The 12th Workshop on Automated Reasoning
Bridging the gap between theory and practice

29th and 30th July 2005

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Weather and Tourism

The City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh is built on and around a number of hills. The view above from Blackford Hill is of the centre of the City with the Firth of Forth (an estuary) in the distance, and beyond it the Kingdom of Fife. The prominent building in the city centre is the castle.

The Castle
The Castle houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the recently returned Stone of Destiny, a working army barracks, and much more.

Princes Street Gardens
Below the Castle to the north is Princes Street Gardens, the site of a former lake. The gardens separate the Old Town from the New Town and are the site for many of Edinburgh's festival activities. In this area can be found art galleries and monuments. On the hill near the Castle is the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall, the temporary home of the recently resurrected Scottish Parliament.

Arthur's Seat
Overlooking the City is Arthur's Seat, the remnants of a long-extinct volcano.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Arthur's Seat sits in public parkland. At the edge of the park is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's residence when she is in Edinburgh. At other times the Palace is open to the public. The Palace is at one end of the Royal Mile, a street that runs up to the Castle.

The Military Tattoo
August is festival time in Edinburgh. In addition to the arts festival and festival fringe, there is a nightly display of military bands in front of the Castle known as the Tattoo. The event includes other displays of dance, music, etc., and on Saturday nights culminates in a firework display.

To the North
To the north of Edinburgh is the Firth of Forth with its famous railway bridge. Beyond that is Fife and the historic city of St Andrews, home of Golf. Further north still are the Cairngorm mountains.

Loch Morlich
The landscape is in many places quite barren but it has a stark beauty enhanced by the many lakes (lochs) such as Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms.

The Highlands
Further to the west are the Highlands and Islands. Popular for hill-walking and mountaineering, more relaxed walks through the glens are an option for the less energetic.


General Information

For general information about tourism in Scotland, see the Scottish Tourist Board Web site, Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board, and the City of Edinburgh Council's travel information.

Dining Out

The conference venue and accommodation will be located close to the centre of the city allowing participants to easily get around and enjoy the night life and sights. Edinburgh offers almost every kind of cuisine imaginable at reasonable prices.

Local Attractions

The conference will take place immediately after the Edinburgh International Festival and its associated book and film festivals and the festival fringe. These combine to form an arts festival with tens of thousands of performances of thousands of different shows. It will be possible to arrive early and spend some time at the festival. Also on during the festival period is The Military Tattoo, a display of military bands, dancers, and more.

Edinburgh offers lots to see and do all year round. Edinburgh Castle houses precious Scottish artefacts, war museums and memorials, and an ancient chapel. There is also much of historical interest to see at the Palace of Holyroodhouse as well as pleasant gardens to roam in. Between the Castle and the Palace is the Royal Mile, a street steeped in history. Explore the ancient side streets and closes or visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre near the Castle. The ghost tours and tours of parts of the medieval city that are now buried underground are very popular with tourists. There are also many interesting shops along the Royal Mile but be warned that the prices are inflated! It may also be possible to visit the new Scottish Parliament.

Relax in Princes Street Gardens or visit the art galleries and museums. The Museum of Scotland provides a fascinating insight into Scotland from prehistoric times right up to the present day. Or take a look around the recently decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia used by Britain's Royal Family on state visits and holidays around the world since the 1950s. It is now moored at the docks in Edinburgh. For plant enthusiasts there is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The shopping in Edinburgh is as good as you would expect from a capital city.

Beyond Edinburgh there are many castles and stately homes to visit. One of the beauties of Scotland is that there is so much to do without travelling a long way. Glasgow, Stirling, the Borders, St Andrews, and much of the Highlands are accessible on a day trip from Edinburgh. Glasgow has a lively cultural scene while Stirling has more of historical interest. St Andrews too is full of history and has a much quieter pace than Edinburgh or Glasgow. It is famous for its university, the oldest in Scotland, and for Golf.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, Scotland offers fantastic opportunities for walking and climbing with breathtaking scenery throughout the Highlands and Islands.

Weather

The only thing predictable about the weather in Scotland is that it isn't! So, the visitor to Edinburgh should always come prepared for the possibility of some rain.