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A Photographers Guide to Edinburgh

Andrew Palmer
Feb 27, 2018
7 min read

Edinburgh. Scotland's Capital and the second most visited city in the UK ,with good reason! Architecture, history, culture, nature and so many other aspects combine to create a thriving and dynamic city that is without a doubt, a photographers paradise!

Whether you are a professional, an amateur hobbyist - like myself - or simply someone on holiday who likes to impress their friends back home, Edinburgh has more than enough opportunity waiting.

So for this blog I am gathering together my top tips and locations to spice up that social media following and explore this beautiful city and the surrounding area.

Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile

Can you really say you have been to Edinburgh without seeing the iconic castle and famous Royal Mile? They are certainly worth a visit! With the castle's impressive heritage and the many little alleys, shops and restaurants around the mile, the whole area can explored for hours. The problem with such a popular area however is that there are so many people and getting those photos can require a bit of patience if you are trying to get passers by out of your shots. Fear not for there is a solution! The answer is simple.

GET UP EARLY.

Okay it may not be fun however the early hours of the morning around 6-8am provide a golden window of opportunity (and I mean this quite literally) as the early morning sun brings a beautiful backlight to Arthur's seat and the buildings of the mile and the light also shines directly onto Edinburgh Castle providing ample lighting for your photos. Whats more the majority of Edinburgh's population are still in bed which means the streets, and most importantly the castle, are all but deserted which allows you to take your photos without others getting in the way of your shots and creating an almost postcard like appearance.

As an added note head to the bottom of the mile to the Scottish Parliament and you'll notice a few ponds in the concrete. Some of the ponds have little walkways you can stand on and with the sun creeping over the extinct volcano it can add a halo like appearance whilst you're 'walking on water' (good balance recommended).

The National Museum Rooftop

Okay so these days the museum rooftop is a bit of a cliche for photo opportunities and is quite widely known, nevertheless the panoramic views of the city make it worth mentioning. It also gives you another opportunity to photograph the castle (the local pigeons can make quite interesting subjects with the city backdrop too).

As an added bonus the museum is free to visit and only a stones throw away from the Royal Mile. The galleries and exhibits will provide inspiration for all as natural history, geology, arts and science are all displayed spectacularly under one roof.

Sunshine on Leith

Leith has had quite a reputation for a number of years made very apparent in Danny Boyle's production of Trainspotting, but this part of Edinburgh is up and coming with more than a few hidden gems for those willing to look around.

The Water of Leith, a 12 mile water system that flows from the Pentlands to the shores of Leith, transports you to an urban garden within the heart of Edinburgh. A lot of effort has gone into removing the rubbish polluting the water ways and the green highway provides plenty of habitats for Edinburgh's urban wildlife and the lush backdrops mixed with hidden art and architecture create a wonderful symbioses to that top insta formula. The area is also highway to Stockbridge and the Dean Village which are both photogenic areas in their own right.

Other hot spots include the old Leith railway which cuts underneath Easter Road. The trains no longer use this track but the rails surrounded by buildings and vegetation make an awrsome canvas and if you're lucky you may spot some of the cities red foxes too.

The Leith Docks in the golden hours are certainly worth a stop

And the often overlooked London Road Gardens will be a burst of colour with the spring season upon us.

Instafood

After all that exploring you will need to stop and have a bite to eat or to refuel your caffeine levels. Thankfully there are certainly no shortage of independent cafes and eateries throughout the city. This also means that there are plenty of places to photograph your meals if that's your cup of tea... no pun intended.

My top recommendation is Meltmongers in Brunstfield. An independent little cafe that does the most AMAZING toasties and sweet potato fries 'drool'. Each meal is presented beautifully in its own little paper box and, you guessed it, is Instagram gold! Why not add a finishing touch to the photos by heading out to the neighbouring Brunstfield Links to give you a background of beautiful sunshine, green grass and blue skies to make your followers gasp with food envy.

Other very worthy mentions are the Chocolate Tree and the Cheesecake Factory in Brunstfield, Papii on Hanover Street, Earthy in Stockbridge, David Bann's on St Mary's Street, Love Crumbs and Graze on the Grassmarket and the Manna House on Easter Road.

Holyrood Park

Holyrood Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Edinburgh and with good reason! It's not often you have an extinct volcano slap bang next to the city centre. But besides the obvious hike up Arthur's seat or the crags there are a few areas worth mentioning.

When you head on the east road towards Duddingston village you will find the beautiful Duddingston Loch and Dr Neil's secret Garden an area that transports you out of the city and into a peaceful Eden. Quite literally.

Head west towards Meadowbank and you will find the St Margret's Loch with the only ruin found in the park, St Anthony's Chapel, watching over the many habituated swans and waterfowl that inhabit the water feature, interesting subjects to add to your portfolio.

As for hiking Arthur's Seat or the Salsbury Crags there is no correct time of day to visit or take your snapshots however it is worth mentioning the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, again provide the most ideal lighting of the park but should you choose to venture in the unsociable hours of dusk, the crags provide the potential for spectacular light trails for those photographing on DSLR's (DSLR, Tripod torch and a friend most definitely needed)

Heelan Coos

Did you really go to Scotland if you didn't see a highland cow? Fear not for Edinburgh has those too. You don't have to book a bus tour to the highlands (although it is worth doing if you are short on time!)

The Pentland Hills at the Swanston gateway have a herd that roam freely, so it may sometimes take a while to find them but they are fairly approachable once you do provided you do not spook them and the beautiful heathland provides a backdrop that rivals the scenery of the Highlands.

The hills provide some of the best views of the city and are perfect for cleansing the soul of the busy city life... they are also very accessible by bus.

Outside the City Boundaries

If you're an eager traveller and explorer like myself and like to take the road less travelled here are a few recommendations for places easily accessible from the Edinburgh city centre.

The Cramond village is a suburb in the north west of Edinburgh near Corstorphine. The coastal town is placed where the river almond meets the firth of forth and due to it's location from the city centre is less visited by tourists. The harbour, island walkway, river trail and J.K Rowlings house all make this area worth your time.

The Cammo Estate is a country park with fantastic ruins and woodlands , again less visited by the typical tourist

Take a train to Dalmeny and you will find one of Scotland's most sought out man made features, the forth railway bridge.

Travel to East Lothian and discover the seaside holiday destination of North Berwick. Okay so this is not Edinburgh but it is one of my favourite destinations and is an absolute must visit!

The coastal town reflects a more modest quaint lifestyle than the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh where you can find it's own equivalent to Arthur's seat, the Berwick Law, keep an eye out for the wild ponies who graze the area.

It also has it's own castle and some spectacular beaches if you catch that sunset of the harbour your friends back home will be dying to know where you've been.

Did you also know one of the worlds greatest wildlife spectacles lies in North Berwick? Bass Rock has the worlds largest colony of breeding gannets - a massive seabird from around March to August. Regular boat trips can be arranged to visit the colony and if you're lucky you may spot seals, puffins - another very iconic Scottish species and even dolphins on occasion!

Calton Hill

No self respecting photographer would not mention photographing the Balmoral Hotel and Princes street from Calton Hill. At night it is the perfect area to capture spectacular light trails. I'll let this photo do the talking.

A City for All

As you can see Edinburgh has so many places to explore and I have barely scratched the surface with this blog and whether you have a professional camera, a simple bridge camera, or are just using your phone your social media followers are going to fall in love with the city and its wonders just as much as you will. Watch out for those photo points dotted around the city but feel free to let your creative mind wonder and no matter what you do or where you go. Just remember to take time to enjoy it and soak in the atmosphere of one of the worlds most vibrant and beautiful places.

If you would like to see more of my adventures around Scotland or would like to know more? Follow my instagram @palmera93_photography