Barbara

Lots of people take a walk after dinner, or whenever, in Edinburgh, but they tend to do it in their own neighborhood, not in the city centre.

caroline_edinburgh

What part of Edinburgh do you live in, Barbara ?

hanl

In Edinburgh it's not so much that people don't walk in the evenings (Edinburgh is such an easy city to get around on foot) - they will walk to the shops, walk to the pub or restaurant, walk to the cinema... so there are plenty of people on the streets in the evening. However, as Caroline said, they don't tend to just "go for a walk" without a particular destination in the evening.

If you want to go for a stroll, rest assured that there will be people around in the evenings, particularly in areas like the Royal Mile, George IV Bridge, Victoria St, the Grassmarket etc.

(Of course, during the day, lots of locals go for walks in the city - up Arthurs Seat, Calton Hill, Blackford Pond, the Braid hills, the Meadows etc.)

carylspall

Glasgow is so much friendlier than Edinburgh. Walk around the west end at night.So many good restaurants to go to.

Barbara

As you know, Caroline, I don't live in Edinburgh now. But my entire family does and my 83-year-old mother takes walks in the summer after dinner around her neighborhood (Blackhall) and she always encounters other people doing the same. She's done that for years and years, and when I did still live there, I did too, as did many of my friends.

I'm sorry that you don't live in a neighborhood where people do go for evening strolls.

caroline_edinburgh

Hi Barbara. Actually I have no idea where you live - just assumed it must be Edinburgh. I know I'm just speaking for the people I know, but I don't know anyone who would just go for a walk in the evening unless they have a dog which needs taking out. As hanl says, maybe on a Sunday afternoon, if the weather is nice. And when I go out in the evening I only see people who seem to be on their way somewhere, not just walking.

WillTravel

I've always heard/read a lot about the "roughness" and possible dangers of Glasgow, and this was long before Trainspotting was published and made into a movie (although I realize Trainspotting is actually set in Edinburgh). So I am relieved, I think, to read there's not much to worry about.

caroline_edinburgh

I'm not saying you might not see the odd fight, e.g. on Edinburgh's Lothian Road on a Friday or Saturday night, but it will only be between people who know each other And it doesn't put off all the mainly elderly people who attend Usher Hall concerts then get a bus home.

Channel_Isles

I've lived in Glasgow for over 30 years now and walk about the west end - great atmosphere, lots of bars, restaurants, museums, parks etc - without any trouble. And if you want to just stroll, no problem. The city centre is great, too. Worth avoiding strolling around the city centre on a Friday and Saturday night after 10pm, not because it's dangerous, just because it's a bit boisterous. But if you're just going to the train station or going for your bus back home, or to your hotel, it's no problem at all.

Craigellachie

cmt, Glasgow and Edinburgh are major cities. They have abundant night life in some areas and they have areas where you wouldn't want to go in daylight let alone at night - just like every other big city on the planet. Stick to busy well lit city centre streets and you should have no problems.
In mid to late September Glasgow has about 12 hours each of daylight and darkness, the same as everywhere else - autumn equinox.

laughingd2

To answer the specific question: dark.

grsing

Just a minor quibble with your astronomy, 3 months after summer solstice is also 3 months before winter solstice, so you'll have exactly 12 hours of daylight, & 12 of night, ie the complete average. May would of course give you more daylight, which might be to your advantage.

Can't speak for Glasgow for sure, but Edinburgh is fine after dark (there are areas not to go like any city, but you won't be in them), and people do what other people in the developed world do, the Scots aren't all that different from the rest of us.

walkinaround

just like every other big city on the planet.

...except scotland is the most violent country in the developed world (per the united nations) and these cities are at the forefront of scotland's major violent crime problem. booze and blades culture, sectarian violence, they have it all.

grsing

walkinaround: true enough, but most tourists don't bother going in those areas, so it's no big deal. I wouldn't say that New York is unsafe to walk around at night, but I wouldn't walk around parts of Harlem. You can't judge a whole city by a few bad bits.

hanl

Walkinaround, you neglected to mention that in the same survey, England and Wales came a close second. Also, it was based on phone interviews with crime victims so the figures have been questioned.
That said, there is violent crime in Scotland and I know the kind of places that it's likely to be rife (many areas close to where I grew up, for example). I don't think your average tourist is going to come into contact with that sort of crime, however. Except, perhaps, as Caroline says, seeing a few drunken lads have a scuffle on Lothian Road on a Friday night.

I've lived in various cities in Europe, but Edinburgh is a place where I've always felt safe.

Craigellachie

Walkinaround
If you did some more of what your screen name suggests you might realise that tourists in Glasgow are as safe as in any other big city.

walkinaround

craig, thank you for your suggestion but i have been to (and walked around) glasgow many, many times...in fact, i was there last week on business.

i think it is a great city but it does have crime problems that are well known. saying a place is "as safe as any major city" is, frankly, a useless phrase that is too imprecise to debate. unlike many people here, i think people can know the facts and make their own decisions...after all, most of us are adults. sure, some people can get "freaked out" when they know the truth but that doesn't mean that we need to avoid telling it like it is. in this case, the truth being that glasgow has a very high crime rate compared to other western cities. it doesn't stop me from going there, however.

caroline_edinburgh

Well, I've been robbed in New York City, the Caribbean, London & Rome - but I've never even thought that I might be robbed in Glasgow.

alanRow

"In mid to late September Glasgow has about 12 hours each of daylight and darkness, the same as everywhere else - autumn equinox."
In mid to late Septemeber sunrise will be about 7:00am & sunset about 7:00pm because of British Summer Time