Rare bible among printed gems in Edinburgh limelight

An exhibition at the Central Library, on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh includes a copy of one of the first Bibles ever printed in Scotland. The Bassandyne Bible will be on display until October 31, 2008, as part of an exhibition entitled 500 Years of Printing in Scotland 1508-2008.

Thomas Bassandyne was a sixteenth century Edinburgh printer. Bassandyne published the New Testament in 1576. Alexander Arbuthnet added the Old Testament after Bassandyne's death.

Other exhibits include guidebooks, books and pamphlets drawn from the Central Library's collection. Highlights include the first Scottish newspaper, the first printed acts from the Scottish Parliament (1542), the first book in Scotland to be written by a woman and the first edition of the very first Encyclopedia Britannica.

Entry to 500 Years of Printing in Scotland 1508-2008 is free. The exhibition's open hours are as follows: from Monday - Friday: 10.00-20.00, on Saturdays: 10.00-17.00 and on Sundays from 14.00 to 17.00 until Sunday, October 12.

Independent travellers in Edinburgh can discover some of the stories behind some of the Scottish capital's best known and sometimes overlooked landmarks with two audio walking tours of Edinburgh brought to you by Walk Talk Tours.

The Royal Mile & More, Edinburgh city walking tour, centres on the historic Old Town. The tour begins outside Edinburgh Castle. Hear about the Castle's rich history with the Royal Mile & More audio walking tour. Listeners will hear about the Scottish capital's long relationship with witchcraft.

Hear about two four legged creatures that have made their mark on the city, on George IV Bridge. See the spot where the last execution took place in Edinburgh, hear about a notorious prison and more.

See the resting place of several great Scots, including the poet Robert Fergusson famous for penning Auld Reekie and the father of political economy, Adam Smith. To hear a short audio extract from the Royal Mile & More, Edinburgh travel guide, please click here.

Admire the new Scottish Parliament and hear what inspired its architect, the late Enric Miralles.

The Royal Mile & More, Edinburgh travel guide, concludes at the foot of the Royal Mile, in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Palace is the Queen's official residence in Scotland.

Unlike with a conventional guided tour, listeners to a Walk Talk Tour Edinburgh travel guide need not feel conspicuous with a guidebook in their hands or struggle to keep up with the tour guide holding the umbrella. With a Walk Talk Tour podcast guided tour you're in charge. Listeners to the Royal Mile & More mp3 guided tour or the Old & New Towns, Edinburgh iPod travel guide are free to stop, start and listen again as they wish - or as the weather dictates.

Make the most of your time in Edinburgh by checking out the Where & When pages which accompany each tour. The Where & When pages provide information about the admission charges and opening times of key attraction along each tour's route.

Both the Royal Mile & More mp3 guided tour and the Old & New Towns, Edinburgh audio walking tour cost just £5.95. Customers who purchase both tours simultaneously will receive a twenty per cent discount.