✨ A Magical Day at Camera Obscura & World of Illusions ✨
The Happy Tartan Girls’ Illusion Adventure
There’s something special about stepping into a place where the world doesn’t behave quite as expected. Where mirrors bend, shadows dance, and the ordinary flips into the extraordinary. That’s exactly what happened when the Happy Tartan Girls spent a day exploring Camera Obscura & World of Illusions in Edinburgh — a place filled with laughter, curiosity, and more than a few “how did that happen?” moments.
Perched at the very top of the Royal Mile on Castlehill, Camera Obscura has been delighting visitors since 1835, making it one of the oldest purpose-built attractions in the UK. With five floors of hands-on exhibits, rooftop views, and a little bit of Victorian magic, it felt like the perfect place for the girls to explore — especially for Iona, our quiet observer, storyteller, and keeper of the sketchbook.
Climbing into curiosity
As the girls climbed the narrow stairs inside the old building, the excitement began to build. The brick walls whispered stories of the past, and each step promised something unexpected above. When they finally paused to look out over the city, the view reminded them just how lucky they are to call Scotland home — Edinburgh Castle standing proud, the rooftops tumbling down the Royal Mile, and the Firth of Forth stretching into the distance.
Iona paused, notebook tucked under her arm, already feeling ideas fizz.
Floors full of surprises
Inside, the girls discovered room after room of playful illusion. The Vortex Tunnel made it feel as if the floor was spinning beneath their feet. The Mirror Maze turned every corner into a sparkle of giggles. In the Shrinking Room, one girl suddenly looked tiny, then moments later towering and enormous.
Laughter echoed. Hands reached out to steady themselves. And Iona scribbled notes — little thoughts about how changing perspective can completely change how we see the world.
“What looks strange from one place,” she wrote, “might make perfect sense from another.”
The rooftop and the magic eye
At the very top waited one of the greatest treats of all — the original Camera Obscura. In a softly darkened room, the city appeared live and moving on a circular table, projected through lenses and mirrors just as it has been for generations. Edinburgh turned upside-down… then righted itself again.
The girls gasped.
“How is that possible?”
“Is it magic?”
Outside on the rooftop terrace, scarves fluttered in the breeze as they watched the city together. One girl caught her reflection in a mirror and suddenly doubled in size — the laughter was unstoppable. Iona stood quietly for a moment, gazing toward the Castle, imagining how she might sketch the skyline later as the light softened.
What we learned — and how you can join in
The day wasn’t just a visit; it was a reminder.
Explore – Go somewhere new. A museum, a hill, or even a park you’ve never noticed properly before.
Observe – Look again. How do things change when you move, bend, or look from another angle?
Create – Draw what you notice. Shadows, reflections, buildings, or feelings.
Share – If your sketch or journal page was inspired by a day of discovery, share it with us using #IonasJournal.
💜 Final thoughts
Visiting Camera Obscura wasn’t just a day out for the Happy Tartan Girls — it was a spark. A reminder that wonder lives in close observation, shared laughter, and giving ourselves permission to be curious.
So next time you’re wandering the Royal Mile, looking for an indoor adventure, or simply sketching in your journal, remember: the world is full of magic waiting to be noticed. And every story deserves a colourful page.
✏️💜 See you at the top of the world — and in your journal.