Royal Observatory

The Royal Observatory is part of Edinburgh University and operates as a research facility, sometimes offering lectures and exhibitions to the public. There’s a visitor centre and shop, but this isn’t the reason to go. In fact, make the trip and forget about the Observatory — unless you really are interested. Instead, take in the views you get of the entire city at the top of Blackford Hill: north, east, south and west. See across the cityscape, past the castle to the Kingdom of Fife on the other side of the Forth, see the stick people who are looking in similar directions from the top of Arthur’s Seat, look east across to Musselburgh and west towards Queensferry. Then look south to the Pentland Hills and resolve to go there next time. Blackford Hill is home to lots of white-​tailed rabbits, and I recommend a visit at dawn or dusk when they’re out and about being playful.