Edinburgh - Royal Mile

The streets which link Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse are known in local parlance as the "Royal Mile". This historic thoroughfare is lined with elegant town houses and living quarters, but it is the shops which draw the crowds. Kiltmakers such as Hector Russel, Ragamuffin, Geoffrey or the Scottish Experience vie with well-known outlets for woolen goods, designer boutiques, pubs, museums and numerous restaurants.

The tall six to 15-story blocks are known as "lands", the little alleys as "wynds" and the hidden backyards as "closes".