Page 68 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL WINTER 2024 SCOTLAND

Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk, Saint Margaret —And their…

THE ROYAL CONNECTION

Story by Sharon Whitley Larsen Photos by Sharon Whitley Larsen and Ron James

ne of my favorite cities is
Edinburgh—which I've vis‐
ited eight times. With a
population today over a
O half million, it was built on
“beer, biscuits, books” (brewing, baking,
and printing trades). And, besides its fa‐
mous castle and royal connections—from
Mary, Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth
II--it also has some historic gems, de‐
lightful restaurants--and amazing muse‐
ums, some of them free.
I love strolling along the popular
Royal Mile between the Palace of Holy‐
roodhouse (the official residence of the
British monarch in Scotland) and the
famed Edinburgh Castle, which I never
tire of touring.
Throughput the years I have enjoyed
visiting the interesting museums and his‐
toric houses along the Royal Mile. One fa‐
vorite of mine is the People’s Story
Museum—as well as the Museum of Edin‐
burgh, the Museum of Childhood, the
John Knox House, the Writers' Museum,
and Gladstone’s Land (17th century fur‐
nished historic house).
After again touring the Palace of
Holyroodhouse on a gorgeous day—I sat
on a bench outside the 17th century
Canongate Kirk (“church”) to rest my

68 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER 2025