Edinburgh, known for centuries as “the Athens of the north”, is a beautiful city. At its heart the Castle stands guard over the ancient Old Town, which stretches in a maze of small streets along a ridge descending to Scotland’s new parliament building. To the north, grandiose Georgian architectural fantasies sweep their elegant façades across the crescents and upmarket shops of the New Town. This is a city which once presented a stern face to the world, thanks to its strict Presbyterian outlook. In the 21st century, however, it is better defined by its vibrant festival scene, with the Internationl Arts Festival, the Fringe, and winter’s giant Hogmanay street party. Yet this is a city which still holds the countryside very close to its heart, with the mountain of Arthur’s Seat looming over the city.