Ramsay Gardens

Luxury flats near Edinburgh Castle

Now the most sought-after flats in all of Edinburgh, the buildings in Ramsay Gardens were originally intended as accommodation for University students and staff. Built in the immediate vicinity of Edinburgh Castle and the Camera Obscura by Sir Patrick Geddes, the houses combine Scottish and English styles and give stunning views over Edinburgh's New Town and Princes Street.

The apartments of Ramsay Gardens have become Edinburgh landmarks. The distinctive red roof and whitewash buildings to the left of Edinburgh Castle give a striking contrast in the city's skyline. Most tourists love to take pictures and wander around the prestigious quarter.

High-priced flats for prestigious Ramsay residents

The flats cost around 1 million pounds each due to their distinctive location but life in Ramsay Gardens is not easy. Residents must put up with many things including having tourists on their doorstep virtually all year round. The most disturbing aspect of living in Ramsay Garden is probably the noise.

Edinburgh Castle is home of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which runs every night in August. The massed pipes and drums make an incredible noise as did the jets that flew over the apartments during the 2004 show. Music concerts are also staged on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade and the Castle is also the traditional setting for fireworks.

The select few that live in these luxury tenements know what they must put up with but all in all, it must be amazing to have Edinburgh Castle on your doorstep and gorgeous views over Edinburgh's City Centre and New Town from your window.

How to reach Ramsay Gardens

You can visit Ramsay Gardens on your way back from Edinburgh Castle then walk down past the old Parliament building, down the Mound, past the National Galleries of Scotland and into Princes Street. You can also take the reverse route but you'd have to go uphill so my first suggestion is easier.

Nearby attractions include the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, the distinctive Edinburgh tower with great views all around. Located at the very end of the Royal Mile it's a delightful, but expensive treat (entrance fee - £6.45).

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Origin of 'Edinburgh'

Tourists have problems with the name of Edinburgh. There are hundreds of ways people write it and the most common writings include 'edinburg', 'edinborough', 'edimburgh', 'edinbourgh', 'ediburgh', 'edinbugh', 'edinboro', 'edingburgh', 'edinbrugh', 'edimburg', 'edinburugh', 'edingurgh', 'edinbrough', etc.

According to the Scottish Place Names dictionary, the name Edinburgh means 'Fort of the Rock Face'. The 'edin' part comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'rock face', while 'burgh' comes from Old English meaning stronghold.

Some more obscure (and quite funny) ways of writing Edinburgh include: edinburough, edingburg, edinbourg, edinburh, edinurgh, edenburg, edinbough, edinbourough, edinbrgh, edingborough, edenburgh, edinberg, edinborgh, edinborugh, edinburge, edinburhg, edingbourgh, etc.

Edinburgh is spelt Edimburgo in Spanish and Italian and Édimbourg in French.

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