#weaving mill

If you spend any amount of time in Edinburgh you will of course walk the Royal Mile. It begins with Edinburgh castle and works its way down the hill full of different shops with different touristy items as well as other buildings including "The Real Scotch Whiskey Experience", "Camera Obscura" and of course the Tartan Weaving Mill & Exhibition. If you don't walk down this street then you are just silly for being in this gorgeous city.

The Traveling Tigers in the Tartan Weaving Mill

As stated on their webpage, "The Tartan Weaving Mill occupies the building which used to be the Castle Hill reservoir, the main water supply for the occupants of the Royal Mile. The mill is surprisingly large inside with five stories to explore. Now run by Geoffrey Tailor Kiltmaker the mill exhibition shows the whole process involved in tartan production from sheering sheep to making a kilt. There are working looms and the atmosphere of a busy factory." Not only do they show the processes of making kilts, for anyone of Scottish decent they have the entire lists of all the Scottish clans and their respective kilts. For any of those who aren't totally acquainted with their history most families actually have four different tartans including: Modern, Dress, Ancient and Hunting and as any true Scot will tell you a tartan is not just simply "plaid" and those who think so should be stoned. Okay maybe that's a bit harsh, but if you're here you should really know the difference. It is really facinating to see how much work goes into the making of a kilt and while we have lots of machinery today it makes me appreciate the Ancient Scots so much more for how they managed such intricate patterns with such simple tools is a true testament to their skill.

This mill is currently working on the MacGregor tartan.

As well as showing you the processes of making a kilt, and of course being able to purchase numerous different Scottish items including not only kilts but all the accessories that go with them as well as Celtic jewelry, sheeps wool rugs, blankets and more, they also have the exhibition of tartans through the ages.

The Traveling tigers with the kilt fashion that began in the 1600's.

The Traveling Tigers sitting on the knee of Rob Roy MacGregor. Any self respecting Scot or Liam Neeson fan should know who this is.

The Traveling Tigers with the more modern style of kilt.

Now if you cannot afford a kilt, and they are quite pricy (although in my opinion totally worth it) The Tartan Weaving Mill offers you the opportunity to dress up and have your photo taken in the full get up. This was something I had done with my father the first time I came to Edinburgh and knew that I would have to repeat with Peter. Again I totally recommend this to anyone if you can spare the 20 pounds for it. It's probably one of the best souvenirs you can take home from Scotland.