Edinburgh is home to two Scottish Premier league teams, Hibernian (Hibs) and Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), who play at home on alternate weekends. Hibs play at Easter Road Stadium which is located approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the city centre and Hearts play at Tynecastle, roughly 1.5 miles to the southwest. While Hearts have been the 'best of the rest' in Scotland for several years now, Hibs have been experiencing a renaissance in recent times and are currently vying for the coveted third place (behind Rangers and Celtic of Glasgow) and entry into the Uefa cup. Ticket prices for league games start at £12 and availability depends on the opposition.
With the Pentland hills clearly visible from the back of the building, it's no wonder that Bruntsfield Hostel provides the perfect location for starting any cycling or walking trip in Edinburgh. Cycle paths lead from the city centre and head North, South, East and West to some wonderful destinations. We also have extensive literature available in the hostel to assist you in planning a walking route to match your fitness and abilities.
Rugby
Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh is the home of the Scottish Rugby Union and its capacity of 69,000 makes it Scotland's largest.
Tickets for games, particularly for matches in the Six Nations, can be hard to come by so if you aren't lucky enough to get your hands on one why not take a 'behind the scenes' tour of the stadium? The reasonably priced tours give you access to the dressing room, players' tunnel, Royal Box, hospitality suites, the Bill McLaren Press Gallery and the pitch and begin at 11:00am and 2:30pm Monday-Friday. Advance bookings are essential and prices are as follows:
Adults: £5 Children (under 18) and Concessions: £3 Family (2 adults and 2 children): £12
Large group discounts available.
Free entry for children under 5.
The Midlothian Ski Centre is located 7 miles south of the city centre and offers a variety of runs on artificial slopes. The centre is suitable for all ages and abilities and lessons are available for the uninitiated. The centre is open daily from 9:30am-9pm (7pm on Sundays in the summer).
For more information call 0131 455 4433
Swimming
The Royal Commonwealth Pool (Tel:0131 667 7211) is Edinburgh's largest and is situated on Dalkeith Road about a 20 minute walk from the city centre. Other pools that we recommend are the Warrender Swim Centre (Tel:0131 447 0052) which is only 5 minutes from our hostel, Leith Victoria Pool (0131 555 4728) and Glenogle Pool (0131 343 6376) in the New Town, all of which have been around for years and have retained their original tiling. The Portobello pool (0131 669 6888) has recently been refurbished but has kept its excellent Turkish baths. All the pools offer a variety of sessions, e.g. male/female only, so it is advisable to phone and check before heading along.
Climbing
Climbing
The Adventure Centre Ratho bills itself as "a gateway to a life of adventure" and offers comprehensive facilities for climbing, cycling, scuba training, fitness and judo. This state-of-the-art centre lies 9 miles west of Edinburgh's city centre and caters for everyone from novices to experts.
The latest information on courses and facilities can be found at www.adventurescotland.com. Alternatively, the phone number for enquiries is 0131 333 6333
