Edinburgh Questions...
Oct 14th, 2015, 11:39 PM
#21
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In the northwestern suburbs, in Davidson's Mains there is a baronial (i.e., circa 1895 but looking very medieval) house called Lauriston Castle. The tours are great, as this "castle" has secret passageways, a library bookshelf that hides a secret door, etc. From Davidson's Mains it is a very short (7-8 minutes) drive to Cramond, which has a yachtsman's harbour, the mouth of the River Almond, a medieval church (Cramond Kirk) and the remains (in the churchyard!) of Rome's northernmost garrison fort. It is one of the most important places in Stevenson’s “Kidnapped”
A random list of things to see includes:-
The New Town-planned grid Georgian -makes Bath pale by comparison
The Royal Mile -Medieval route between the Castle and Holyrood palace
The Castle
Valvona and Crolla -best deli in the UK
Greyfriars Bobby - statue of dog who sat at his master’s grave for decades
The Meadows - huge park in the town centre
Dean Village - working men’s planned village
The Scott Monument -Gothic Sky rocket memorial to Queen Victoria’s favourite Scottish author
Calton Hill –Observatory. It’s on the northeast side of town and gives great views over Edinburgh and Leith.. There are monuments to Scottish Philosopher Dugald Stewart, Adm. Horatio Nelson and many others.
Arthur's Seat -see above
Holyrood- Palace and Park - Queen’s Scottish town house and big garden
The parliament - this trip can be arranged. There is a visitor's gallery at the Scottish parliament and you can get tickets from (would you believe) the ticket office! There is no dress code.
The Museum of Childhood - on the Royal Mile
Cafe Vittoria - neighbourhood Tally restaurant. Very down to earth.
St Giles Cathedral - on the Mile. Scene of Jenny what’shername’s tantrum. Crown tower
Parliament House - where the big wigs hang out (what a terrible pun)
Make sure you visit the National Museum of Scotland (Chambers St) in Edinburgh.
Gladstone’s Land, -mediaeval close off the High Street (the Mile)
John Knox’s House on the Mile
The Malt Whisky Heritage Centre at the top of the Mile
Go to Deacon Brodie's pub and understand why it's called that
Eat in the Grassmarket and shop in Victoria Street
Plus there are great restaurants, gardens and parks. If it's atmosphere you like try The Witchery. The prices are a little steep, but the food is good and it's right beside the castle. (as far as atmosphere, the name says it all)
Other great restaurants include Stac Polly, Café Hub, Browns, Le Sept, Est Est Est, Bann’s, Henderson’s, the Kalpna, Viva Mexico, Shamiana.
At the moment the best restaurants in the city are Martin Wishart and Kitchen. But there are really nice places to eat, everywhere.
This is a city heaving with museums. I believe I have mentioned the National Museum of Scotland and the Museum of Childhood. In addition there are:-
The National Gallery and Royal Scottish Academy
the National Portrait Gallery
The Gallery of Modern Art
The Dean Gallery
The Georgian House
The City Art Centre
The Fruitmarket Gallery,
The Collective Gallery
The Printmakers’ Workshop
The City Council runs a free shuttle bus between the big museums
Or you can go to the Zoo; Dynamic Earth(mixed reviews- haven’t been myself), or the Botanic Gardens.
It’s awash with places to walk, sporting facilities, cinemas, theatres, music venues, and stunning architecture.
Walk through the new town with a proper guidebook to how it was all done (free except for cost of book- probably somewhere on the web).
Good day trips out of the city would include:-
1/ To the south you are about an hour's drive from the Borders; lovely rolling hills and some lovely stately mansions including Abbotsford which was owned by Sir Walter Scott- whose memorial is in the middle of Edinburgh's main shopping street, and which can be climbed for the view over the gardens and up to the Castle.
2/ The Forth Rail bridge is worth driving past. The estuary of the Forth widens to superb beaches (with wonderful links golf courses behind them ) and in Fife you have St Andrew's, home of golf (the beach where they filmed the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire?). Just over the river (the Forth) Dunfermilne is on your left. Robert the Bruce, the hero king who won Bannockbrn is buried here in Dunfermilne Abbey (although his heart is buried at Melrose in the borders); go back onto the main road and you will shortly come to Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was locked up in the castle on the island (v. romantic…..the story of the escape- she then fled to her cousin in England for succour. She locked her up for 20 years then beheaded her.(perfidious Albion!) There is a very pretty bird reserve at Vane farm on the south side on the loch.
3/ Dechmont Law near Livingston, West Lothian. Site of an attempted alien abduction of local forester Bob Taylor in 1979. This is the only UFO site in the world where the local authority have acknowledged what went on there and have erected a plaque accordingly.
4/ Anstruther, Fife. Visit the fishing museum, then have the best fish in the world for your lunch. After that drive along the coast to Largo, home of the 'original' Robinson Crusoe. When Daniel Defoe wrote about Robinson Crusoe, he was writing about a real person. His name was Alexander Selkirk and he came from Largo in Fife. Defoe was an English spy up in Scotland in the 1700's and nicked the story. That area of Fife is well worth a visit
5/ Go slightly further west and see New Lanark, a model community built by social philanthropist Robert Owen; and it's near the Falls of Clyde for scenery.
6/ Whisper it not in Gath- go to Glasgow for shopping and culture (and you can do it by train)
7/ Linlithgow Palace, followed by Bannockburn- battle site, where we beat the English- and Stirling. Linlithgow is one of my favorite castles and can be done in a quick afternoon visit along with St. Michael's Church.
8/ Golf- pick any one of half a dozen gorgeous courses in superb scenery.
9/ Drive eastward along the coast through East Lothian to North Berwick and Dunbar. North Berwick is a great seaside village featuring a beach, Bass Rock, and Tantallon Castle. Dunbar has a great seaside castle ruin. This drive is about 40 miles roundtrip from Edinburgh. The Sea Bird Centre at Aberlady is now a lovely and interesting addition on this route
A random list of things to see includes:-
The New Town-planned grid Georgian -makes Bath pale by comparison
The Royal Mile -Medieval route between the Castle and Holyrood palace
The Castle
Valvona and Crolla -best deli in the UK
Greyfriars Bobby - statue of dog who sat at his master’s grave for decades
The Meadows - huge park in the town centre
Dean Village - working men’s planned village
The Scott Monument -Gothic Sky rocket memorial to Queen Victoria’s favourite Scottish author
Calton Hill –Observatory. It’s on the northeast side of town and gives great views over Edinburgh and Leith.. There are monuments to Scottish Philosopher Dugald Stewart, Adm. Horatio Nelson and many others.
Arthur's Seat -see above
Holyrood- Palace and Park - Queen’s Scottish town house and big garden
The parliament - this trip can be arranged. There is a visitor's gallery at the Scottish parliament and you can get tickets from (would you believe) the ticket office! There is no dress code.
The Museum of Childhood - on the Royal Mile
Cafe Vittoria - neighbourhood Tally restaurant. Very down to earth.
St Giles Cathedral - on the Mile. Scene of Jenny what’shername’s tantrum. Crown tower
Parliament House - where the big wigs hang out (what a terrible pun)
Make sure you visit the National Museum of Scotland (Chambers St) in Edinburgh.
Gladstone’s Land, -mediaeval close off the High Street (the Mile)
John Knox’s House on the Mile
The Malt Whisky Heritage Centre at the top of the Mile
Go to Deacon Brodie's pub and understand why it's called that
Eat in the Grassmarket and shop in Victoria Street
Plus there are great restaurants, gardens and parks. If it's atmosphere you like try The Witchery. The prices are a little steep, but the food is good and it's right beside the castle. (as far as atmosphere, the name says it all)
Other great restaurants include Stac Polly, Café Hub, Browns, Le Sept, Est Est Est, Bann’s, Henderson’s, the Kalpna, Viva Mexico, Shamiana.
At the moment the best restaurants in the city are Martin Wishart and Kitchen. But there are really nice places to eat, everywhere.
This is a city heaving with museums. I believe I have mentioned the National Museum of Scotland and the Museum of Childhood. In addition there are:-
The National Gallery and Royal Scottish Academy
the National Portrait Gallery
The Gallery of Modern Art
The Dean Gallery
The Georgian House
The City Art Centre
The Fruitmarket Gallery,
The Collective Gallery
The Printmakers’ Workshop
The City Council runs a free shuttle bus between the big museums
Or you can go to the Zoo; Dynamic Earth(mixed reviews- haven’t been myself), or the Botanic Gardens.
It’s awash with places to walk, sporting facilities, cinemas, theatres, music venues, and stunning architecture.
Walk through the new town with a proper guidebook to how it was all done (free except for cost of book- probably somewhere on the web).
Good day trips out of the city would include:-
1/ To the south you are about an hour's drive from the Borders; lovely rolling hills and some lovely stately mansions including Abbotsford which was owned by Sir Walter Scott- whose memorial is in the middle of Edinburgh's main shopping street, and which can be climbed for the view over the gardens and up to the Castle.
2/ The Forth Rail bridge is worth driving past. The estuary of the Forth widens to superb beaches (with wonderful links golf courses behind them ) and in Fife you have St Andrew's, home of golf (the beach where they filmed the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire?). Just over the river (the Forth) Dunfermilne is on your left. Robert the Bruce, the hero king who won Bannockbrn is buried here in Dunfermilne Abbey (although his heart is buried at Melrose in the borders); go back onto the main road and you will shortly come to Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was locked up in the castle on the island (v. romantic…..the story of the escape- she then fled to her cousin in England for succour. She locked her up for 20 years then beheaded her.(perfidious Albion!) There is a very pretty bird reserve at Vane farm on the south side on the loch.
3/ Dechmont Law near Livingston, West Lothian. Site of an attempted alien abduction of local forester Bob Taylor in 1979. This is the only UFO site in the world where the local authority have acknowledged what went on there and have erected a plaque accordingly.
4/ Anstruther, Fife. Visit the fishing museum, then have the best fish in the world for your lunch. After that drive along the coast to Largo, home of the 'original' Robinson Crusoe. When Daniel Defoe wrote about Robinson Crusoe, he was writing about a real person. His name was Alexander Selkirk and he came from Largo in Fife. Defoe was an English spy up in Scotland in the 1700's and nicked the story. That area of Fife is well worth a visit
5/ Go slightly further west and see New Lanark, a model community built by social philanthropist Robert Owen; and it's near the Falls of Clyde for scenery.
6/ Whisper it not in Gath- go to Glasgow for shopping and culture (and you can do it by train)
7/ Linlithgow Palace, followed by Bannockburn- battle site, where we beat the English- and Stirling. Linlithgow is one of my favorite castles and can be done in a quick afternoon visit along with St. Michael's Church.
8/ Golf- pick any one of half a dozen gorgeous courses in superb scenery.
9/ Drive eastward along the coast through East Lothian to North Berwick and Dunbar. North Berwick is a great seaside village featuring a beach, Bass Rock, and Tantallon Castle. Dunbar has a great seaside castle ruin. This drive is about 40 miles roundtrip from Edinburgh. The Sea Bird Centre at Aberlady is now a lovely and interesting addition on this route
Oct 15th, 2015, 08:01 AM
#22
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Wear comfortable shoes. All the hills in Edinburgh go up. This should be physically impossible, but it is so.
Definitely go to Calton Hill.
Just as easy to stay in New Town as Old. Just a short walk to Old Town from New. Yeah, it's uphill . . . so is everything.
If you have any interest in the local hooch, go to Royal Mile Whiskies (which is on the Royal Mile, natch) and to the Cadenhead shop (also on the Royal Mile, the Canongate side).
<<Defoe was an English spy up in Scotland in the 1700's and nicked the story>>
Bloody English - everything is their fault. You'll learn that within 15 hours of landing in Auld Reekie.
Definitely go to Calton Hill.
Just as easy to stay in New Town as Old. Just a short walk to Old Town from New. Yeah, it's uphill . . . so is everything.
If you have any interest in the local hooch, go to Royal Mile Whiskies (which is on the Royal Mile, natch) and to the Cadenhead shop (also on the Royal Mile, the Canongate side).
<<Defoe was an English spy up in Scotland in the 1700's and nicked the story>>
Bloody English - everything is their fault. You'll learn that within 15 hours of landing in Auld Reekie.
Oct 15th, 2015, 10:17 AM
#23
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G'day Songdoc
Store up and report your Edinburgh impressions - it's on my list for my next trip that way! Are you heading this way again?
But holey-moley - look at Sheila's lists! Thanks, Sheila.
Store up and report your Edinburgh impressions - it's on my list for my next trip that way! Are you heading this way again?
But holey-moley - look at Sheila's lists! Thanks, Sheila.
Oct 18th, 2015, 04:36 PM
#26
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Songdoc, Let us know where you stay.I have been looking at apartments on airbnb tonight. It is four or five of my girlfriends so we need two bathrooms. We can take a pull out sofa but need two baths. There are some great places listed that are smaller.
Thank you Sheila, sending this to my friends. Two of us have been but two have not so know they will love it.
Thank you Sheila, sending this to my friends. Two of us have been but two have not so know they will love it.
Oct 20th, 2015, 05:45 PM
#28
Original Poster
I hadn't checked back because I've been so busy booking other trips that are coming sooner. (Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Saskatchewan, Hawaii, and Northern Ireland). They're business-related (except for Hawaii), but I'll manage to add on some days and squeeze in a bit of fun. Sometimes I think I should have been a travel agent. Other times, I think I AM one! 
I'm completely overwhelmed (in a good way!) from all the the responses. Sheila--you truly have written a book -- and I'm SO very grateful! I've copied all the suggestions into a document.
Edinburgh wasn't even on my list. But now, I'm super excited!!!
Hi Margo! I hope you're well. I was actually supposed to be working in Papua New Guinea and then Australia right now. But that didn't work out. Now I'm guessing it won't be for about another year
.
Again, thank you all so much for your help!
I'm completely overwhelmed (in a good way!) from all the the responses. Sheila--you truly have written a book -- and I'm SO very grateful! I've copied all the suggestions into a document.
Edinburgh wasn't even on my list. But now, I'm super excited!!!
Hi Margo! I hope you're well. I was actually supposed to be working in Papua New Guinea and then Australia right now. But that didn't work out. Now I'm guessing it won't be for about another year
. Again, thank you all so much for your help!
Jan 5th, 2016, 06:43 AM
#30
Original Poster
For the person who asked where we'll be staying ...
We chose Stay Edinburgh City Apartments (217 High Street, Royal Mile) in Old Town. I booked it on Orbitz for $70/night -- which includes ALL taxes and fees, as well as a bottle of wine! I couldn't believe how low the prices were. Coming from the U.S., I guess we partly have the exchange rate to thank.
This is going to be a crazy 7-week trip. I'll start in Nashville, go to work in Saskatchewan Canada (where the HIGH temperatures will never reach zero F.); then to Kauai; then N. Ireland; and end in Edinburgh! (Much of it includes business, but there will be plenty of time for vacation. 100% of Edinburgh is holiday.)
In N. Ireland we'll be working at a music festival in Belfast, but first, we'll spend five days in a cottage that we absolutely adore. (www.limepark.com) This will be our 7th or 8th visit (because of the music festival) and we never stop being in awe of the beauty of the Antrim Coast. I think it's a well-kept secret -- so don't tell anyone ;-).
I'm excited!!! Thanks again for all your help!
We chose Stay Edinburgh City Apartments (217 High Street, Royal Mile) in Old Town. I booked it on Orbitz for $70/night -- which includes ALL taxes and fees, as well as a bottle of wine! I couldn't believe how low the prices were. Coming from the U.S., I guess we partly have the exchange rate to thank.
This is going to be a crazy 7-week trip. I'll start in Nashville, go to work in Saskatchewan Canada (where the HIGH temperatures will never reach zero F.); then to Kauai; then N. Ireland; and end in Edinburgh! (Much of it includes business, but there will be plenty of time for vacation. 100% of Edinburgh is holiday.)
In N. Ireland we'll be working at a music festival in Belfast, but first, we'll spend five days in a cottage that we absolutely adore. (www.limepark.com) This will be our 7th or 8th visit (because of the music festival) and we never stop being in awe of the beauty of the Antrim Coast. I think it's a well-kept secret -- so don't tell anyone ;-).
I'm excited!!! Thanks again for all your help!
Jan 5th, 2016, 08:23 AM
#31
Songdoc. That flat is in a TERRIFIC location!. At the corner of the Royal Mile and Cockburn street (which is a very direct road down to Waverly Station/Princes Street . . . though it is a real slog back up the hill 
) and really close to St Giles. Amazing price.
) and really close to St Giles. Amazing price.
Jan 5th, 2016, 10:39 AM
#32
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That is a great price, Songdoc. We will be staying at this apartment in May - twice what you paid but it is 2 bedrooms.
http://abc-edinburgh.co.uk/accommodation-16-4/
Love all the info on this thread - absolutely can not wait!
http://abc-edinburgh.co.uk/accommodation-16-4/
Love all the info on this thread - absolutely can not wait!
Jan 5th, 2016, 11:04 AM
#33
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songdoc, we took a couple of excellent walking tours in Edinburgh. They left from just outside the Starbucks on the Royal Mile. For most of them you can just turn up and join the next tour. One was free with a request for a donation at the end if you had enjoyed it, the second one included the castle and there was a fee but I can't remember how much it cost now.
