Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is the run of streets through Edinburgh's Old Town from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse: Castlehill, the Lawnmarket, the High Street and the Canongate. No single street is called the Royal Mile; the name covers the whole route, which is roughly a Scots mile long - an old measure a little longer than the English mile.
In practice
The route follows the spine of a volcanic ridge, with the Castle on its rock at the top and Holyrood in the valley at the bottom. Dozens of closes and wynds run off both sides. Along the way are St Giles' Cathedral, the City Chambers, the courts and, at the foot, the Scottish Parliament. The Canongate was a separate burgh until 1856, which is why its tolbooth and kirk stand apart from the High Street's.
Why it matters to newcomers
The upper half is busy with visitors all year and solid in August, so locals tend to cross it rather than walk its length. Early mornings and winter evenings are the time to see it. Addresses use the individual street names, not "Royal Mile", so look for High Street or Canongate when you are given directions.
Related
- Close - the passages that run off it
- Wynd - its public side lanes
- Holyrood - the palace and Parliament at its foot
- One O'Clock Gun - fired from the Castle at its top
Sources: Edinburgh World Heritage; Edinburgh Castle.