World City Guide

Sport

Football is Scotland’s most popular game and there is a Scottish league of four divisions in which Scotland’s football teams compete. The national team has failed to make it to a European Championship or World Cup since 1998 despite the fanatical and devoted support of the vociferous Tartan Army, who have themselves won more trophies than the actual team over the last decade or so. Scottish football is dominated by the two big teams from Glasgow, Celtic and Rangers, but there have been recent signs of a renaissance in the east. Heart of Midlothian (‘Hearts’), based at Tynecastle Stadium (tel: (0131) 200 7200; website: www.heartsfc.co.uk) have recently been taken over by a Lithuanian businessman who appointed a big name manager and strengthened the squad in an attempt to challenge the ‘Old Firm’. Hibernian (‘Hibs’), based at Easter Road Stadium (tel: (0131) 661 2159; website: www.hibernianfc.co.uk), have taken a different road, choosing to bring through young players and encourage local talent, a policy which reaped benefits in the 2004-2005 season, when they made it into European competition for the first time in years as they finished third.

Rugby is also very popular and Scotland competes in the Six Nations Rugby Championship, which it has won in the past, though the national team has struggled in recent years. Murrayfield (tel: (0131) 346 5000; website: www.scottishrugby.org) is the centre of the nation’s rugby activities. Edinburgh’s own team, the Edinburgh Gunners, also play their Celtic League and Heineken Cup matches at Murrayfield. A short distance away, Murrayfield Ice Rink has regular displays of ice-skating, curling and ice hockey. Musselburgh Racecourse, just outside the city boundaries, was established in 1816 and is one of the oldest racetracks in the country.

Tickets for sporting events can be purchased direct from the clubs and from the Murrayfield and Meadowbank stadiums, 139 London Road (tel: (0131) 661 5351; fax: (0131) 652 0927) sports centres. Tickets are also available for purchase from Ticketline (tel. (0870) 444 5556; website: www.ticketline.co.uk) and Ticketmaster (tel: (0870) 534 4444; website: www.scotland.ticketmaster.co.uk). Ticketmaster tickets are also often available from the Edinburgh Tourist Information centre on Princes Street.

Fitness Centres: Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road (tel: (0131) 661 5351; fax: (0131) 652 0927), provides facilities for many different sports. The Balmoral and Scotsman hotels (see Hotels) also all have fitness centres that take day guests.

Golf: Golfers are well catered for in Edinburgh. There are no fewer than six municipal courses and 28 private clubs, many of which welcome visitors. Braid Hills Golf Course, Braid Hills Approach Road, Braid Hills Road (tel: (0131) 447 6666), is a pay-and-play 18-hole course. Green fees are £15 per round. Kings Acre Golf Course, Lasswade (tel: (0131) 663 3456; fax: (0131) 663 7076; website: www.kings-acregolf.com), is an 18-hole pay-and-play par-70 parkland course. Green fees are £22 per round (£30 at weekends). For more information on golfing in the Edinburgh area, visit http://golf.visitscotland.com.

Skiing: Midlothian Ski Centre, Hillend, near Edinburgh (tel: (0131) 445 4433; fax: (0131) 445 5549; e-mail: ski@midlothian.gov.uk), is one of Europe’s longest artificial ski slopes, with a chair lift and skiing and snowboarding facilities.

Swimming: The Royal Commonwealth Pool, Dalkeith Road (tel: (0131) 667 7211; fax: (0131) 662 0265) was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games.

Tennis: Courts are available at Craiglockhart Tennis and Sports Centre, 177 Colinton Road (tel: (0131) 443 0101; fax: (0131) 455 7321).

Watersports: The Port Edgar Marina and Sailing School, Shore Road, South Queensferry (tel: (0131) 331 3330; fax: (0131) 331 4878), is Scotland’s largest watersports centre, with dinghies, catamarans, powerboats and canoes for hire. There are a variety of courses catering for everyone from first time paddlers through to those looking to tie-up advanced sailing certificates. Plans for a massive renovation programme were unveiled in August 2005.