More to Edinburgh Hogmanay than meets the eye

I spent my Christmas up in Edinburgh this year. On Boxing Day, my family and I enjoyed a walk through part of East Princes Street Gardens. The views from the Edinburgh Wheel were really good, like the picture of the top of merry-go-round/carousel(left), testifies. If you want to enjoy a ride on the Wheel you have until 22:00 on January 4, 2010 to do so.

Eyes will now be turning to Hogmanay, the celebrations that take place on New Year's Eve and on into New Year's Day in Scotland. According to A Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by Elizabeth Knowles (and published by Oxford University Press, 2006) The word Hogmanay perhaps derives from the "Anglo-Norman French form of Old French aguillanneuf [meaning] 'last day of the year, new year's gift'."

'The Winter Wonderland Ice Rink' in East Princes Street Gardens is also open until January 4. At least the 'Traditional Highland Village' in East Princes Street Gardens is free to walk around.

Disappointingly, but unsurprisingly, event organisers are keen to cash in on the Hogmanay festivities. Members of the public will have to pay a premium to ride on the Edinburgh Wheel between December 31, 2009 and January 2, 2010, inclusive.

The official Edinburgh Hogmanay website has a full run down of events that will be taking place in the Scottish capital from December 29, 2009 until January 2, 2010. Please note that many of the events require participants to purchase tickets in advance. So do your homework before you set out.

Enjoy the best of the Scottish capital with two Edinburgh walking tours brought to you by Walk Talk Tours. Hear about the development of the New Town, including the area which is now occupied by East Princes Street Gardens, where much of the Hogmanay festivies are due to take place, with the Old and New Towns audio tour guide. Simply purchase your chosen tour(s), download and away you go!

The tour is composed of commentary points (like tracks on a CD) and comes complete with a free downloadable map for listeners to print off. To hear an audio sample from the tour please click here.

The tour concludes in Charlotte Square, the home of the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland and the birthplace of several famous Scots. Prior to that listeners will hear about the heritage of St Andrew Square, which is home to the only Harvey Nichols store in Scotland(pictured bottom left in the snow)

Buy one Walk Talk Tour and get the second free by entering the code BI123 in the shopping basket.

You can follow Walk Talk Tours on Twitter at @WalkTalkTours.