Core Edinburgh Walking Tour

(Numbered Stops)

1. College Wynd (Guthrie Street):  Birthplace of Sir Walter Scott (1771).

2. High School Yards:  Site of the Royal High School attended by Scott.

3. 25 George Square:  Family residence and student lodgings during Scott’s youth.

4. Buccleuch Parish Churchyard:  South-side parish burial ground associated with Scott’s student district.

5. Greyfriars Kirkyard:  Burial place of Scott’s father and other family members.

6. Parliament Hall (Parliament House):  Scott’s workplace as Clerk of Session.

7. Signet Library:  Professional setting linked to Scott’s legal career.

8. St Giles’ Cathedral:  Principal church of Edinburgh’s civic and legal community during Scott’s lifetime.

9. National Library of Scotland:  Repository of Scott manuscripts and related archival material.

10. The Mound:  Link between Old Town and New Town during Scott’s Edinburgh life.

11. 39 Castle Street:  Scott’s residence (1802–1826); written here: the Waverley novels.

12. Assembly Rooms (George Street):  Venue where Scott publicly acknowledged authorship in 1827.

13. Scott Monument (Princes Street Gardens):  Victorian monument commemorating Scott (completed 1844).

14. Edinburgh Castle:  Location of the rediscovery of the Honours of Scotland in 1818, led by Scott.

15. 5 North St David Street:  Lodgings used by Scott after the financial crash of 1826.

16. Douglas Hotel (St Andrew Square):  Where Scott stayed on his final return to Edinburgh in 1832.

17. 3 Walker Street:  Later New Town residence associated with Scott.

18. 16 Atholl Crescent:  Residence of Robert Cadell, Scott’s later publisher.

19. Old Calton Burial Ground:  Burial ground containing monuments linked to Scott’s era and associates.

20. National Monument (Calton Hill):  Early nineteenth-century national monument overlooking Edinburgh.

21. Canongate Churchyard:  Historic burial ground near Scott’s Old Town associations.

22. Museum of Edinburgh (Huntly House):  Museum housing material culture from Scott’s Edinburgh.

23. Sciennes Hill House (Former Site):  Site associated with the meeting of Walter Scott and Robert Burns.

Associated Literary & Institutional Sites

(Alphabetical)

A. Lady Stair’s House:  Later home of Scott’s dining furniture following the 1826 sale.

B. RSA / Royal Institution (The Mound):  Meeting place of the Royal Society of Edinburgh during Scott’s presidency.

C. Blackwood’s (45 George Street):  Publishing house associated with Scott and his contemporaries.

D. Cadell’s Shop (St Andrew Square):  Premises of Robert Cadell, Scott’s later publisher.

E. Raeburn’s House (York Place):  Studio of Sir Henry Raeburn, painter of Scott’s portraits.

F. Lockhart Vantage Point (George Street):  Location from which Lockhart claimed to observe Scott writing Waverley.

H. Statue of George IV (George Street):  Monument linked to the 1822 royal visit organised by Scott.

I. Rose Court (Thistle Court):  Proposed chambers considered by Scott after 1826.

J. Mrs Brown’s Lodgings (6 North St David Street):   Temporary lodgings taken by Scott in 1826 after the financial crash.

K. 6 Shandwick Place:   West End residence occupied by Scott in 1827 during his later Edinburgh years.

L. Mackenzie’s Hotel (Castle Street):  Temporary accommodation used by Scott after leaving Castle Street.

M. James Ballantyne’s House (St John Street):  Residence of Scott’s printer and business partner.

N. Paul’s Work (North Back Canongate):  Printing premises used by the Ballantyne firm.

O. Archibald Constable’s Shop (High Street):  Publishing premises of Scott’s principal pre-1826 publisher.

P. John Ballantyne’s Hanover Street Premises:  Business premises associated with Scott’s literary agent.

Q. St John’s Episcopal Church (West Princes Street):   Burial place of Scott’s mother, Anne Rutherford Scott.

R. 12 Charlotte Street: Residence and office of John Gibson, WS tertius, visited by Scott in his later years.

S. 23 Lynedoch Place: Later residence of John Gibson, WS tertius, associated with Scott’s professional and social circle.

Scott Beyond Edinburgh

Supplementary National Context

I. Smailholm Tower:  Childhood residence where Scott stayed with relatives.

II. Sandyknowe Farm:  Childhood home following illness; early exposure to Border traditions.

III. Ashiestiel House:  Residence where Scott composed major narrative poems.

IV. Abbotsford:  Scott’s home and estate near Melrose.

V. Dryburgh Abbey:  Burial place of Sir Walter Scott.

VI. Lasswade Cottage:  Early marital residence of Scott and Charlotte Carpenter.

VII. Scott’s View:  Landscape viewpoint associated with Scott’s attachment to the Tweed valley.

VIII. Rosebank Cottage (Kelso):  Retirement home of Captain Robert Scott; frequented by Scott in youth.

IX. Kelso Mail (Headquarters):  Newspaper associated with the Ballantyne brothers.

X. Walton Hall (Kelso):  Villa built by John Ballantyne near Kelso.

XI. Tibbie Shiels Inn (St Mary’s Loch):  Meeting place for Scott and Border literary contemporaries.

XII. Selkirk Sheriff Court (Selkirk):  Court where Scott served as Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire.