Scotland Street

     My route into town this morning took me to a place which has become famous to booklovers all over the world. Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series is set in a real Edinburgh street, part of the Georgian New Town, and here it is.

    Below is neighbouring Drummond Place, a douce 'square' which is home to the painter Angus Lordie and his dog, Cyril. Not visible here but just to the right are the central gardens in which Angus takes Cyril for walks, which leads worried readers to ask: what of Cyril's puppies, apparently handed over to a mysterious stranger in this very spot?!

     Though slightly less grand than Drummond Place, Scotland Street still boasts fine architecture, described in Edinburgh (Buildings of Scotland) thus: "Begun in 1823 as Caledonia Street. Chiefly four-storey tenements, their main cornice at third-floor level.

"Austere droved ashlar fronts stepping downhill with a similarly unadorned splay meeting Royal Circus ..."

     Scotland Street runs north-south, and if you carry on up through Drummond Place and then Dublin Street - as I did - here's the view from the top:

This was taken from Queen Street, looking down Dublin Street, over the trees in Drummond Place gardens, on down Scotland Street itself and over Inverleith and Trinity to the Firth of Forth and the hills of Fife beyond. (Click to enlarge it).

     I was following in Domenica's footsteps this morning, making my way as she often does in the books, to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery for coffee. More of that anon.

Comments

[Sheila]

thought you might enjoy this books/travel blog post

http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2007/12/buy-the-book.html

[Juliet]

Excellent! Thank you for this post. I meant to go on my own little Scotland Street pilgrimage when I was visiting E/burgh recently, but spent too long in galleries and ran out of time!

[lucette]

I am delighted to see your photos this morning. You see, for the last two evenings we have been traveling vicariously through your city while following the adventures in Love over Scotland. I am enjoying the audiobook, and the scottish accent adds a lot to the stories. Am worried about Cyril, he has been taken by a young man. And young Bertie is really struggling with his mom. More adventures unfolding tonight.

[lindsay]

How mischievous of you to show Scotland Street but not to mention that, at No 44, there is .. for the address WAS a Boojum, you see!

[Becca]

fabulous!

[Debbie]

Have just started 44 Scotland Street, was already feeling a visit was necessary now I know it is!

[Elaine]

Thank you Karen! I can now imagine where all the characters are.

Now, do you know the location of Kat's deli in the Sunday Philosophy Club series?

I am determined to make it to Edinburgh next year. It looks a terrific place

[Rebecca]

How lovely to see Scotland Street, I have so enjoyed the novels and I do like to think of you following in Domenica's steps (although perhaps not dashing off to live with pirates!).

[Nan]

Wonderful, wonderful to have pictures to supplement my reading. Thank you. I'm awaiting the audiobook of the latest in the series. I love the way there are country views from the heart of the city. It just feels magical to me, like out of a children's story. And Firth of Forth has to be one of the best names ever.