The Auld Reekie

Long nicknamed The Auld Reekie, Edinburgh still carries the layered soul of its smoky past, when coal fires and chimneys cloaked the city in a haze that lingered over its rooftops. Today, the name feels more affectionate than literal, a reminder of the city’s grit and character. Between the narrow closes of the Old Town and the stately crescents of the New Town, Edinburgh blends shadows and elegance, history and reinvention. The scent of roasted coffee and rain on stone has replaced the reek of soot, but the spirit of resilience that earned the city its name still lingers in every cobbled street.