Between classes and traveling to other parts of Europe, I spend a lot of time exploring Edinburgh. The city has so much to offer, and I really can’t imagine studying anywhere else. Some of my favorite things to do in Edinburgh are climbing to the top of Arthur’s Seat, hiking to Calton Hill, and visiting the National Museum of Scotland. Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano that you can hike to the top of. Although it is pretty much straight up the entire time, the view from the top is breathtaking and well worth the climb. You can see the entire city, the castle, and the rolling hills of Scotland in the panoramic view. Calton Hill offers a similar picturesque landscape; however, from Calton Hill, you can see Arthur’s Seat as well. It’s probably the most iconic spot in Edinburgh with the Dugald Stewart Monument taking center stage. My favorite museum in Scotland is the National Museum of Scotland. It offers a diverse selection of exhibits ranging from engineering and technology, to the history of fashion, to Scottish history. The museum is great for all ages, and it’s the perfect escape on a rainy day.
I’ve also talked a little bit about some of the excursions I’ve done with my classes. The site visits and the field trip to Arthur’s seat have provide my classes with a lot of real world context and a way to explore different parts of the city. In addition to these outings, I have three more site visits to various construction sites in Edinburgh and a week long field trip to an outdoor education center in West Linton. The field trip will be centered around learning surveying techniques and developing a detailed map of the area. Again, this is a perfect example of how much practical experience the classes at the University of Edinburgh provide to its engineering students.
