Edinburgh

Royal Mile

Stretching for just over a mile from the gates of Edinburgh Castle to the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, this is the main street of the Old Town in Edinburgh.

The Royal Mile is made up of four main sections:

• Castlehill – literally the hill that leads to the castle.

• Lawnmarket – once an open-air market place.

• High Street – originally called the Vai Regius, the Way of the King.

• Canongate – the way of the canons.

At the eastern end of the Royal Mile is the district of Holyrood, which is famous for the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the queen’s residence when she is staying in Edinburgh, and Arthur’s Seat, which dominates the view through much of Edinburgh.

Branching out from these is a series of tightly packed wynds (a lane which winds from one street to the next) and closes (usually the entrance to dwellings and therefore closed at night, some of which are private). Many of these are entered though pends (archways).

The use of gate in place names, such as Canongate, means street. Land, such as Gladstone’s Land, refers to a dwelling of several storeys.

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