Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh was an 8-hour train ride from Cardiff. We discovered that Marks & Spencer, the British retailer of clothing and food items, has a prepared food store in the larger rail stations -- so we were able to buy sandwiches, water, wine and treats for the trip.

It is the capital and second largest city in Scotland. Situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in the Lothian region, the city dates back before the 7th century. The population was 482,640 as of 2012, with an estimated urban population of 817,800, making it home to around 15.4% of Scotland's population. The University of Edinburgh is one of four universities located in Edinburgh; it is ranked among the world's top 20 universities, making the city a Scottish academic hub.

Historic Edinburgh is visually lovely and contains lots of outdoor flower displays. The castle and surrounding area are important tourist attractions. Scottish plaids, shortbread and whiskey are for sale on every block.  

Our lodging, Emmaus a House, was highly recommended on Trip Advisor. It is a Christian retreat center, that also offers rooms for rent.