UK Tourist & Leisure Attractions

This is the Scottish bagpipe player at the England/Scotland border on the A68 road between Newcastle and Jedburgh.  Mike tried to get Belinda to find out if it was true about Scotsman and Kilts, however we suspect he was wearing thermals!
 

Yes, it's a gift shop in Jedburgh and Belinda's about to pounce (you can just see her far right in this picture).  However, the attached café next door was more of an attraction for Mike and Bob, it had been a long journey getting there.

Belinda spent ages in this fine gift shop.  They did everything Scottish here, tartan clothing, pictures, food stuffs, toys, you name it, they sold it and Belinda bought it!  If anyone know of a cure for 'Giftshopitas', please e-mail us!

We had several hours in Edinburgh before the Tattoo, so went exploring this fine city, visiting the main shopping centre, a café, a pub and Princes Street Gardens where the main Edinburgh Festival events take place.  See our Scotland tourist links.
 

From West Princes Street Gardens we had a good view of Edinburgh Castle.  Belinda took plenty of photos and down below us were lots of other festival events.  We were impressed by the gardens and stylish flower displays.
 

It was a huge but friendly crowd edging forward here on the way in to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  The Tattoo is part of the Edinburgh Festival that takes place every August.  We were hoping the light drizzle was going to stop...

We finally got seated, here's Bob and Violet waiting for the Tattoo to start.  The atmosphere was one of excited anticipation at this point and we weren't going to let the rain and cold spoil it!  See our video clips.

As the Military Tattoo got under way, so did the rain!  This elevated balcony ran round above the seating area and was a platform for the many spotlights as well.  The many national flags symbols were displayed here too.
 

We enjoyed many fine displays like this marching band, with some involving big guns, dancing and military vehicles in the Edinburgh Castle arena for several hours.  We became oblivious to the worsening rain!
 

Irish dancing display, here enhanced by reflections from the spotlight on the wet ground at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We had a great time at the Tattoo and returned to the hotel cold, wet and tired but happy we'd seen it.