Connolly and Elaine C. Smith get involved.
Old Town Weaving Company
555 Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 226 1555. Mon-Sat 9am—5.3 m; Sun 10am-5 m. £4 (children £1); amily ticket Watch tartan appear before your eyes at this weaving wonderland. You’ll get the chance to try your hand on a real loom and visit two mixed-media exhibitions, Story Of Weaving and Highland Dress Through The Ages. And if you’re feeling brave you can dress up in ancient Scottish costume and have your photie taken.
Palace 0t Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 556 1096. Daily 9.30am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm). £5.50 (£2.70—£4); family ticket £13.50. Starting life as a 13th century abbey, the palace has evolved into a sumptuous regal residence crammed full of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the 17th century. The tower apartments housed a sad and lonely Mary Queen of Scots’ for a time, but with a spectacular view of Arthur’s Seat, and magnificent gardens to look at, it’s hard to feel too sorry for her.
Roslin Chapel
Roslin, nr Edinburgh, 440 2159. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-4.45pm. £3 (£2.50); children £1. What you get out of a trip to Roslin Chapel may depend on your familiarity with books of the
cons iracy theorist genre: a stronghold for the ights Templar?; proof of pre- Columbian trans-Atlantic travel?; even the final resting place of the Holy Grail?!? What is certain though is that the chapel contains enough historically fascinating carvings and symbols to hold the attention of even the most determined philistine.
Royal Museum Of Scotland
2 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history, geology, science, technology and the decorative arts, plus two permanent exhibitions: Art & Industry and The Ivy Wu Gallery. Also on show - Sentimental Journey -A History Of Souvenirs, Hisasht' Mornose - Paperworks, Crowns And Roses, Beyond Bounds - Containers. See Edinburgh Art listings, page 81.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh, 555 5566. Daily 10.30am—6pm (last admission 4.3 m . £7.50 (£3.75—£5.75); family ticket 0. e former royal yacht
has opened its doors to members of the public after a £25 million refit. The on- shore visitor centre contains historical information on the boat and its fumishings while, on the yacht itself, members of the public can have a good nosy round the royals’ former quarters.
THE PUMA EDINBURGH M
ARATHON Sun 26 Sep, Dunfermline Abbey to
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 220 0441. Daily 9.30am-5pm. £4.95 (£2.50—£3.50); family ticket £12. Take a romp through the traditions and history of yer national drink at this fully interactive attraction. Highlights include a lesson from a ghost master-blender, a barrel-car ride through whisky history and a well-stocked bar in which to test your newly-acquired expertise.
The People's Story
Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate, Edinburgh, 529 4057. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Situated in the Canongate Tolbooth, the sights, sounds and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithfully reproduced.
Writers' Museum
Lady Stair’s House, Lady Stair’s Close, Edinburgh, 529 4901. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. A treasure-house of items relating to three of Scotland’s most famous writers: Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.
Central PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Abbot House
Maygate, Dunfermline, 01383 733266. Daily 10am-4.15pm. £3 (£2). As a medieval capital and favourite burial place for the kings and queens of Scotland (including old Brucie), Dunfermline’s witness to the events of Scottish history is second to none. The recently refurbished Abbot’s House features recreations of important events and people from throughout Scottish history, including the shrine of St Margaret and a bust of suffragette Anna Munro.
New Lanark Visitor Centre
New Lanark Mills, Lanark, 01555 661345. Daily 11am—5pm. £3.75 (£2.50). Now a World Heritage Site, New Lanark has much to teach us about life in the industrial era and the pioneering work of philanthropist Robert Owen. Attractions include ‘The Annie McLeod Experience’, an audio- visual trip to Victorian times, as well as a full programme of specialist events and hands-on activities.
Vikingar
Barrfields, Greenock Road, Largs, 01475 689777. Daily 10.30am—5pm. £3.50 (£2.50). An award-wining experience which tells the story of the Vikings in Scotland, from their first pillaging forays to their defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263, with the help of costumed story interpreters and multi-media exhibits. The centre also houses various leisure facilities and a cafe specialising in Viking-themed cuisine - barbequed Christian anyone?
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Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinbu h. Info: 529 7882. Over 5000
runners will race south from Dunferm ine, across the Forth and into
Edinbu h for the city's inaugural Marathon. Now the second biggest
event 0 its kind in the UK, some of the est international names in s
long-distance runnin will grace the Sec
Glasgow-born, 1996
tarmac including the
icago Marathon winner Paul Evans, as well as a
host of competitors from as far away as Kenya. New Zealand and Japan.
EDINBURGH LIFE
Volunteering in Scotland and. Ower’SeaS
V30 ?Pe3cnt8 Volunteering
World.
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Saturday 9th October, 10.303m - 5.00pm. The Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street, Edinburgh
Come to the biggest volunteering event in the UK. There will be opportunities for everyone to volunteer at home and overseas. With over 50 major volunteering organisations participating, Volunteering
World is an ideal way to find out more and get involved.
For information please contact the V50 Enquiries Unit on: 0181 780 7500 (24 hours)
Website: http/lwww.vso.org.uk
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Charity number 313757.
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aluminum WORLD
'1 Freestyle Display Team
-I= Family Fun Race
"t Try the Blues Ski Activity Snowblade Challenge
'2: Try the latest equipment
:2: Competitions & prizes
"i Schools Snowboarding Championship
Sat 9th & Sun IOIh October 1999
Blues is proud to support the White Out Weekend
23 Sep-7 Oct 1999 THEM"