Exhibition shows aerial photos of Edinburgh

Britain from the Air, an outdoor exhibition of more than 100 aerial photographs, will take art lovers on a walking tour of the city covering the West End, Castle Street, St Andrew Square, East Princes Street Gardens and The Mound.

Photographs will be displayed at stopping points along the outdoor trail.

Eleven images of locations around Edinburgh will be unveiled for the first time when the exhibition starts on Friday.

Salisbury Crags, the Scottish Parliament and St Mary’s Cathedral will all feature in photographs, with the visual contrast of the medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town shown from the air. The free street gallery is being brought to the Capital by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in a Scottish first.

A giant walk-on Ordnance Survey map will be placed in Festival Square, allowing visitors to stride across the expanse of the British Isles.

The sweeping grandeur of the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Highlands, the wingspan of Newcastle’s Angel of the North statue and the landscaped gardens of Hampton Court Palace are other iconic British images caught on film from above.

Britain from the Air was launched in Bath in 2010 and has been viewed by more than five million people.

Economy convener Councillor Frank Ross said:  “Edinburgh’s World Heritage site will provide the perfect setting for these breathtaking images. I hope that people will take this opportunity to learn more about Great Britain, but also to explore more of their home city, providing a welcome boost to the local economy in the process.”

Former RGS president and actor Michael Palin, left, who is an ambassador for the project, said people often forgot the beauty on their doorstep, with no better time than now to celebrate the country’s landscapes.

Britain from the Air is running until May 20 and will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.