THE STORY

These photos were taken at the end of April 2006, quite early in the morning, on just a short walk around the outside of the Scottish Parliament.  I had already been to several meetings inside the Parliament (it's used for seminars open to members of the public) but hadn't seen the building properly from the south-east, the Holyrood Park side.

Unusually I had driven to Edinburgh, preferring to go by train when possible, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to find somewhere to park. However, after finding my way to Holyrood Park via the Commonwealth Pool, I discovered that the car park on the corner near to Dynamic Earth was three-quarters empty.

I had half an hour to spare, and quickly hurried across Queen's Drive to take a few photos of the Parliament building and Dynamic Earth from the lower (but still steep) grassy slopes below Salisbury Crags.

Then I walked round the front of the building, past the pools of water, admiring the patterns in the concrete combined with the timber shapes.  These designs are also reflected inside the building, but seem to work much better on outside.

After looking across towards Holyrood Palace I followed the wall of the Parliament round the corner and saw the quotations of famous Scottish writers etched into the stonework.

Around again, and the famous windows of the parliamentarians' offices came into view.  They each have a little window seat on the other side!

The new Parliament building encloses an older building, the 17th century Queensbury House, and then there's a close (alleyway) that runs down past The Tun where there are offices and a restaurant.  From the front, you can look across to the Dynamic Earth visitor attraction, like a vast tent pitched in front of Salisbury Crags.  But you have to walk up the wide steps to appreciate it fully, and then there's another great view back towards the Parliament.  There are statements about Scotland's unique geological heritage displayed on stones spread around the approaches to the glazed frontage.  I was particularly struck by the sculpture of the two eagles balanced on their wingtips.

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Contributed by Andrew Llanwarne - May 2006

The windows of the MSPs' offices

The front of Dynamic Earth

Eagles