THE acclaimed writer Will Self has revealed his dim view of one of Scotland's most famous urban areas, Edinburgh's "anticeptic" New Town.

Self, author of books including The Book of Dave, Phone, My Idea of Fun and Great Apes, said he was struck by how "denuded" the New Town was and speculated that it feels uninhabited due to absentee owners.

He said the New Town, a World Heritage Site built between the 1760s and 1850, had a "sepulchral vibe".

Self made his comments while appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, in an event about urbanism with Richard Sennett, the professor of sociology at the London School of Economics.

The writer and journalist said that in a night time walk in the Scottish capital he was also struck by how dark areas of the New Town were, and speculated that the "shadow streets" pointed to a number of absent owners.

A member of the audience noted to Self that several of the buildings in the New Town were offices and thus shuttered and dark at night.

"I live very close to the New Town and it's not that properties here are left empty, but that a lot of Edinburgh people take off during the festival," she said.

Self responded: "Once again, I am surprised they have got enough money not to sub-let their houses.

"It gives the whole place a bit of a sepulchral vibe, it really doesn't feel like a thriving community."

The festival season has more presence in the New Town this year, with the book festival expanding into George Street, and the return of theatre to the Assembly Rooms.

Self noted elsewhere in the event that he had spent "many happy hours" in New Lanark, Lanarkshire, the world heritage site which was built for cotton mill workers in the 18th century.