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Robert Burns is probably Scotland's most famous writer. His birthday, on the 25th January, is celebrated by Scots all over the world as Burns' Night.
Burns was born in 1759 in the village of Alloway just south of Ayr. The son of a poor farming family he was destined to be a ploughman. However the local school inspired his love of literature and he soon began writing himself. Despite being born in Ayr, Burns is intrinsically linked with the city of Edinburgh. He first arrived in the city in 1787 at the age of 28 where he planned to make a living from writing. However, whilst he was successful at first, it soon became apparent that his writing alone wouldn't support him so he became a customs officer. He died in 1796 of a heart attack aged just 37. Burns' most famous work is the poem Auld Lang Syne, sung the world over on New Year's Eve. And another well known poem is his Address to a Haggis, now an intrinsic part of Burns' Night celebrations.
There is also a Burns Memorial located at the end of Regent Road on Calton Hill. Designed by Thomas Hamilton in the style of a Greek temple, it was built in the 1830s nearly 50 years after his death. The Writer's Museum in Lady Stair's House on the Lawnmarket stretch of the Royal Mile tells the story of Burns' life and works, along with those of other great Edinburgh writers Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Located on the Castlehill section of the Royal Mile, the Camera Obscura is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Edinburgh.
It was in 1853 that this building, also known as the Outlook Tower, was first converted into a huge "camera" whereby images of the surrounding city are projected onto a viewing table below - and visitors have been flocking to see it ever since. Today there is also a running commentary to go with the images and an accompanying exhibition on the history of photography and holography. And there is also a viewing platform, which allegedly gives some of the best views of the city.
The Camera Obscura is open daily, but times vary according to the time of year so check in advance for opening hours. Entry costs around £3.50 for adults. The Royal Mile is the road that runs between the Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. One of the oldest streets in the city, it grew up as a vital thoroughfare between the two most important buildings in early Edinburgh, the Castle and Holyrood Abbey. The street is actually just over a mile long and is made up of four distinct sections: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate. Today the street is heavily commercial with tartan and shortbread shops a-plenty, but it is still a fascinating road with plenty of tourist attractions along the way so it should be high up on any visitor's agenda.
Branching off from the Royal Mile are numerous alleyways known as either "closes" or "wynds". A wynd is an alleyway that is open at both ends, whilst a close is one that is only open at one end.