Monthly Archives: June 2024

Spean Bridge (Scotland, U.K.)

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Spean Bridge

Part of Scottish Highlands Tour

From the Three Sisters Viewpoint, another 45-min. (49.56 km.) drive brought us  to Spean Bridge, a small and attractive village This prominent landmark, visible from the A82, offers views across the River Spean valley to the peaks of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr to the south.

Check out “Three Sisters Viewpoint”

The village, nestled at the southern end of the Great Glen, was named for the Highbridge, over the River Spean, built by famed military road and bridge-builder Gen. George Wade in 1736 (only the piers now remain).

Mhor Health Pharmacy

This was believed to be the place of the first Jacobite Uprising action in 1745, called the Highbridge Skirmish, where a small force of 11 men and one piper, all Keppoch MacDonalds, fooled government troops into thinking the bridge was heavily defended. These forces were then reported to be chased to Loch Oich, at which place they then surrendered.  The village is best known for its iconic Commando Memorial.

Check out “Commando Memorial”

Spean Bridge Mill

During our short stopover, we dropped by Spean Bridge Mill which has a wide selection of knitwear, accessories and gifts.  Homemade food, tea and coffee is also available at the coffee shop.  The resident weaver there demonstrates his craft on impressive Hattersley Looms. The Whisky Shop beside it boasts over 150 different Scottish malts.

Spean Bridge Mill

Spean Bridge Mill: Station Rd, Spean Bridge PH34 4EP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1397 712260.   E-mail: speanbridge@ewn.co.uk.

The Hairy Coo:  Suites 6 & 7, Administrative Office Only, St. John’s Studios, 46A Constitution St., Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 131 212 5026.  E-mail: contact@thehairycoo.com. Website: www.thehairycoo.com.

How to Get There: Spean Bridge is located around 15.1 kms. (9.4 mi., a 15-min. drive), via the A82, northeast of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.

Three Sisters Viewpoint (Scotland, U.K.)

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Three Sisters Viewpoint

Part of Scottish Highlands Tour

One of the highlights of our Highlands tour was our visit to Glen Coe, one of the most scenic and beautiful places in the Scottish Highlands. The area around this beautiful green valley is simply unique and breathtaking, a magical land straight out of a medieval story book and worth the visit.

Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh

There are various places to pull over and photograph and relax along the A82 (one of the most beautiful roads that the Scottish Highlands has to offer) in Glen Coe, with many trails to hike and scenic vistas. One of the easiest yet most rewarding places to visit in the Scottish Highlands is the Bidean massif’s Three Sisters, one of the most iconic sights in the Highlands and a view that’s emblematic of Glen Coe.

Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach

From Rannoch Moor Viewpoint, it was an 8.85-km. drive to the Three Sisters Car Park and its viewpoint where there’s plenty of room for motorists to pull in and take in the sights here.  Along the way, we saw, from a distance, the waterfalls at Allt Coire nam Beithach Glen.

Check out “Rannoch Moor Viewpoint”

Waterfalls at Allt Coire nam Beithach Glen

Also known as Bidean nam Bian Mountain (the highest point in the county of Argyll) in the Scottish Highlands, the “Three Sisters of Glen Coe” are three distinctive, steeply-sided ridges extending into the north.

Jandy and Grace with Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh in the background

Also known as Bidean nam Bian Mountain (the highest point in the county of Argyll) in the Scottish Highlands, the “Three Sisters of Glen Coe” are three distinctive, steeply-sided ridges extend into the north.  Residing in the Valley Glen, right off A82, going towards the town of Glen Coe northwest of Glasgow and Stirling, it is a great way to experience the Highlands and learn about the history of Scotland.

This part of Scotland, filled with rolling hills and waterfalls, is accessible year round.  In the summer, green grass surrounds the area and, in late fall/early winter, the grass turns a beautiful yellow brown if it is not covered by snow.

The author

From this classic viewpoint, you have a gorgeous view of the road-facing trio of siblings in question – the 952 m. high Beinn Fhada (or Ben Attow), the 692 m. high Gearr Aonach in the middle and the 892 m. high Aonach Dubh. Each sister is a termination of the northeast reaching ridges that protrude from the main spine of the complex and awe-inspiring Bidean.

These mountains have volcanic origins dating back hundreds of millions of years and the area was carved by glaciers from the last Ice Age, creating this stunning landscape. Gearr Aonach (Short Ridge) and Aonach Dubh (Black Ridge) converge at Stob Coire nan Lochan, a 1,115 m. (3,658 ft.) high subsidiary peak of Bidean nam Bian that lies about 1 km. to the northeast of the actual summit.

Beinn Fhada (Long Hill), the final, most easterly sister, joins the Bidean nam Bian massif at the summit of Stob Coire Sgreamhach.  It is separated from Gearr Aonach by a glen known as Coire Gabhail (translated as “Glen of Capture”).  However, the glen is more normally known as the Lost Valley, as it has a wide flat area concealed from Glen Coe by the landslip which blocked the entrance and allowed a loch to form. The Clan Macdonald  used the valley to hide their livestock from raiders, or hide cattle they themselves had stolen.

Hikers also use the car parking as a starting point for either adventures on the Bidean or to begin an ascent to the Aonach Eagach ridge to the north. However, for the latter, there is more suitable parking along the main road to the east.

Manny, Selena and Paula

Three Sisters Viewpoint: A82, Ballachulish PH49 4HX, United Kingdom.

The Hairy Coo:  Suites 6 & 7, Administrative Office Only, St. John’s Studios, 46A Constitution St., Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 131 212 5026.  E-mail: contact@thehairycoo.com. Website: www.thehairycoo.com. 

How to Get There: The Three Sisters viewpoint is located 1795 kms. (a 2-hour and 35 min. drive via A82) from Edinburgh and  138.7 kms. (a 1-hour and 50-min. drive via A82) from Glasgow.

Rannoch Moor Viewpoint (Scotland, U.K.)

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Rannoch Moor

Part of Scottish Highlands Tour

From Loch Tulla Viewpoint, a further 6.76-km. drive brought us to roadside car park by the Loch Ba, off to our right, that lead up a small mound. From here, we had a 360° view across the exposed moorland of the 130 sq. km. (50 sq. mi.) Rannoch Moor (also known as the Great Moor of Rannoch) and the inlets of Loch Ba grasping like fingers at the land.  Here, we could also see the 1,021.4 m. (3,351 ft.) high Buachaille Etive Mor,  Scotland’s most photographed mountain known for its iconic pyramidal shape.

Check out “Loch Tulla Viewpoint“

Buachaille Etive Mor

At an average altitude of 300 m., Rannoch Moor is a a vast, boggy landscape that sits on an elevated grand plateau in the Highlands of Scotland in the Bridge of Orchy near Glen Coe. It is located to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, where it extends from and into westerly Perth and Kinross, northerly Lochaber (in Highland), and the area of Highland Scotland toward its south-west, northern Argyll and Bute.

The author (left) with Grace and Jandy

Here, at every angle, we virtually see water, whether it is a loch (lake), a lochan (small lake), stream or bog. Its desolate rugged landscape of peat swamps, flowing streams and untouched land, gave me an unsettling sense of “nothingness.” This wild territory, known for its insects, plants and wildlife, is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation and is often referred to as “the last place of wilderness in Britain.” Much of the western part of the moor lies within the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Whilst some patches might look dry, a short walk, without proper boots, soon proved to us how wet and waterlogged the land is as the Rannoch Moor is actually 82% water or bog, making it the largest area of blanket bog in Britain.   Beneath the watery surface of Rannoch Moor lies granite, a hard rock that is impermeable, which means water cannot easily soak through it but collects in pools on top.

During the end of an Ice Age, approximately 12,000 years ago (when much of western Scotland was covered by a large ice cap), the center of the massive ice cap was over Rannoch Moor and, in some places, the ice was more than 400 m. thick. Although ice sheets look vast and immovable, ice does flow inside them very slowly and, over the years, the movement of the ice scraped out holes in the tough granite. Pieces of the rock and sand scoured away by the ice then became frozen within the ice cap.

When the climate improved and the ice melted, the fragments of rock and sand were scattered across the granite. This left a landscape with lots of hummocks where the rocks had been deposited, and lots of holes where the granite had been gouged out. The holes filled with water creating lochs and lochans in the bedrock.

Notable for its wildlife, it was frequently visited by Horace Donisthorpe who collected many unusual species of ants on the moor and surrounding hilly ground. Today it is still one of the few remaining habitats for Formica exsecta, (the “narrow-headed ant”), although recent surveys have failed to produce any sign of Formica pratensis, which Donisthorpe recorded in the area in the early part of the 20th century.

Though only a few plants could grow on top of this watery plateau, it is particularly famous as being the sole British location for the Rannoch-rush, named after the moor. The cold and wet conditions meant there was always plenty of water around, with the constant dampness preventing plant and animal matter from decaying fully and, over thousands of years, this created peat, a thick, dark material rather like soil, that spread across the area, forming an unusual waterworld that is known as a blanket bog.

Dwarf birch (Betula nana)

Not many have tried to inhabit these lands as the boggy territory makes this unlivable. However, this is close to the site of the Massacre of Glencoe between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell on February 13,1692 when, as narrated by our driver and tour guide Michael Mitchell, an estimated 30 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by Scottish government forces, allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II.

Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris)

In the 19th century, the West Highland Line railway, which gently crosses the moorland for 37 kms. (23 mi.), was started to provide a link from Glasgow to Fort William. It took several years as they had to build on soft peat and soil and float the tracks by bringing thousands of tons of earth and ashes over the land and laying a mattress of tree roots, branches and brushwood to stop the railway line from being absorbed by the bog. Today, the railway line still runs but has been extended to Mallaig. Corrour railway station, the UK’s highest, and one of its most remote being 16 kms. (10 mi.) from the nearest public road, is located on this section of the line at 408 m. (1,339 ft.).

Fans of the Highlander  novel series will recognize Rannock Moor in in the fictional novel The Element of Fire where Duncan and Connor MacLeod track the antagonist Khordas to Rannoch Moor. There Duncan defeats Nerissa, Khordas’ female companion.

Many people may also recognize it as a filming location for a number of movies and TV series. This moorland was featured in the TV series Outlander and Kinloch Rannoch was the location for Craigh Na Dun.  It also briefly appeared in the 2010 movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 when the Death Eaters board and stop the Hogwarts Express train looking for Harry Potter and Neville then gets up and says “Hey losers, he isn’t here.”  Corrour railway station was also used for the remote rural location scene in 1996’s Trainspotting.

Rannoch Moor Viewpoint: A82, Bridge of Orchy, Highland PA36 4AG. Coordinates: 56°39′15″N 4°35′37″W. Click here for a Google Pin for the viewpoint.

The Hairy Coo:  Suites 6 & 7, Administrative Office Only, St. John’s Studios, 46A Constitution St., Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 131 212 5026.  E-mail: contact@thehairycoo.com. Website: www.thehairycoo.com. 

How to Get There: Rannoch Moor viewpoint is located 165kms. (a 2.5-hour drive via A85) from Edinburgh, 116 kms. (a 1-hour 45-min. drive via A82) from Glasgow, and 105.6 kms. (a 90-min. drive via A82 and A84) from Stirling. The A82 road crosses western Rannoch Moor on its way to Glen Coe and Fort William.

Loch Tulla Viewpoint (Scotland, U.K.)

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Loch Tulla

Part of Scottish Highlands Tour

From Callander, a further 74-km. (a one-hour) drive, via the A84, A85 and A82, brought us to the famous Loch Tulla viewpoint, off the A82 just north of Tyndrum and near  Bridge of Orchy, Argyll and Bute.   Along the way, we passed by the Glen Ogle Viaduct, a 12-arch bridge built between 1866 and 1870.

Check out “Scottish Highlands Tour: Callander“

The Glen Ogle Viaduct

One of the most beautiful viewpoints in Scottish Highlands, it has fabulous views down to the loch below and the surrounding hills and mountains. We parked at the large viewpoint car park and a layby which is popular with visitors, and then enjoyed a little stroll along the fairly large roadside parking area.

The author (left) with Grace and Jandy

This nice viewpoint, a must visit for us, is very popular with minibus tours as a stop off for photos. This is one of the smaller lochs that you pass if you are walking the popular West Highland Way and can be found close to Inveroran and Bridge of Orchy. The views around here, looking down on Loch Tulla, are amazing.

The loch, lying near the Black Mount mountain range and northeast of the Inveroran Hotel, is 4 kms. (2.5 mi.) long with an average width of 0.8 km.(0.5 mi.).  It has a mean depth of 10 m. (33 ft.) and a maximum depth of 25.6 m.  (84 ft.). The River Orchy flows from the southeastern side of the loch. It contains salmon some of which are bred locally.

Looking round, a square stone cairn caught my eye.  Called the Sir Thomas Munro Memorial Cairn, it is dedicated to the memory of the numerous mountaineers who, over the years, have lost their lives in the Scottish hills, as well as to Scottish mountaineer Sir Hugh T. Munro of Lindertis who, prior to his death in 1919, published the “Munro Tables” in 1891, after a meticulous study of all Scottish mountains in excess of 3,000 ft.

Sir Thomas Munro Memorial Cairn

The cairn contains 795 stones, one from each of the 3,000 ft. high summits of Scotland, known as the “Munros” or “Munro Tops.”  It is obviously a labor of love built in May 2000 by Mr. W.G. Park who remembered to collect a small stone from each one he visited.  The stone on top was taken from the ruins of Munro’s old home of Lindertis.

Memorial plaque

Loch Tulla Viewpoint: A82, Bridge of Orchy PA36 4AG, United Kingdom.

The Hairy Coo:  Suites 6 & 7, Administrative Office Only, St. John’s Studios, 46A Constitution St., Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 131 212 5026.  E-mail: contact@thehairycoo.com. Website: www.thehairycoo.com. 

How to Get There: Loch Tulla viewpoint is located 158.5 kms. (a 2-hour and 22 min. drive via M9) from Edinburgh and  118.75 kms. (a 1-hour and 48-min. drive via A82) from Glasgow.

Scottish Highland Tour: Callander (Scotland, U.K.)

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Hairy Coo Tour Bus

Our second day in Scotland was to be spent touring the Scottish Highlands and, with our limited time, we wanted to fit in as much as possible by joining the 12.5-hour Hairy Coo Tour (£57 each).  To secure the best seats (we were able to occupy the first four rows on the left side) in the airconditioned luxury coach, we arrived early (7:30 AM) at the assembly area outside Deacon’s House Café (304 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh) where we all met Mr. Michael Mitchell (AKA Mako), our Scottish tour guide and driver.

This was to be Michael’s last trip as he would leaving for Canada the next day to marry his girlfriend from Windsor, Ontario.  We departed Edinburgh’s Old Town by 8 AM, traveling north towards the heart of Scotland’s central belt.

Meet up place along Lawnmarket

Half an hour into our trip, between the Scottish towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth, we passed by The Kelpies a pair of monumental 30 m. (98 ft.) high steel horse-heads, next to the M9 motorway, that form the eastern gateway of the Forth and Clyde Canal, which meets the River Carron.

The Kelpies

The sculptures, which represent kelpies, were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. An unveiling ceremony took place in April 2014. Around the sculptures is an area of parkland known as The Helix.

Callender

Throughout the long drive, Mark provided live commentary and storytelling.  Passing by Sterling Castle, he enthralled us with tales of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.  He was also informative with regards Jacobite history. After an hour long, 86.7-km. drive, we had our first stopover of the day at the town of Callander, “The Gateway to the Highlands.”

Mhor Bread

Nestled at the foot of the Trossachs, it is the eastern gateway to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the first National Park in Scotland. Here, we bought breakfast of sandwiches and pastries at Mhor Bread & Store.

Trossachs Woollen Mill

After breakfast, we again boarded our coach for the short 1.93-km. (5-min.) drive to Trossachs Woolen Mills, home to three beautiful, very hardy and gentle Highland Cows (the oldest cattle breed in the world) – Hamish Dubh (born in 2012), Honey (born in spring of 2011) and Holly (calf of Honey).   Visitors are allowed to feed them from freshly-made goodie bags available in store.

Hamish Dubh and Holly

Honey

Its Trossachs Visitor Centre  sells a wonderful collection of Scottish and Highland Cow souvenirs and gifts to a wide range of fashion options from the iconic Harris Tweed collections and some of The Edinburgh Woolen Mill’s most sought after men’s and ladies wear collections including Country Rose, Isle, Honor Millburn, James Pringle and the luxurious Lochmere Cashmere.  The coffee shop at the back serves breakfast until 11:30 AM, soups and sandwiches at lunchtime and afternoon teas.

Trossachs Visitors Centre

Outside the store, we listened to a young man playing his bagpipes (the second time I’ve heard one play, the first being in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada) and dressed in traditional Scottish Highland attire (piper waistcoat, knee socks, sporran pouch, Glengarry hat and tartan kilt).

Bagpipe player in traditional Scottish Highland attire

Mhor Bread & Store: 8 Main St, Callander FK17 8BB, United Kingdom.  Tel +44 1877 339518.  E-mail bread@mhor.net. Open daily, 8 AM to 4 PM (% PM on Saturdays and Sundays).

Trossachs Woolen Mills: Kilmahog, Callander FK17 8HD, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 1877 330178.  Website: www.trossachswoolenmill.co.uk. Open Mondays to Fridays, 9 AM to 5:30 PM; Saturdays, 9 AM to 6 PM; and Sundays, 10 AM to 6 PM

The Hairy Coo:  Suites 6 & 7, Administrative Office Only, St. John’s Studios, 46A Constitution St., Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 131 212 5026.  E-mail: contact@thehairycoo.com. Website: www.thehairycoo.com. 

How to Get There: Callander is located 85 kms. (a 1-hour and 22 min. drive via M9) from Edinburgh and  41.5 kms. (a 55-min. drive via M80) from Glasgow.

Edinburgh International Airport (Scotland, U.K.)

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The terminal Edinburgh International Airport

After a long layover of 18 hours and 45 minutes at Istanbul Airport (IST) in Turkey, where we joined Touristanbul’s Bosphorus River cruise (from 6:30PM-11PM), we finally departed the airport  at 7:15 AM, Monday, June 17, and arrived at Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) in Edinburgh, Scotland at 9:40AM, that same day, on board Turkish Airlines Flight Number TK1343.  The flight took us 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Check out “Bosphorus Strait Cruise” 

The author, Paula and Grace at Edinburgh International Airport

Edinburgh International Airport (IATA: EDI, ICAO: EGPH), the busiest airport in Scotland in 2019, is also the sixth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom by total passengers in 2019 (despite only having one terminal and two runways), handling over 14.7 million passengers.  However, it is a relatively small airport compared to Heathrow International Airport in London.  Owned and operated by Global Infrastructure Partners, (also a minority shareholder of Gatwick Airport), it has one runway and one passenger terminal and employs about 2,500 people.

Check out “Heathrow International Airport”

Here’s the historical timeline of the airport:

  • In 1916, the small Turnhouse Aerodrome was opened
  • In World War I, it was the northernmost British air defense base used by the Royal Flying Corps.
  • From 1925, it was used to house the 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron which consisted of DH 9As, Westland Wapitis, Hawker Harts, and Hawker Hind light bombers. All the aircraft used a grass airstrip.
  • In 1918, the Royal Air Force was formed and the airfield was named RAF Turnhouse and ownership was transferred to the Air Ministry.
  • When the Second World War broke out, RAF Fighter Command took control over the airfield and a runway of 3,900 ft (1,189 m) was paved to handle the Supermarine Spitfire.
  • During the Battle of Britain, 3, 65, and 141 Squadrons were present at the airbase.
  • When the war ended, the airfield remained under military control.
  • On May 19, 1947, it was officially opened for commercial traffic. The first commercial flight to use the airport was a British European Airways service (an 18-seater Douglas C47) from London (Northolt) to Shetland, with Edinburgh and Aberdeen being intermediate stopping points.
  • In 1952, the runway was extended to 6,000 ft. to handle the Vampire FB5soperated by the resident 603 Squadron, and an aircraft arresting barrier net was installed to protect traffic on the adjacent A9 road. The net remained in place until the early 1970s and was used to stop one of the Ferranti Flying Unit Buccaneers which had overrun the runway.
  • In 1956, a new passenger terminal was built to provide an improved commercial service.
  • In March 1957, the 603 Squadron was disbanded
  • In 1960, the Air Ministry transferred ownership to the Ministry of Aviation to offer improved commercial service to the airport. Flying was temporarily diverted to East Fortune, which had its runway extended to accommodate the airliners of the period.
  • In 1961, the passenger terminal was extended.
  • In 1962, international service from Edinburgh began with direct service to Dublin but, for many years, international flights were charter and private only.
  • In 1970, a Meteor TT20, operated by the RN Fleet Requirement Unit, overran the runway and ended up in the net.
  • On April 1, 1971, the British Airports Authority (BAA) took over ownership of the airport at a time when the original terminal building was running at about eight times its design capacity. Immediate improvements to the terminal were cosmetic, such as extra seating and TV monitors for flight information, and it took two years for plans to be proposed for a completely new terminal and runway redesign.
  • In November 1971, public consultation on planning was started
  • In February 1972, the consultation was ended.
  • In June 1973, the initial stages of the redevelopment began. They included a diversion of the River Almond.
  • In 1975, direct services to Amsterdam, in continental Europe, was started.
  • In March 1975, work on the new terminal building, designed by Sir Robert Matthew, was started.
  • In 1977, the new 2,556 m. (8,386 ft.) long 07/25 runway (which has since become 06/24), completely outside the original airfield boundary, was completed, and was able to take all modern airliners including the Concorde. Although the original main runway 13/31 (which is now 12/30) served the airport well, its alignment (NW-SE) had the disadvantage of suffering from severe crosswinds, and the other two minor runways were very short and could not be readily extended.
  • On May 27, 1977, the new terminal building, alongside the new runway, was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II to cater for the additional traffic. The old terminal and hangars were converted into a cargo centre.
  • On May 29, 1977, the building was opened to the public. Since the original terminal upgrade, there have been major reconstructions, including extensions of the two passenger terminal aprons and a major expansion of car parking facilities.
  • By the mid-1980s, direct routes included Paris, Düsseldorf, Brussels, Frankfurt and Copenhagen, but direct transatlantic flights were not yet possible as Glasgow-Prestwick was the only “designated gateway” in Scotland under the US-UK Bermuda II Agreement.
  • In 1987, by the time BAA had been privatized, Edinburgh Airport handled over 1.8 million passengers each year; compared to the 681,000 passengers handled in 1971 when BAA first took control of the airport.
  • In 1997, the RAF Turnhouse, operational near the passenger terminal of the airport for all of the post-war period, was finally closed.
  • In 2005, a new 57-m. (187 ft.) tall air traffic control tower was completed for £10 million.
  • In September 2006, an extension to the terminal, called the South East Pier, was opened. This extension initially added six gates on a new pier to the southeast of the original building.
  • At the end of 2008, a further four gates were added to the South East Pier.
  • On October 19, 2011, BAA Limited announced its intention to sell the airport, following a decision by the UK’s Competition Commissionrequiring BAA to sell either Glasgow Airport or Edinburgh Airport.
  • On April 23, 2012, BAA announced that it had sold Edinburgh Airport to Global Infrastructure Partners(GIP) for a price of £807.2 million (equivalent to £1204 million in 2023).
  • In 2013, a further extension to the passenger terminal was announced, taking the terminal building up to the Edinburgh Airport tram stop.
  • In May 2014, the Edinburgh Trams, running between Edinburgh Airport and York Place, was opened, creating the first rail connection to Edinburgh Airport.
  • In February 2016, consultancy firm Biggar Economics announced that Edinburgh Airport contributes almost £1 billion annually to the Scottish economy.
  • On February 23, 2016, Ryanair announced a growth of 20% in passenger numbers, bringing the airline’s annual passenger capacity at Edinburgh Airport to 2.5 million. This was coupled with the news of six new services to Ryanair’s winter schedule from Edinburgh and more services on its popular European destinations.
  • On March 29, 2018, as part of the expansion works, Runway 12/30 was officially withdrawn from use.
  • In 2004, a multi-storey car park was opened.
  • In 2014, whilst the number of passengers has increased, the number of flights decreased due to planes operating at a higher capacity.
  • In 2015, passenger traffic at Edinburgh Airport reached a record level with over 11.1 million passengers and over 109,000 aircraft movements.
  • On April 17, 2024, Vinci announced that it had reached an agreement with GIP to acquire a 50.01% shareholding of the airport for £1.27 billion, with GIP retaining 49.99%. The transaction is expected to close mid-2024.

The “EDINBURGH” sign greeting visitors to the Scottish capital

The airport has flights to 157 destinations worldwide and 38 airlines (American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, etc.) operate in and out of the airport.  It can be particularly busy during summer, the holidays and during popular events such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Direct flights are available between several U.S. cities and flights are also available to the Middle East. The airport has won a number of awards including Best European Airport.

The terminal building is currently being expanded with an investment of £40 million. A new £25 million expansion project, involving the construction of a new 6,000 sq. m. building, housing a security hall and retail areas, is also currently underway at the airport. In 2005, after a 15-month construction, its new 57 m. (187 ft.) high, £10 million control tower, with its façade of 9,216 hand-installed zinc tiles and crisscross, double helix pattern (which functions as a system of drainage channels), was inaugurated.

The new control tower inaugurated in 2005

Upon claiming our luggage, we proceeded outside the terminal building to Stop A where we boarded an Airlink bus (Edinburgh’s dedicated express service between the airport and the city center), which arrives every 10 mins., to take us into the city.  Fare was £5.50 for a one-way single adult ticket and the trip took us about 30 mins.  Upon reaching the city, we walked for about 10 minutes, from Princes Street, to Frederick House Hotel (42 Frederick St., Edinburgh EH2 1EX, United Kingdom) where we had our luggage stored prior to check in.

Check out “Hotel and Inn Review: Frederick House Hotel”

The Airlink 100 bus that took us, from the airport, to the city center

Edinburgh Airport: Ingliston area, Edinburgh EH12 9DN, Scotland. Tel: 44 131 357 6337 and +44 131 322 5283. Website: www.edinburghairport.com. Coordinates: 55°57′00″N 003°22′21″W / 55.95000°N 3.37250°W.

How to Get There: Edinburgh Airport is located 5 NM (9.3 kms.; 5.8 mi.) west of the city center, just off the M8 and M9 motorways. It is widely served by buses of Airlink 100, Skylink 200 and 400, and Airport Express Services.  Trams also operate from the airport to Edinburgh city center, departing every 7 mins., between 7 AM and 7 PM, and every 10 mins. early in the morning and later in the evening.  The first tram of the day departs the airport at 6:26 AM and the last train departs at 10:48 PM.

Bosphorus Strait Cruise (Istanbul, Turkey)

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Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait

After a 12 hour, 35 min. long flight from NAIA international Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, our Turkish Airline (Flight Number TK265) arrived at Istanbul International Airport by 12:30 PM, Sunday, June 16.

Check out “Istanbul International Airport”

The Touristanbul counter at the Istanbul International Airport

Before visiting Turkey, we obtained an e-visa ($30 per pax) at the www.evisa.gov.tr/ website (check your country’s requirements to see if it is necessary to obtain a visa to enter Turkey). If you are eligible for an e-visa, you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales / Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

Boarding our Touristanbul bus at the airport

Our connecting international flight to Edinburgh Airport, Scotland was still 18 hours and 45 minutes later so we took advantage of our complimentary Touristanbul service to discover Istanbul, the city that never sleeps, during our layover time. According to the time frame best suited to your flight arrival and departure schedule, we selected the 6:30 PM-11 PM tour, one of the eight carefully arranged and planned tours offered by Touristanbul for those with a layover between six and 24 hours.

BUDO Eminonu Pier

With such an abundance of historical sightseeing spots in Istanbul and too little time to squeeze them all into your short holiday, an unforgettable cruise, between two continents (Asia and Europe) along the 32-km. long Bosphorus Strait (not a river) is probably the most overlooked Istanbul tourist attraction. After our Turkish Airlines connecting international flight landed at İstanbul Airport, we proceeded all the way through into international arrivals (past baggage claim), turned right and walk to the end of the hall to TourIstanbul, opposite of the arrival hall of the Turkish Airlines and opposite the passport control at the Transfer Desk.

Boarding the Naral Istanbul

Upon arrival, we all signed up for the free Touristanbul tour at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport (you can also sign up at the Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area), using our ticket number issued by Turkish Airlines ticket number starting 235, and got a ticket for the queue.  Istanbul Airport only provides one-hour free wi-fi to fliers that are in the Departure Area.

Paula, Selena, Jandy and Grace on board the Naral Istanbul

The author (right) with Jandy and Grace (photo: Selena Sta. Maria)

Touristanbul is available for Turkish Airlines’ flights, including code share flights. There is no hotel offered. If a guest is unable to make their flight, in cases that are their responsibility, they will ensure that the passenger reaches their destination smoothly via the next flight.

Galata Bridge, the fifth on the same site, was built in 1994. The bridge was named after Galata (the former name for Karaköy) on the northern shore of the Golden Horn. This bascule bridge is 490 m. (1,610 ft.) long with a main span of 80 m. (260 ft.). The deck of the bridge is 42 m. (138 ft.) wide and has two vehicular lanes and one walkway in each direction. Tram tracks running down the middle of it allow the T1 tram to run from Bağcılar, in the western suburbs to Kabataş, a few blocks away from Dolmabahçe Palace.

After signing up and booking our tour, we were picked up by a friendly and well-informed guide named Eray and boarded an airconditioned tourist bus with about 40 other guests. Before joining the tour, we stored our heavy luggage at the luggage office next to the hotel desk ($18 per piece) and just brought our hand-carried bags with us which were stored in the boot of the bus.  The 42.2-km. bus ride, from the airport to the boat landing near the Golden Horn Metro Bridge, took us around 45 mins.

Bosphorus Bridge, the oldest and southernmost of the three suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus strait, is a gravity-anchored suspension bridge with steel towers and inclined hangers. The aerodynamic deck hangs on steel cables. The bridge is 1,560 m. (5,118 ft.) long, with a deck width of 33.40 m. (110 ft.). The distance between the towers (main span) is 1,074 m. (3,524 ft.) and the total height of the towers is 165 m. (541 ft.). The clearance of the bridge, from sea level, is 64 m. (210 ft.).

The tour covers a lot of territory.  During this unforgettable, two-hour tour experience on board the 24 m. long and 7 m. wide pleasure craft Naral Istanbul, cruising at an average speed of 7.2 knots, having a fabulous view of the legendary Bosphorus Strait and saw some of Istanbul’s most notable and iconic historical sites, structures and monuments. Its rolling hills are covered with a mix of ancient and modern architecture, all of them overlooking the water.

The Maiden’s Tower between Europe and Asia

The Maiden’s Tower (Kiz Kulesi), built in 1725 0n a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus Strait, between the European and Asian sides, is one of the landmarks and most storied structures of Istanbul.

Maiden’s Tower, a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 m. (220 yds.) from the coast of Üsküdar, has a café and restaurant with views of the former Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capital at Sarayburnu. Private boats ply back and forth between the tower and the shore throughout the day. The tower appeared on the reverse of the Turkish 10 lira banknote from 1966 to 1981.

Formerly an observation terrace, a tax collection area for merchants, a hospital and a lighthouse, it now houses a café and restaurant. Recently, it was featured in the 1999 James Bond film The World is Not Enough. From 1966 t0 1981, the tower also appeared on the reverse side of the Turkish 10 lira banknote.

Hatice Sultan Mansion, a historical yalı (waterside mansion) located at Bosporus, in the Ortaköy neighborhood, was named after its original owner Hatice Sultan. It is used today as a water sports club’s building.

Naime Sultan Yalisi was given to Sultan Abdul Hamid II’s favorite daughter Naime upon her marriage to Mehmed Kemaleddin Bey in 1898.

The Bosphorus Strait is home to many beautiful and historical mansions (yalilar).  Many designed by members of the Balyan family (Armenian architects for the Ottoman court for five generations), they are considered an important cultural heritage of Istanbul.   Of the original 600 mansions, about 360 are still standing, with 150 preserved in their original form, each reflecting a particular era and architectural style.

Dolmabahce Palace was home to six Sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924: The last royal to live here was Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi. A law that went into effect on March 3, 1924, transferred the ownership of the palace to the national heritage of the new Turkish Republic.

Gracing the edges of the Bosphorus Strait, on the European side, is the beautiful and elegant Dolmabahce Palace, the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire (from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922), was built from 1843 and 1856 and was home to the Sultan up to the end of the Ottoman Empire.

Beylerbeyi Palace, an imperial Ottoman summer residence built between 1861 and 1865, is now situated immediately north of the first Bosphorus Bridge. It was the last place where Sultan Abdulhamid II was under house arrest before his death in 1918.

The Beylerbeyi Palace, at the Asian side, is an imperial Ottoman summer residence built between 1861 and 1865.  Designed in the Second Empire style by Sarkis Balyan, it is now a museum.

Ciragan Palace, built by Sultan Abdulaziz to replace the old Çırağan Palace which was at the same location, was designed by the Armenian palace architect Nigoğayos Balyan and constructed by his sons Sarkis and Hagop Balyan between 1863 and 1867. It is now a five-star hotel in the Kempinski Hotels chain.

Four Seasons Istanbul Hotel, formerly the Atik Pasha Palace, is a renovated 19th century Ottoman palace that sits on the European bank of the Bosphorus Strait. Now a hotel with 170 guestrooms and suites, it has magnificent views of the hills of Asia.

Former 19th century Ottoman palaces, on the European side of the Bosphorus, that have been renovated and converted into hotels include the five-star, 317-room Ciragan Palace Kempink and the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul. On the other hand, the Shangri-la Bosporus is a restored 1930s tobacco warehouse with a Neo-Classical façade.

Shangri-la Istanbul Hotel, located between Dolmabahce Palace and Naval Museum on the European coast of the Bosphorus, emulates a modern art museum, showcasing more than 1,000 European and Asian pieces.

The city continues its long history as the center of architecture as diverse and rich as its past, with new buildings also being built upon the ancient landscape. The 400,000 sq. m. Galataport Istanbul, a world-class, innovative underground cruise ship port stretching 1.2 kms. along the coastline, is a mixed-use development housing around 250 shops and restaurants, a Peninsula hotel and other cultural and entertainment facilities.

Galataport has space for three large cruise ships to dock side by side behind specially designed screens that rise to ensure that no one can leave the ships without passing through the Customs and Immigration facilities but that are retracted when no ships are in port. Customs and Immigration facilities are located underground, with most of the overground space taken up by shops, restaurants and offices.

Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, inaugurated on December 11, 2004, it is Turkey’s first modern and contemporary art gallery. Focusing on Turkish artists, it is a private venture under the umbrella of the nonprofit Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.

It also incorporates the Istanbul Modern Art Museum (designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano along the waterfront zone of Karaköy, it was opened last May 2023), the İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and the restored Paket Postanesi (Parcel Post Office), now a symbol of Galataport.

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, established on January 1, 1882 under the leadership of Osman Hamdi Bey, as the College of Fine Arts, the Ottoman Empire’s first educational institution for fine arts and architecture.

Parcel Post Office (Paket Postanesi), built from 1905 to 1911, was designed by engineer S. Saboureaux. It is one of the oldest structures of the port area and one of the finest in the city with its characteristic slate dome and roof, unique spaces and facades. The restored Post Office, now featuring 73 boutique stores facing the interior and exterior courtyards, has a 180-m. long coastline overlooking the historical peninsula.

Atop Little Camlica Hill in Uskudar is the futuristic, 369 m. high (221 m. of which is a 49-storey reinforced concrete structure with 18 m. below ground) Camlica TV and Radio Tower, the highest structure in Istanbul.

The Camlica Radio and TV Tower has panoramic elevators rising from the ground floor to the top floor. Located on both sides of the main building, these elevators symbolize the Bosphorus, which both separates and integrates the Asian and European continents.

Completed in 2020, this telecommunications tower has observation decks and restaurants.  Designed by Melike Altinisik Architects (MMA) firm, the building was inspired by the tulip flower, a symbol of the Turks during the Ottoman period

The 936 m. long, €146.7 million Golden Horn Metro Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge carrying the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, is the fourth bridge across the Golden Horn. Entering service on February 15, 2014, its eventual design pays homage to the city’s maritime heritage with support towers shaped to look like horns and hull-shaped supports for the platforms..

The cruise also passed by some of the iconic bridges spanning the Bosphorus River.  The 490 meter long and 80 meter wide Galata Bridge, the fifth on the site, is a bascule bridge completed in December 1994. At the underside of the bridge are a string of restaurants.  The 1,560 meter long and 33.4 meter wide Bosphorus Bridge (officially known as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge), the oldest and southernmost of the three suspension bridges spanning the strait, was completed in 1973.  Underneath it is the Ortakoy Mosque.

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge carrying the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro across the Golden Horn, connects Karaköy and Küçükpazarı on the European side of Istanbul. The bridge enables a direct connection between Hacıosman metro station in the Sarıyer district (at the northern end of the M2 line), and the Yenikapı transport hub in the Fatih district (at the southern end of the M2 line.).

Ortakoy Mosque with the Bosphorus Bridge behind it. The mosque was designed in a mixed or eclectic style incorporating contemporary European Revivalist trends such as Neoclassical, along with some details and overall design elements drawn from the earlier Ottoman Baroque style.

Completed around 1854 or 1856, it was designed by the father-and–son team of Garabet and Nikogos Bayan (who also designed the aforementioned nearby Dolmabahce Palace).  It is distinguished from other mosques of the period by its particularly ornate stone-carved decoration.

Besktas Anatolian High School, located on the European side of Istanbul, is one of the best schools in Turkey. Built for Abdulaziz in 1871, the building was an addition to the Çırağan Palace and later used as a harem room.

Another of the best known sights of Istanbul is the Suleymaniye Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture and the largest Ottoman-era mosque in the city.  From its location on the Third Hill, it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn.

The iconic Blue Mosque and its six minarets. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985 under the name of “Historic Areas of Istanbul,” it was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today.

The iconic Blue Mosque, another popular monument of Ottoman architecture built between 1609 and 1617, is the second mosque in the world, after Mecca, with six minarets.

Suleymaniye Mosque, commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566), was designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. One of the best-known sights of Istanbul, from its location on the Third Hill, it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn. Considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, it is one of Mimar Sinan’s greatest works and is the largest Ottoman-era mosque in the city.

Many schools, colleges and universities are also located along the banks of the Bosphorus Strait. They include the Kabatas Boys’ High School (one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Turkey), Galatasaray University (widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and notable universities in Turkey), Besiktas Anatolian High School (one of the best schools in Turkey), and Kuleli Military High School (the oldest military high school in Turkey).

Kabatas Boys’ High School. one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Turkey, was established in 1908 by the Ottoman sultan Abdulhamid II.

T.C. Galatasaray University, built in 1871, during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, was designed by Ottoman Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan. The building was used as a dormitory for the female students of the Galatasaray High School until 1992, when it was inaugurated as the Galatasaray University.

Normally, guests also experience a taste of the city by sampling a traditional and authentic Turkish and Ottoman cuisine at an elegant restaurant (depending on the time you choose, you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner but, in our case, we had dinner) but this wasn’t available so, instead, we had our dinner of a Turkish crepe (washed down with soda) on board our coach. After finishing our dinner, we were driven back to Istanbul International Airport.

Kuleli Military High School, the oldest military high school in Turkey, is located in Çengelköy, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus strait. It was founded on September 21, 1845, by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I.

Touristanbul: E-mail: touristanbul@thy.com. Website: www.touristanbul.com