Help for Scotland Itinerary for Anniversary
 

Hi-

Just planned a surprise 25th anniversary trip for my husband and myself for one week - starting next Tuesday! We are flying into Glasgow & renting a car, then driving to Glenapp Castle in Ballantrae Ayrshire (?) for three nights. After that, I'd like to head towards Edinburgh as I've heard it's a lovely city and our daughter will be coming from Oxford to meet us for the weekend. Then we will have another two nights before heading home.

Since this is so last minute, I have not had much time to check things out so I am wondering if anyone has some special places - lodging, areas, restaurants - that you would recommend for this special romantic occasion? My husband is a chef and we love dining out, antiques, flea markets, history, and the sea.

Would do appreciate any suggestions! Thanks so much!!

In Edinburgh I suggest you try the Scotsman Hotel if you can afford it, and the Apex International if you can't for accommodation; spend time in the Old Town expecially round Victoria Street; Stockbridge; and the West End. Good restaurants would include the Atrium, David Bann, Hendersons, Black Bo's, Cafe Hub, Centotre, and Est, Est, Est.

For your last two nights, I'd go up to the East Neuk of Fife if I were you. Stay somewhere like Elie, or Crail or Anstruther, and wander the shore

Are you flying back out of Glasgow as well?

Sheila's suggestion is very good. Ayrshire/Edinburgh/Fife would make a terrific week. Crail is the prettiest of the fishing villages but ther are nice accomodations in any of them and in St Andrews too.

Another option after Edinburgh (if you wanted to be closer to Glagow) would be to head into the Trossachs/Loch Lomond area. Cameron House on Loch Lomond or the Roman Camp in Callanderfor a splurge, the Lake Hotel on the Lake of Menteith for a "semi-splurge", or just about anyplace in Callander/Aberfoyle/Drymen/Loch Lomond for cheap/moderate.

From any of these you would be a quick drive from GLA. (If you are flying out of EDI - Fife would be the better option)

Just a quick footnote to janisj's excellent recommendations. We stayed in Aberfoyle a while back. While it is very conveniently located, our hotel was a hoot, and our (then) 11 and 13yo's had a great time there, I'd say that the town itself shades a bit more towards the 'dowager' than to 'romantic'. My husband and I thought that we may have enjoyed another Trossachs town a bit more.

And if you want to add a little fun to the trip, book "The Chinese Bird Room" at Culreuch Castle in Fintry. It's supposed to be haunted, but we didn't see a ghost.

(See my recent trip report, by clicking on my name and looking for "Starring the Weather"...scroll way down to the bottom for the story of our stay at Culcreuch.)

All of the suggestions given to you already are wonderful - those fishing villages on the East Neuk are just wonderful, but so is the "heart" of the country between Edinburgh/Glasgow (and a little north).

Such great choices - and you've got some experts on this forum to help you out. Take anything Janis, Sheila, Caroline, etc., tell you and run with it! Just pick what appeals to you.

Gayle

Typing, typing, typing....Culcreuch is the correct spelling.....

Gayle

Hi - I can also recommend Roman Camp if you are in the Trossachs area - it is so stunning around there, and the hotel is a lovely luxury treat and very traditional. The restaurant is superb - ideal if your husband is a foodie. I think they do tasting menus every night. Also just outside Edinburgh, about 25 minutes heading south is Greywalls for a real splash out - it is fabulous - so beautiful and the restaurant is truly excellent. I know they have really good deals on at the moment so might be worth taking advantage of! Hope you have a good trip.

The big problem with Edinburgh is that the festivals start next week, so accommodation will be scarce, expensive & will probably have a 3 night minimum stay. ? (The official start date of the Fringe is 6 Aug but previews start during the preceding week.)

If none of the hotels others have suggested have vavancies, I suggest you phone the tourist office & just see what they've got - details on www.edinburgh.org.

Having said that, August is the most exciting time to be here - see www.edinburgh-festivals.org.

You could also try the Witchery (www.thewitchery.com) for the most romantic accommodation.

My restaurant recommendations...

If you want gourmet, there are two restaurants with one Michelin star. Martin Wishart's in Leith is fantastic, especially if you have the six course tasting menu (which will all be cooked by the man himself). It's very high class but friendly and unstuffy. If it appeals try to book *now* - I've usually booked for dinner 2-3 months in advance but lunch may be easier.

The other starred restaurant is Number One in the Balmoral : food nothing special IMO, ambience is more formal & traditional.

For Italian, La Partenope on Dalry Road is wonderful. The chef-proprietor & his food are Neapolitan & it's the best Italian food (especially seafood) I've had outside southern Italy. Unusually for an Italian restaurant, in the UK at any rate, even the desserts are home made & very good. They also have a very interesting list of southern Italian wines largely based on little known grape varieties. The ambience is very relaxed.

La Garrigue on Jeffrey Street is a small French restaurant specialising in cooking of the Languedoc where the chef-proprietor is from, as are all the wines. The food & the chef are both lovely and the ambience is correct but relaxed. If you sit near the window there is a view of Calton Hill & its monuments.

Both Black Bo's and David Bann's do very interesting & innovative vegetarian cusine. BB's is very casual, studenty even, & DB's is smart casual & v. modern . Both v. reasonably priced.

Centotre on George Street is a busy, buzzy Italian caffe-bar offering everything from a coffee to the full works. Particularly good pizza & pasta.

If you want 'modern Scottish', Stac Polly on Grindlay Street used to be good, but I recently read a poor review of it by a writer I respect.

When we have vistors we usually take them for Sunday lunch in Leith (the old docks area). There are lots of nice waterfront places, notably the Shore, where you can eat in the restaurant (non-smoking) or in the pub; the Waterfront and Skipper's. All of these are particularly good for fish but do other things too. I used to think Fisher's in Leith was the best for fish but had a very disappointing experience there recently : I haven't tried Fisher's in the City for some time so won't judge it.

I've never had good fish & chips in Edinburgh.

If you want recommendations for any other specific types of cuisine, please ask.

I have been trying to book accomodation in Edinburgh for 24th August.
Ended up booking a Travel Inn for £95!!! Never paid that price for a double room in a Travel Inn before - but it is festival time!