Robsons-Adventures_Edinburgh (West Lothian)

Welcome to Scotland and my old haunt of Mid Calder and East Calder just a few miles outside Edinburgh, the glorious capital of this beautiful country. Following my time of living in Eskdalemuir in the Borders region I started work at Edinburgh Airport, moving into my first own property on the 6th August 1984. No the photos don't go back to August '84, but rather, February '85! The two small towns of Mid & East Calder are almost connected and virtually form part of the much larger Livingston. These days Livingston has really developed and has a great shopping centre (Almondvale) as well as Trading Village to get your Designer Gear! There is also a pretty good football team these days. Despite being so close to large towns there are some beautiful walks in the vicinity and I particularly like the Almondell & Calder Wood Country Park, but also have fond memories of cruising on the Union Canal .

Sleeping - well there are many hotels obviously in Edinburgh, but these days there are a few around Livingston, but these days when I return to this part of Scotland I stay with my good friends Alan & Lynda McIntyre and yes that is Alan back in 1985! We were the the founder members of the 'In Between Knees' Club, which had a double meaning, but I will not go into the details on that! I believe the club died anyway after I left and when some of the members became pregnant - I will say no more.

Getting to East & Mid Calder - the best way to get their is to fly into Edinburgh Airport as a number of airlines including budget ones fly to the capital city. There is then a regular bus service into the city where you can either get a bus out to East & Mid Calder / Livingston or you can get a train from Haymarket Station to Livingston.

Because of the location it makes a great place to stay if you are planning to visit Edinburgh and during each August, Edinburgh is the place to be as it is the venue for the fantastic main Edinburgh Festival and Fringe Festival. Probably even more famous is the Military Tattoo which many people have know doubt seen on the TV over the years.
Obviously Edinburgh has much much more to offer than the Festivals and there are year round attractions, which include the Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse (the Queen still stays here from time to time), a walk up Arthur's Seat gives you spectacular views for miles. The city is just steeped with history and has many ghostly stories, remember Burke & Hare the grave robbers or the moving story about Greyfriars Bobby there is just so much to see and do in Edinburgh. The best thing to do is just go and enjoy it, but give yourself a few days to give the city justice.