Edinburgh Day 1: 3 walking tours, 1 Loch Ness Monster and 1 Confusing camera attraction

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21 September 2010

I arrived in the evening before with a massive headache after a near 10 hours drive from London. Not too sure why but I always get headaches after long drives. I ditched my car at one of the Park-and-Ride facilities, shuddering at the thought that it may be the final time I see my car. Luckily my fears were unfounded and 5 days later my car was still safe and sound.

In the morning, we stopped by at the Tourist Information Centre to pick up our Edinburgh passes. Then we make our way to the high street of Edinburgh, or so called Royal Mile because it is exactly a Scottish mile from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. We didn’t have time to plan a proper 3 day itinerary for the pass so we decided for today we will go for the attractions at the Royal Mile first. We did 5 attractions today but no night tours.

1. The 3D Loch Ness Experience

Seriously they should not market this as entertainment and yes it is 3D, but the 3D doesn’t really add much to the overall experience and it is a complete annoyance to adjust your 3D glasses while you have your headphones on. You can learn about the myth of the Loch Ness monster and the eye-witness accounts of many sightings of what seems to be a large sea creature.

3D LOCH NESS experience theatre

Li Ying with 3D glasses and headphones in the Loch Ness Experience Edinburgh

Globe Nomads review ratings: 2.5
Certainly very educational but it is just a short 25mins. If you are paying full price I don’t think it is worth it since you probably can get very similar material from the Internet. However if you are using the Edinburgh pass, the short 25 min makes it very easy for you to visit between attractions.
(please refer to ratings explanation)

See http://www.3dlochness.com/visitor-info.htm for latest prices.
Included in Edinburgh Pass.


2. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

This is a very entertaining attraction. Try the vortex tunnel! The tunnel sets your mind spinning even before you reach the centre. This feature is well executed. I have tried other vortex tunnels but this one is the best so far. The one in Edinburgh Dungeons pales in comparison. The circumference and the length of the tunnel play a huge factor. You definitely don’t want the tunnel to be too long making everyone sick after walking through.

The show provides a good introduction to Camera Obscura. It basically involves projecting the image from a periscope, which is located at the top of the building, onto a smooth white concave wooden table top. The show lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. After that you are free to explore the rest of the building. This attraction does a lot of student groups and they could be quite rowdy at times.

The logo gives you a pretty good ides what the show is about.

Looking down the Royal Mile

Is it easier to see me now?

One of the many drawings which can be found here. Interesting?

Instant cloning!

Vortex tunnel. Kylie sings, "Spinning around, spinning around, spinning around..."

Which is the real me???

Globe Nomads review ratings: 4
Not to be missed. Ideally you should visit this attraction at the beginning of your stay in Edinburgh because the show gives a good introduction on the more prominent buildings on the Royal Mile and also in Edinburgh.
(please refer to ratings explanation)

See http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/your_visit/times_prices.asp for latest prices.
Included in Edinburgh Pass.


3. Mercat Tours – Secrets of the Royal Mile

You join this tour to learn interesting facts about Edinburgh and not to be entertained. Bare this in mind and you will enjoy this tour as much as I did. The guide usher you around in Edinburgh and points out to you some interesting facts such as the Heart of Midlothian, the grave of John Knox and the site of the last public execution. This tour will end at a small museum put up by Mercat Tours located right within the vaults.

All Mercat Tours start at the Mercat Cross, or rather “Market cross” along the Royal Mile.

Grave of John Knox in the Parliament car park

One of the many "closes" off the Royal Mile

Sedan chair in the Mercat Tours Museum

Globe Nomads review ratings: 4
If you only have time for 1 tour in the Edinburgh pass, this should be the tour of your choice.
(please refer to ratings explanation)

See http://www.mercattours.com/home.asp for latest prices.
Included in Edinburgh Pass.


4. Mercat Tours – The Historic Vaults Tour

This tour brings you deeper into the vaults while the guide explain some historic facts about them, including suspected activities and the living experience in the vaults. The vaults are actually a series of chambers created by the arches in the south bridge. The bridge was completed in 1788. The chambers are used for about 30 years and Edinburgh council decided to seal them. Today, you will not be able to see the arches of the bridge save for 1 as buildings line up on both sides. Edinburgh council has reopened some chambers for tourism purposes.

Mercat Tours repeat some of their material across the tours which will account about 20 minutes of tour time. All Mercat Tours start at the Mercat Cross.

Inside the Mercat Tours vault.

This narrow tunnel may well be used to transport illegal cadavers to the university.

Globe Nomads review ratings: 3.5
If you want a good clean look into the vaults and you want to learn something, this is the tour to join.
(please refer to ratings explanation)

See http://www.mercattours.com/home.asp for latest prices.
Included in Edinburgh Pass.


5. Auld Reekie Tours – The Haunted Underground Tour

This tour is entertaining to some extent but that is all to it. Auld Reekie Tours has been allocated another vault, different from Mercat Tours. The guide first gives an introduction on the various torture tools, which you should be most familiar with after a couple of days in Edinburgh! Then the tour continues with the various chambers in the vault. The guide will tell a tale for each of the chambers and for the very last chamber, the guide will set off a thunder flash or similar causing a large noise. If expected, then it is hardly scary. However if you did not expect it and have heart problems, it would be best to skip this tour.

Auld Reekie Tour’s meeting point is just outside Tron Kirk. The first thing they do is to bring you to their office, which is at the other side of the south bridge, about 200 to 300 metres away. Their vault is located there. The office is staffed by young people with punk outfits and Edinburgh pass holders are entitled to a sampler of haggis but they didn’t give it to me and I only realized it the next day. Be sure to ask them! I believe the Terror Tour from the same company will also have the same material. If you want to maximize your Edinburgh pass, just do the Terror Tour.

Inside Auld Reekie Tours vault.

Real or fake? This room claimed to be rented out to the present witches.

Globe Nomads review ratings: 2
If you are short on time, I would recommend you skip this. The tour may appeal to very young people though, but definitely not recommended for older people.
(please refer to ratings explanation)

See http://www.auldreekietours.com/ for latest prices.
Included in Edinburgh Pass.