In the city itself, New Year's Day events centre on the Royal Mile - with a pleasingly eclectic programme combining contemplation and fun.

Top of the bill comes Gate of the Year, a free hour of music, poetry and reflection inside St Giles' Cathedral.  The choir will be on hand to greet 2010, together with readings and "words of contemplation".  It starts at 3pm and you don't need a ticket, though capacity's limited and it'll be first come, first served.

From 4pm the High Street outside St Giles' will be set alight by renowned French street theatre group Carabosse, reprising their Firelight installation last seen on 30 December (pictured).  Its first outing didn't quite go to plan - the Fire Brigade were called when burning embers descended on the crowd - but, teething troubles aside, it has to be worth catching this promised spectacular at any time between 4 and 8pm.

Meanwhile down at Holyrood House, there's a chance from 1pm to chalk up your New Year promises on the Resolution Wall.  But the main event at this end of the Mile comes at 4:30, when Puppet Lab's famed Big Man will be awakening to set off on a towering "walk" along the Royal Mile.  As tall as five of us little folk, he'll stop off at John Knox House at about 5:30 for the rather curious John Knox Says Hello To 2010, marking the start of the Scottish Reformation's 450th anniversary year.  His slow walk ends at 6:30 outside the Tron, where he'll link up with the crowds watching Firelight.