Although Edinburgh has a full complement of attractions and plenty of activities, there are also some worthwhile side trips you can take into the surrounding countryside. Whether in the Lothians (which surround Edinburgh), south toward the Borders, or north across the Firth of Forth into the Kingdom of Fife -- many attractions are no more than an hour's drive from the city. The closest regions are West and East Lothian, on either side of the city. The highlights include the impressive ruins of Linlithgow Palace, a favorite of the Stuart dynasty; 18th-century Hopetoun House; and the seaside town of North Berwick, with its views of Bass Rock. South in the Borders, the historic Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott's majestic home, beckon day-trippers.
One of the best excursions from the Scottish capital is north to Fife and places such as the golfing mecca of St. Andrews, with the oldest university in Scotland. There's also the ancient town and one-time capital of Dunfermline.
Rosslyn Chapel: The Da Vinci Code Effect -- In no small thanks to Dan Brown's blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code, and the Hollywood film, the elaborately carved Rosslyn Chapel south of Edinburgh is firmly on the trail of those who seek to retrace the historic and mythical path of the Knights Templar. Visitor numbers doubled in the run-up to the release of the movie, part of which was filmed here. The chapel was founded in 1446 by Sir William St. Clair and has been long noted for its architectural and design idiosyncrasies (though it doesn't have all of those mentioned in Brown's tome). The chapel, undergoing long-term restoration works, is open to the public Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm from April to September; 9:30am to 4:30pm from October to March; and on Sundays between noon and 4:15pm. Admission is £7 ($14). Rosslyn Chapel is in the village of Roslin, about 10km (6 miles) south of central Edinburgh, off the A701 to Peebles.
