Rosslyn Chapel
Dec 31st, 2006, 12:09 PM
#1
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Rosslyn Chapel
I have two questions about Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.
If I arrive fairly well informed, how much time do you estimate I will need to do the place justice?
How does one reach the chapel via public transportation from Edinburgh?
If I read the readily available web sites about Rosslyn Chapel so that I arrive somewhat informed, how much time do you estimate I will need to do the place justice.
I have no real interest in trying to retrace the movements of the people in Brown's novel, but I would like to satisfy my curiosity.
If I arrive fairly well informed, how much time do you estimate I will need to do the place justice?
How does one reach the chapel via public transportation from Edinburgh?
If I read the readily available web sites about Rosslyn Chapel so that I arrive somewhat informed, how much time do you estimate I will need to do the place justice.
I have no real interest in trying to retrace the movements of the people in Brown's novel, but I would like to satisfy my curiosity.
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:07 PM
#3
The Chapel itself can be explored in fairly little time. And in the "old" days (pre @#!*&% Dan Brown) one would have it basically to oneself for contemplation, examing the amazing carving whatever.
Unfortunately that is no longer possible. In fact so many folks are over0running the place the church council is planning on issuing timed tickets. Free but timed non the less. So depending on when your trip is you may not be able to just show up and tour the chapel.
I do know there are buses - but I've always had a car when visiting Roslin so can't really help w/ the route number. I'm sure the lothian bus websites will have that info for you.
And there have been a few threads - so maybe a search will find the info you need.
Unfortunately that is no longer possible. In fact so many folks are over0running the place the church council is planning on issuing timed tickets. Free but timed non the less. So depending on when your trip is you may not be able to just show up and tour the chapel.
I do know there are buses - but I've always had a car when visiting Roslin so can't really help w/ the route number. I'm sure the lothian bus websites will have that info for you.
And there have been a few threads - so maybe a search will find the info you need.
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:09 PM
#4
oops - just checked the website. the chapel is no longer free - 7 GBP. It also has all the bus info for you
http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/
http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:12 PM
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Happy New Year, Bob. I have the same interest in seeing Rosslyn Chapel and plan to do so as part of a tour (I plan to take a bus on my own when the rest of the group is viewing Edinburgh castle which I have seen twice)in late May. I found this website which might answer your questions.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/s...yln-chapel.htm
I can't imagine that you will need more than two hours but lets see if others agree.
Margo
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/s...yln-chapel.htm
I can't imagine that you will need more than two hours but lets see if others agree.
Margo
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:26 PM
#8
well - again in the "old" days - I spent nearly 1/2 an hour just examing the prentice pillar. So it mainly depends on your interests. For the casual visitor - maybe 1/2 an hour. If you are interested in the history and examining the carvings etc - a good deal longer.
Dec 31st, 2006, 01:26 PM
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Yes, two hours is enough time. There was scaffolding around the exterior when we were there in May 2005. We enjoyed seeing the chapel. It includes a gift shop now just like all the historic sites. Do not take a cab there--our innkeeper suggested we do this and it cost about $30. To return to Edinburgh we took the bus for maybe $2 each.
Dec 31st, 2006, 03:32 PM
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I was there the Saturday before Christmas and travelled by public transport.The bus was heading for Melrose and left I think at 20 mins past the hour. The driver - not given to conversation said it would take half an hour after we left the bus- station but he was kind enough to shout when we arrived at the bus stop.
The chapel is about 3 mins walk from the bus stop. There was a free explanatory talk just after we arrived which took about twenty mins and was worth hearing. The chapel is quite well explained by many lecterns but as they were in the throes of decorating for Christmas these had been moved so where they said"look up and to your left" it wasn't there!
We were there about an hour in total. After the talk there was a bit of a crowd gathering around the Apprentice pillar but otherwise it was easily manageable. The guide did say that you can't move in there in summer. We went up onto the scaffolding platform and walked around at roof level.
We couldn't get a drink in the pub for some reason but then found that the buses ran more frequently back to the city than we had thought and so caught a double-decker.
It was very cold but a good trip. It probably took us about two and a half hours from the city back again.
The most difficult part was finding the bus station even though we knew we had to be standing on top of it. Then having walked from our hotel (10 Hill Place)the bus drove very close to it! We could have saved ourselves the walk.
The chapel is about 3 mins walk from the bus stop. There was a free explanatory talk just after we arrived which took about twenty mins and was worth hearing. The chapel is quite well explained by many lecterns but as they were in the throes of decorating for Christmas these had been moved so where they said"look up and to your left" it wasn't there!
We were there about an hour in total. After the talk there was a bit of a crowd gathering around the Apprentice pillar but otherwise it was easily manageable. The guide did say that you can't move in there in summer. We went up onto the scaffolding platform and walked around at roof level.
We couldn't get a drink in the pub for some reason but then found that the buses ran more frequently back to the city than we had thought and so caught a double-decker.
It was very cold but a good trip. It probably took us about two and a half hours from the city back again.
The most difficult part was finding the bus station even though we knew we had to be standing on top of it. Then having walked from our hotel (10 Hill Place)the bus drove very close to it! We could have saved ourselves the walk.
Jan 2nd, 2007, 08:05 AM
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Thank you all for the helpful information. I have an option: self guided or part of a tour. I now need to examine the schedules and see which option is best for me.
I will not be there until this summer, but planning and gathering information is half the fun.
Yeah! Curiosity of the tourist type in a working church causes problems. I am more interested in the place becaue of the intricate carvings.
I know that tourists flocking to the Louvre only because of The da Vinci Code actually ask why the bloodstains were cleaned up after that initial murder, or why the floor in St. Sulpice was repaired after the crazy monk busted it up! Groan!
I know two summers ago we were in London and I wanted to see again the tomb of some of the greats, including Sir Isaac Newton. The docent assumed my interest was because of the novel. He was perhaps partly correct, but he was most helpful when I asked him a few questions that at least showed him that I knew a thing or two about Sir Isaac.
The Sherlock Holmes museum is a different matter. It is based purely on fiction, and for a reader of the Doyle stories, it is interesting. Otherwise, it is not much to look at.
Like the annotated versions of the Holmes stories, the whole thing is a game because one starts from a totally false premise: i.e. that Holmes was real! (Or just how did Moran shoot Ronald Adair? It was either a pre David Thompson fantastic jump shot, or Moran was on top of a passing vehicle or up in a tree which never existed.)
I will not be there until this summer, but planning and gathering information is half the fun.
Yeah! Curiosity of the tourist type in a working church causes problems. I am more interested in the place becaue of the intricate carvings.
I know that tourists flocking to the Louvre only because of The da Vinci Code actually ask why the bloodstains were cleaned up after that initial murder, or why the floor in St. Sulpice was repaired after the crazy monk busted it up! Groan!
I know two summers ago we were in London and I wanted to see again the tomb of some of the greats, including Sir Isaac Newton. The docent assumed my interest was because of the novel. He was perhaps partly correct, but he was most helpful when I asked him a few questions that at least showed him that I knew a thing or two about Sir Isaac.
The Sherlock Holmes museum is a different matter. It is based purely on fiction, and for a reader of the Doyle stories, it is interesting. Otherwise, it is not much to look at.
Like the annotated versions of the Holmes stories, the whole thing is a game because one starts from a totally false premise: i.e. that Holmes was real! (Or just how did Moran shoot Ronald Adair? It was either a pre David Thompson fantastic jump shot, or Moran was on top of a passing vehicle or up in a tree which never existed.)
Apr 13th, 2007, 10:08 AM
#12
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I will be staying at the Jarvis Mount Royal Hotel in Edinburgh, which is on Prince Street, and wish to get to the bus station on Prince Street. How great a distance is this?
How much time to allow for the bus trip to Melrose and the walk to Rosslyn Chapel?
Is there still scaffolding on the chapel?
Thanks, Margo
How much time to allow for the bus trip to Melrose and the walk to Rosslyn Chapel?
Is there still scaffolding on the chapel?
Thanks, Margo
