1 Arthur's Seat
2 Dynamic Earth
3 Edinburgh Castle
4 Museum of Scotland
5 National Gallery of Scotland
6 The New Town
7 Palace of Holyroodhouse
8 Royal Botanic Garden
9 The Royal Mile
10 Scott Monument
Edinburgh's Millennium Landmark project has brought a state-of-the-art attraction to Holyrood, the heart of devolved Scotland.
Against the backdrop of Salisbury Crags rises a light and airy structure, with a translucent spiked and tented roof, fronted by a sweeping stone amphitheatre. This is Dynamic Earth, a geological visitors' centre telling the story of our planet using special effects and the latest in interactive technology.
A visit to Dynamic Earth lasts around 90 minutes and first concentrates on the creation of life; a `time machine' takes you back to witness meteor showers, followed by the image of a barren, newly formed planet. Volcanoes erupt, the earth moves and shakes, sulphurous smells are all around. Next comes the Ice Age, as you experience a virtual-reality helicopter trip through frozen wastes. Other areas concentrate on the evolution of life, the oceans, the polar regions (complete with a genuine, and growing, iceberg), tundra and temperate climatic zones. Next comes a visit to a tropical rainforest, where the air is damp and full of squawks and chatters of unseen animals and birds. Every 15 minutes the sky darkens, lightning flashes, thunder roars and sheets of torrential rain pour down. Leaving here, you enter a huge domed space, the climax of the visit, with a dazzling series of images showing the beauty and power of our ever-changing world. There are plenty of interactive computer programmes and information boards for younger children. There are dinosaurs and dodos, a submarine `trip' to view ocean life, giant screens showing the glowing colours of the Northern Lights and much information on ecology, all presented with the emphasis very much on learning through fun.Address: William Younger Centre, Holyrood
Phone: 0131 550 7800
Open: Apr-Oct daily 10-6; Nov-Mar Wed-Sun 10-5. Closed 24, 25 Dec
Restaurant: Restaurant (Moderately priced)
Bus: 1, 6
Accessible: Excellent
Admission: Expensive
Other: Arthur's Seat; Palace of Holyroodhouse; Royal Mile; Holyrood Abbey; Holyrood Park
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