Edinburgh forced to grit and bear it

The cold snap which is enveloping the UK continues to be keenly felt in the Scottish capital. Edinburgh Zoo remains closed. The response of the City of Edinburgh Council to the cold snap has come in for heavy criticism.

The Council's Environment leader, Robert Aldridge, was quoted in the Edinburgh Evening News as saying that: "We are looking at every possibility to solve the snow issue and are striving to ensure salt and grit are available, but there is not as much coming through as we'd like. If the weather keeps on going, we will hire private contractors to clear the streets."

Edinburgh City Council may need more heavy duty equipment (like the JCB below) to help clear the snow and ice.

The snow also presents opportunities. I know of many people, who have rediscovered the lost art of walking. As long as you are adequately shod and wrapped up warm, the current conditions can represent a chance to familiar yourself with the town or city where you live.

If you're in Edinburgh, why not take the opportunity to find out a little more about the city's heritage with one of two Walk Talk Tours of the city? Simply download and away you go. You can always save your tour and then download it to your iPod, iPhone or MP3 Player and listen to the tour when the conditions have improved.

Take a look at the City of Edinburgh Council website for all the latest information as regards attempts to clear roads and pavements of snow and ice in the city. The site also contains information about school closures in Edinburgh and advice for coping with the cold conditions.

Temperatures are not expected to climb much above freezing over the next five days, during the day.

Pictured above is Fettes, the private school whose alumni include the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Listeners to the Old and New Towns Edinburgh walking tour can hear more about the founder of the school (though the tour does not include the school among its commentary points).

Each tour is made up of commentary points (like tracks on a CD or iTunes album). Listeners hear about a particular point of interest and then receive instructions explaining how to reach the next commentary point. Unlike a conventional guided tour, listeners have the flexibility to go at their own speed - or as the conditions dictate.

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.