Rooftops in Scotland: Edinburgh seen from above
A nation of the United Kingdom
A constituent nation of the United Kingdom, Scotland covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It has a little over 5.4 million inhabitants across nearly 79,000 square kilometres and shares its only land border with England, to the south. Edinburgh is its capital and Glasgow its largest city. Since 1999, a Scottish Parliament sitting in Edinburgh has held powers over many areas of domestic life, and Scotland has kept its own legal system. English is the everyday language, alongside Scottish Gaelic and Scots.
In the north, the Highlands spread out their glacier-carved mountains, up to Ben Nevis, the country's highest point at 1,345 metres. The country has nearly 790 islands, from Shetland and Orkney to the Hebrides, and its deeply indented coastline is reminiscent of fjords. Around seven in ten inhabitants live in the Central Lowlands, the broad valley linking Glasgow to Edinburgh.
Why head up to the rooftops
In a country of hills and shores, a high terrace is the best way to take in the landscape at a glance: the spires and roofs of an old town, a castle on its rock, the sea in the distance when the sky clears. On long summer evenings, drinks are enjoyed in the open air; for the rest of the year, a glazed room or a covered terrace lets you keep the view while sheltered from the wind.
Edinburgh, the first stop
The capital on its hills
Edinburgh, the country's second city, stretches along the south shore of the Firth of Forth, between the castle rock, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat. On its rooftops, you will find two venues at the top of the W hotel in the St James Quarter, a champagne lounge above Waverley station, a roof terrace at the foot of the castle on the Grassmarket, a Thai restaurant and a hotel bar with views of the fortress, and, in Leith, a bar on the top floor of a whisky distillery.
A short open-air season
Fully open-air terraces only open in spring and summer. Most venues nevertheless have glazed rooms or covered roofs and welcome guests all year round, with the view thrown in, even when the weather does not allow you to sit outside.
Practical tips
Prices, booking and weather
Prices are shown in pounds sterling: on Edinburgh's rooftops, a cocktail usually costs between £10 and £19. Book when you can, especially at weekends and during the August festivals, when the city is fully booked. The weather changes quickly: check the opening hours before you go and bring a warm layer for the terraces, even in summer.
