Edinburgh boarders: Where to watch Hogmanay fireworks?

[Tiplodocus]

Mrs Tips fancies coming through to Edinburgh to see the fireworks (all five minutes of them) at Hogmanay.

Needless to say we don't have tickets for the big bash but can anyone recommend a good vantage point to see the fireworks? We'll have Tiny Tips (actually now 13) with us so needs to be family friendly.

Really odd that there appears to be NOTHING on in the West. George Square shuts down at 10pm!

(As if the fireworks I provide on a regular basis aren't good enough. Mind you, they normally don't last for five minutes).

[GordonR]

Calton Hill - just off the east end of Princes Street, with an uninterrupted view of the silly lights in the sky phenomenon, but also just outside the closed-off party celebrations area of the city centre.

It's also the only night of the year when it's safe to go up there without the threat of being mugged or gay-propositioned by cottaging bush-lurkers.

[Tiplodocus]

Thanks.  Though if it doesn't stop raining (must be 18 hours straight now) I doubt we'll be going anywhere.

[GordonR]

Yes, I think there's a fair chance this might be one of the years when weather sees the Edinburgh Hogmanay thing cancelled......which always warms the cold, stony depths of my misanthropic heart. 

All those bleating tourists, travelling to Edinburgh from all over the world and surprised that the weather might be a bit shit in a Northern European country in the middle of winter...

[Dandontdare]

weather's not looking TOO bad - but a tourism chief would say that wouldn't he?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-25542059

[Proudhuff]

GReenie spot on as usual, however Inverleith Park also has some nice spots and you can escape from their a bit easier...

[Bat King]

This thread has me sniggering...

I'm up in Scotland on the 2nd for a Wedding on the 3rd - on Best Man duty. Shame we couldn't fit this in first (I have to work on the 2nd...)

[Ghost MacRoth]

The best place to watch anything happening in Edinburgh....is on the telly.  That way, you don't have to put up with the locals.

But honestly....Arthur's seat for the daring, or Calton Hill/ New Parliament House for those who prefer to play sade....ish.

[GordonR]

Well, he could always attend Glasgow's official Hogmanay celebrations in George Square.....which ends at 10pm, because the Buckfast Brigade can't be trusteed out on the streets at the bells.

Now that's how you celebrate the start if the year when the Commonwealth Games come to your city...

[Ghost MacRoth]

Dear god no, not George's Square!!!  There's few worse places to be than Princes Street at new year, but even I must admit that the square is one of them.

[I, Cosh]

It was a lot better when you just hung around the Tron and tried to snog as many people as you could without any cares for tickets or hypothermia or getting home.

[Tiplodocus]

That was my idea but Mrs Tips was against it for some reason.

I was actually looking for a night in consuming wine and games and films but no, we have to *do* something.

[Proudhuff]

Did the feral beasts that live on the hill get you tips?

[Tiplodocus]

We were up on Calton Hill so could see the fireworks at the castle and the ones going off right next to us. Quite impressive.

The best bit was that it stayed dry and Tiny Tips reactions to walking back through a town full of drunks revellers.