144 Accessible Edinburgh: A Festival Guide Sport 145

Sport

Edinburgh is home to two rival football teams

playing in the Scottish Premier League: Heart of

Midlothian (aka Hearts) and Hibernian (aka Hibs).

The domestic football season lasts from August

to May, and most matches are played at 3pm on

Saturday or 7.30pm on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Each year, from January to March, Scotland’s national

rugby team takes part in the Six Nations Rugby Union

Championship. The most important fixture is the clash

against England for the Calcutta Cup. At club level

the season runs from September to May. Murrayfield

Stadium, about 1.5 miles west of the city centre, is the

venue for international matches.

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Accessible Edinburgh: A Festival Guide

Easter Road Stadium

http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk; 12 Albion Pl; buses 1, 35

Hibernian’s home ground is northeast of the city centre at East-

er Road Stadium. Visit the website of the Hibernian Disabled

Supporters’ Association (www.hdsa.org.uk/accessibility-at-east-

er-road/) for full details regarding accessibility at the stadium.

Reviewers commend the club on its accessibility. With appro-

priate credentials, companions are admitted free of charge, and

have a reserved seat next to each wheelchair space. Accessible

toilets are spacious. An early arrival is recommended due to very

restricted parking options, even with a Blue Badge.

Meadowbank Sports Centre

0131-661 5351; http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/venues; 139

London Rd; buses 2, 26

Many sporting events, including athletics and cycling, are held

at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Scotland’s main sports arena.

Not only is the venue wheelchair-accessible for PWDs attending

as spectators, but most of the facilities are also highly wheel-

chair-friendly, including parking, accessible changing rooms,

meeting rooms, showers and a pool-side hoist. For details of

accessibility for sporting events, see the relevant event website.

Murrayfield Stadium

http://www.scottishrugby.org; 112 Roseburn St; buses 1, 2, 22, 30

Murrayfield Stadium, about 1.5 miles west of the city centre, is

the venue for international rugby matches.

There are 124 dedicated wheelchair spaces available, all in

the West stand, and plenty of accessible toilets. For full details

of Murrayfield’s access, including ticketing, parking, seating and

toilets (including one Changing Places facility), visit http://www.scot-

tishrugby.org/murrayfield-stadium/disabled-access. Reviewers

rave about access and the helpfulness of the staff; and, in par-

ticular, about the free parking passes for disabled ticket holders.

Musselburgh Racecourse

http://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk; Linkfield Rd; buses 26, 44

Horse-racing enthusiasts should head 6 miles east to Mussel-

burgh Racecourse, Scotland’s oldest racecourse (founded 1816),

where meetings are held throughout the year.

PWDs with a Blue Badge are permitted to park in the Own-

ers/Trainers and Disabled car park just off Linkfield Rd, subject