Churches and Cathedrals in Glenlomond

"I suggest a late lunch after you explore the charming, cobbled streets of this historic area and experience some street performers, Canongate Kirkyard (Adam Smith is buried here), Dunbar Close, St. Giles Cathedral, and eventually Edinburgh Castle itself, all the way at the top of the Royal Mile (Be sure to book your Edinburgh Castle skip the line tickets in advance). The charm and beauty of Edinburgh, Scotland never cease to amaze me."

"The modest Canongate Kirk was built in 1688 and completed three years later. It was founded for the residents of Canongate that had previously worshipped in the Abbey Church, until King James II converted the Church into a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle. Since the church is very bare, with practically no statues or paintings, the most eye-catching aspect of the temple is its blue benches on a maroon coloured carpet."

"If you’ve already seen St Giles’, you will notice that Canongate is designed in a very different style, much simpler and more austere, tipically Presbyterian."

"Located at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church is the spire you can see poking through the Edinburgh skyline whenever you see panoramic pictures of Edinburgh Castle itself. Expect to hear the Church’s ten bells on Sunday mornings and see beautiful wall paintings, stained glass windows and an organ built in 1899. Child friendly: yes, but no particular activities are available for them on a regular basis Address: St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2EP Opening hours for visitors: Tue to Thu 10am – 3pm More information here."

"St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, located at the west end of Princes Street, has several theories surrounding its origins. One is that St Cuthbert sheltered in a hollow below Castle Rock while journeying from Melrose. Whatever the true origin, this is the most ancient religious site in Edinburgh, although the present church building dates back to 1892-4."

"Address: 28 Manor Place / Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 225 6293 Designed by George Gilbert Scott, the Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin is located on the western side of the city centre. Construction of the cathedral began in 1874 and whilst the nave was opened just five years later, the twin spires on its western side were not actually completed until 1917. Highlights include impressive neo-Gothic architecture, well-preserved stained-glass windows, murals and an outstanding art collection, as well as daily choral services."

"St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is a short walk from Princes Street towards Haymarket. Its spires are visible from most places in Edinburgh, especially looking west from Princes Street. Not only does this cathedral offer a place of stillness in the bustling Scottish capital, there are also opportunities such as learning to be a stonemason in the Cathedral Workshop or a Cathedral Chorister at St Mary’s Music School."

"The neo-Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral is a striking building set in large grounds. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, it was consecrated in 1879. St. Mary's is the largest ecclesiastical building to be built in Scotland since the Reformation."

"Address: 61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD, Scotland, UK Tel: +44 (0)131 556 1798 This popular Roman Catholic church dates back to 1814, being designed by James Gillespie Graham. Each month on the third Tuesday, look out for the organ and choir recitals. The adjacent Cafe Camino provides a rather tempting menu, offering bacon sandwiches, freshly made soup, lunchboxes for children, a choice of beverages (including coffee, tea, wine, beer and cider) and tubs of locally produced ice cream."

"St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, originally called the Chapel of St Mary’s, held its first masses in August 1814. The Cathedral houses the National Shrine of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, and even has an underground passage leading to a priest’s house in York Place. It wasn’t until the 1970s that passers by could see the Cathedral in its full splendor when tenements in front of the building were demolished."

"Also dating back to the 1800s, Old St Paul’s has since been renovated multiple times – the nave extended and the chancel floor raised with marble. Nearly all of the many panes of stained glass, ornaments and vestments were made possible by fundraising or donations. Unusually, the gargoyles at Old St Paul’s are located inside, not on the exterior of the church as is common on buildings of this period."

"Address: East London Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4BL, Scotland, UK Mansfield Place Church is to be found within the New Town area, standing close to the bus depot and the King George V Park. Built in 1872 by Robert Rowand Anderson, this old church has had many uses over the years and once even functioned as a nightclub. Today, it is owned by the Mansfield Traquair Trust, a conservation group who have actively restored the building over a number of years."

"I had several nice meals at Olly Bongo’s during my student years at Edinburgh University. This Mediterranean cafe offers a selection of sandwiches and wraps, as well as Turkish and Greek dishes, including moussaka and lamb koftas (very tasty!). I also love the Greek and Turkish decor of this place – it’s so bright and colourful."

"Former street food stall Alplings has put down permanent roots in Leith (Photo: Alplings). After the success of their street food stall, Alplings have set up a more permanent home in Leith. The cafe offers Alplings’ signature hearty alpine cuisine (including dumplings, goulash, spätzle, potato rostis and schnitzel), all for £8 or under."

"A post shared by Alplings (@alplings) on Sep 7, 2018 at 3:35pm PDT. From a city on the side of a mountain, why not sample some cooking from the Alps?. This unpretentious restaurant in Leith brings hearty mountain food to the Edinburgh clientele."

"Just minutes from the city’s main attractions, Eden Locke is a perfect haven to relax after an invigorating day exploring Edinburgh’s sites. Decorated in soothing pastel shades with soft lighting to create an intimate atmosphere, each of the 72 studios, mezzanine apartments, and suites has fully equipped kitchen with all the essential accessories, contemporary soft furnishings, and the latest entertainment technology, including WiFi, Apple box, and Smart TV. The downstairs lounge is ideal for whiling away the hours over a cocktail or pastry and, if you fancy venturing back into the city for an evening’s entertainment, you’re never far away from the most vibrant spots Edinburgh has to offer."

"Uber-hip and perfectly presented, the 4-star exceptionally rated Eden Locke is a design-led aparthotel situated at the heart of George Street. Shoreditch style design can be found throughout the traditional Georgian building, with carefully placed whimsical touches that add interest and will make you smile. The bedrooms are studio apartments with padded leather headboards, retro telephones and oversized clocks, while bathrooms may be small but they do offer huge walk-in showers."

"Best for Budget breaks In a nutshell If you’re looking for a serene place to stay — but still want to be in the centre of Edinburgh — this beautifully decorated aparthotel could be just the spot. Light-filled rooms, pastel-coloured walls and dreamy modernist furniture create a calm and picture-worthy spot. Plus the studio apartments are excellent value for money."

"One Square provides amazing views of the city in their outdoor terrace, alongside their extensive gin collection, luxurious Scottish setting and 4.5 star Trip Advisor rating. With one of the largest collections of gin to hand, and all the types of cocktails you can imagine, One Square is a high-class trip for those looking for a sophisticated trip to Edinburgh's Festival Square."

"The One Square menu is home to a seasonal selection of signature creations, as well as our ever-popular Inverurie burger and dry-aged Flat Iron steaks. We work with leading local suppliers to ensure that our produce is fresh, traceable, and delicious. Open for breakfastDress code: CasualPhone: +44 131 229 9131"