Visit Edinburgh in a Campervan

The vibrant capital of a proud and beautiful country, Edinburgh encapsulates the spirit of Scotland. The many different places to visit in Edinburgh combine to create a fabulous merge of tradition and modernity. You’ll discover everything from ancient historical castles to exhibitions of modern art, all encapsulated in a lively atmosphere that’s simply intoxicating.

Edinburgh is a city so full of history and culture that you could spend a year there and merely scratch the surface. The joy of visiting with a motorhome to Edinburgh is that you can return time and again, taking advantage of the many campsites near Edinburgh to discover the sights, sounds and tastes of the city time and again. A motorhome Edinburgh experience gives you the best of all worlds, flexibility, comfort and access to all of the best places to visit in Edinburgh. The city’s fantastic location also makes campervan hire in Edinburgh ideal, sorting out your city accommodation and giving you the freedom explore Scotland’s other attractions!

Places to Visit in Edinburgh:

Looming over the city is the iconic Edinburgh Castle. Perched on Castle Rock, smack between the city’s Medieval old town and Georgian new town, the Castle is an integral part of Edinburgh’s identity. A former royal residence and military stronghold, the castle now forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and should top the list of attractions on your Edinburgh trip.

The Royal Palace houses Scotland’s crown jewels and the legendary Stone of Destiny, or “Stone of Scone”, upon which the Scottish Monarchs were traditionally coronated. Turn up before one o’clock, and you can witness the firing of the famous cannon gun, locals have been using it to set their watches since 1861! Go on to explore the bastions, the Great Hall and The Scottish National War Memorial before replenishing your energy with a traditional cream tea at the Queen Anne Building Tearooms. Scrumptious!

From Edinburgh Castle take your time and wander down the glorious Royal Mile. A culmination of streets that make up the long main thoroughfare of Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town. Down this cobbled street -- and its winding offshoots -- you’ll find whisky bars offering tasting sessions of the national tipple and traditional pubs serving Scottish dishes like haggis or Tattie scones. Spend your Scottish pounds in the boutique local shops that offer everything from shortbread to tartan kilts before getting down to some major sightseeing.

Start at the very top of the Royal Mile, near to the castle, with Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. This 150-year-old attraction has six stories with over 150 interactive exhibitions including the headline Camera Obscura itself. As you wander up through the interactive displays, you’ll find yourself facing mind-bending illusions, lose yourself in a mirror maze, shrink to mouselike proportions and encounter lifelike holograms. That’s just the warm-up! At the top of the building is the Camera Obscura itself, a hybrid between a periscope and pinhole camera that gives you a magical 360-degree view of Edinburgh that is truly unique.

Having got the lay of the land, take a small detour from the Royal Mile and pop into the Scottish National Gallery for some of Scotland’s finest artworks, or visit the Writers Museum to learn about the lives of Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Return to the Royal Mile and wander past iconic buildings like the magnificent St Giles Cathedral, the Mercat Cross and the Adam Smith Statue. Literary fans will love The Scottish Storytelling Centre which showcases Scotland’s literary prowess and culture via performances and storytelling nights. Social history nuts must head to the end of the Royal Mile for The People’s Story Museum, for an education on the life and strife of Scotland's people and the rights they fought for.

The Royal Mile ends at the entrance of Calton Hill, an iconic green hill and UNESCO World Heritage Site jam-packed with historic buildings including the Nelson's Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument, the Old Royal High School, the Robert Burns Monument, the Political Martyrs' Monument and the iconic Athenian acropolis - known as the National Monument. The park is also popular for star gazing thanks to its two observatories, a fantastic way to finish a day exploring the city.

Whether or not you love to hike; Holyrood Park, the home of the famous Arthurs Seat, is one of the top places to visit in Edinburgh. The park itself is magnificent, a Royal Park of 640-acres full of stunning walking and cycling trails, the striking Salisbury Crags, Duddingston Loch and the medieval St Anthony’s Chapel. However, there’s no denying that the parks key attraction is Arthurs Seat. An ancient volcano sitting 251 metres above sea level, the walk up to Arthurs Seat is something of a local pilgrimage and a right of passage for all visitors to Edinburgh. The views over Edinburgh and the surrounding area are stunning, and there’s even a 2000-year-old hill fort to explore.

One of the great joys of Edinburgh is exploring the length and breadth of this vibrant city. Wander through the Georgian architecture of the New Town, lie in the sun under the gaze of the Castle at Princess Street Gardens, or peruse the local markets. Try your luck at Summerhall, a multi-arts venue with a diverse programme of exhibitions, workshops, performances, gigs and club nights taking place all year round. If you are happy to go further afield the Atlantic Coast and its rugged bays are easily within reach.

Magical Times to Visit Edinburgh:

Edinburgh is an amazing city, with great places to visit in Edinburgh found all year round. However, there are one or two Edinburgh festivals that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Switch out your New Year plans for the madness that is Hogmanay. The Scott’s version of a new years celebration that combines fireworks, music, all manner of performances, drinking, feasting and general madness in a party that lasts for three whole days! It’s wild, it’s crazy, and it’s without a doubt the best way to greet the new year.

Head to Edinburgh to escape the January blues for Burns Night, a celebration of the birth of Scotland’s most famous poet Robert “Bobby” Burns. You’ll start the evening with The Burns Supper, a meal consisting of Haggis, speeches, poetry and plenty of toasts. After the meal, the revelry begins and you’ll get a privileged insight into a true traditional Scottish celebration.

In the summer, the city of Edinburgh is near enough synonymous with the world’s largest comedy and arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe. For the whole month of August a cacophony of stand-up comics, cabaret acts, musical performances, theatre, ventriloquists, magicians, street performers, poets, theatre and acts which, frankly, defy definition to descend on the city and transform the streets and buildings onto one large, living stage. It’s unmissable.  

Caravan sites and campsites near Edinburgh:

A motorhome Edinburgh experience is easier than ever thanks to the many caravan parks and campsites near Edinburgh. With many of the campsites near Edinburgh open all year round, you’ll always find a spot that’s perfect for you.

Benefitting from a glorious location close to the coast in the Firth of Forth, just south-west of the city centre, Edinburgh Caravan Club Site offers proximity to the beach and some local golf courses as well as being just a 45-minute drive from Edinburgh Castle. You’ve got fantastic access to many of the top sights and attractions of Edinburgh, and the site itself has fantastic facilities including wifi, laundry facilities, a toilet and shower block and electric hook up.

A similar distance from Edinburgh but inland to the South East is the luxurious Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park. Nestled in the grounds of a country estate, this campsite near Edinburgh is surrounded by beautiful parkland but benefits from excellent transport links to the heart of the city centre and quality facilities. The site has all the usual caravan park basics as well as a well-stocked onsite shop and gorgeous restaurant.

Also on the Atlantic Coast, Drummohr Holiday Park is slightly north of the city centre, ideal if you want to travel on into the heart of Scotland after your Edinburgh trip. The site is beautiful, with a fabulous coastal location and Edinburgh Castle just under an hour’s drive away. You have all the basic caravan site facilities plus an onsite shop for those emergency bits and bobs.