Talk:Royal Mile

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This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 24 September 2018 and 6 December 2018. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Kkatiekrue.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 08:25, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

cobble or sett

hmmm - the inset picture says that "much of the Royal Mile is cobbled". I think the writer means that it is laid with granite setts. See page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobblestone for clarification, where it says "Cobblestones were largely replaced by quarried granite setts in the nineteenth century. Cobblestone is often wrongly used to describe such treatment.". However, that page also contains an error at the start where it says that cobbles are known as setts in Scots. Nope - a cobble is a rounded (river-eroded ?) stone, and setts are square-edged where they have been quarried. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.99.105.250 (talk) 00:20, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

You're correct. I've amended the cobblestone article, which also incorrectly defined causey etc.. Mutt Lunker (talk) 11:21, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

"Approximately one Scottish mile long"

The article states that the Royal Mile is approximately one Scots mile long, however, the article for a Scottish mile says "A Scottish mile was the same length as the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, i.e. from the castle down to the Holyrood Abbey", which kind of implies that a Scottish mile is defined by the Royal Mile, which would surely make the Royal Mile exactly one Scottish mile long? Xmoogle (talk) 00:39, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

A Scottish Mile is a precise measurement: the distance from the castle to the abbey is not, as it depends exactly where you decide the castle begins and where the abbey begins... the "mile" as such is normally deemed to start at the east end of the Esplanade (some 200m east of the castle) and end at the outer gates of the palace on Abbey Strand. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Stephencdickson (talk • contribs) 15:34, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

Assuming the measurement is from the east end of the Esplanade to the palace gates, my measurement on Gooogle Maps is less than a statute mile. Measuring from the castle gates the distance is almost exactly a statute mile. So it is entirely fanciful, as one might expect from the source given (a tourist guide), to refer to a Scottish mile. Also, reference to a Scottish mile is anachronistic. Why would a 21st century encyclopedia refer to a measurement that had been abolished formally in 1685? Wikipedia should not be fanciful or anachronistic.82.37.141.26 (talk) 13:01, 12 July 2018 (UTC)

@Xmoogle:

I recently measured the Royal Mile using the computer on my bike. This works by counting wheel revolutions, which I believe is more accurate than trying to measure on a map. I cycled in a dead straight line from the castle gatehouse (by the statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace) to the main gate of the palace at the east end of the Abbey Strand.

I measured the distance as exactly 1.6 km, which is equal to one statute mile. Of course, the definition would depend on exactly where you measure to and from, but I think my choice of start and end points is as good as any.

Mike Marchmont (talk) 15:23, 21 September 2020 (UTC)

I see this has come up again. An IP user has reinstated the statement that the Royal Mile is a Scots mile rather than a statute mile. I still maintain it is a statute mile, for the reasons I gave above. Does anyone have a citation that would settle this either way? Mike Marchmont (talk) 16:51, 13 September 2021 (UTC)

Here's one which is very clear: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/the-royal-mile-how-long-is-edinburghs-high-street-193042

Ekdwc75v9Dzn91Y (talk) 14:05, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

Thanks for posting that link, @Ekdwc75v9Dzn91Y:. It confirms what I wrote above, although it's a pity that it gives no firm evidence. Mike Marchmont (talk) 14:34, 1 June 2023 (UTC)

Citations

There is only one reference for this whole article! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mikejamesshaw (talk • contribs) 22:32, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

I understood it that the spitting on the Heart of Midlothian is done by supporters of Hibernian F.C., whatever tourist guides might say. PatGallacher (talk) 15:19, 20 June 2014 (UTC)

lawn or land

Since "lawn" is an old word for "linen", does it not seem more likely that "Land Market" is a corruption of "Lawn Market", rather than the reverse? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.144.80.215 (talk) 17:04, 23 June 2014 (UTC)

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Needs map!

This article is in serious need of a map showing the route of the Royal Mile. A list of the streets it comprises is not sufficient.--8.9.93.141 (talk) 08:31, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

Sounds like a good idea. Why don't you go ahead and add one? Mike Marchmont (talk) 14:37, 21 June 2021 (UTC)