, the long sloping forecourt in front of the castle— the Castle Esplanade, is now used for entertainment purposes. The Esplanade is the place where the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo is being held each year. For three weeks in August, the Scottish regiments puts up an amazing programme that includes an unique blend of music, marching and historical re-enactments. All these set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, that guards from behind.

The Edinburgh Castle Esplanada

But before you leave the Esplanade, how about a look in the north-east corner for a small iron wall-fountain known as the Witches’ Well— the place where centuries ago, women found guilty of witchcraft were being sentences to death. Another popular tourist attraction is the One O’clock Gun on Mill’s Mount Battery. It has been established in 1861 as a time signal for ships in the Firth of Forth, and is now being fired every day (except on Sundays) at precisely 13:00 by the District Gunner. Find your spot and wait for the gun to go “boom”, the experience is amazing!

One O'Clock Gun on Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle - Mons Meg

There are many things that can be said about a place visited by 1 million people each year, but we’ll get into detail about Edinburgh Castle next times. Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures and plan your vacation …

Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Cockburn Street in Edinburgh's Old Town

Situated close to the North Sea on the East Coast of the Central Belt, just south of the Firth OF Forth, Edinburgh is the second largest city in Scotland, but the main tourist attraction for those visiting “the greatest country in the world”. Also, it’s one of the country’s biggest educational hub with an intellectual history that earned its nickname, the Athens of the North.

Thanks to an amazing cityscape that adds dramatic contours to the magnificent architecture with long surviving buildings, Edinburgh is shifting from the historic, yet bustling city centre of the medieval Old Town to the urbanity and the contemporary of the New Town, in the most stunning possible way. That must be the reason why Auld Reekie (Scots for Old Smoky) is now on an exquisite list that includes other World Heritage Sites. And “probably” with some help from the mind-blowing ancient stronghold that dominates the sky-line— the Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle as seen from Princes Street gardens

But Edinburgh is not stuck in the past as some may think. It knows how to entertain, enlighten and intrigue, all at the same time. Although there’s a wide variety of good pubs, restaurants or bars, culture, arts, sports and plenty of “green” to spend some relaxing time, the thing that Edinburgh does best, are festivals. Every summer the city explodes and population even quadruples when the Edinburgh Festival (world’s largest festival, they say) opens its gates. So it’s quite obvious that they don’t call it the Festival City, for nothing.

And did we mention, that Edinburgh gets a lot of votes each year as one of the most desirable places to live, in the world? By now I suppose you know why! It’s one of those special cities that knows how to be both ancient and modern at the same time.

A busy Princes Street

There are many more things we could say about Edinburgh, and we’re making a sacred promise that we will. All you have to do is buckle up and enjoy while we delve in deeeper and deeper into the true heart of Edinburgh.

Image credits: 1, 2, 3