Ideas for half-day excursion around Edinburgh?
 

I am planning to take about 20 friends to Edinburgh for a meeting. We have three afternoons that we can spend touring. Of course, we will spend one of which in the city of Edinburgh. What would you suggest for the other two afternoons? A drive to...and stop at...then return for hotel after dinner...

This is really a Tony question but who says I can't have opinions?... <BR> <BR>To some extent it depends what you are interested in and what the weather is like. However here are some options... <BR> <BR>1. Go down into the Borders and do a couple of big houses and some scenery. Say Traquair Castle- which has its own brewery and some excellent history.Followed by Mellarstain House and mybe Melrose Abbey where Robert the Bruce's heart is buried. Oher variaions on this theme include Floors Castle, Abbotsford (home of Sir Walter Scott) Dryburgh Abbey; Hermitage Castle; Neidpath Castle- or there are lots more. <BR> <BR>2.Go slightly further west and se New Lanark a model community built by social philanthropist Rober Owen; and it's near the Falls of Clyde for scenery. <BR> <BR>3. Whisper it not in Gath- go to Glasgow for shopping and culture (and you can do it by train) <BR> <BR>4.Linlithgow Palace, followed by Bannockburn- battle site, where we beat the English- and Stirling. <BR> <BR>5. Over the Forth Road Bridge to Fife, to Loch Leven castle where Mary Queen of Scots was locked up and escaped from; and Vane Farm Bird Reserve on the other side of the Loch. <BR> <BR>6. Golf- pick any one of half a dozen gorgeous courses in superb scenery. <BR> <BR>7. Fife- but I'll let Tony do this bit. <BR> <BR>8. What do you mean? half a day in Edinburgh?

Having lived in Edinburgh I really love that city. You'll have a great time! <BR> <BR>I have 2 suggestions: <BR>1. 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. <BR> <BR>2. In the center if Edinburgh there is a great hikeable hill, Arthur's Seat. It is a great openspace in the city. The approx. 1/2 mile hike provides a commanding view of the city, castle, sea, and sorrounding countryside. <BR> <BR>Enjoy!

Arthur's Seat IS a magnificent climb and, unless it is raining, well worth it for the views. <BR>Another possibility is to take your car up to 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 harbor, the mouth of the River Almond, a medieval church (Cramond Kirk) and the remains (in the churchyard!) of Rome's northernmost garrison fort.

Steve...I'm feeling a little strange tonight so i will get back to you , mate ... <BR> <BR>regards

Steve, Stirling Castle and Bannockburn would be my choice, if you have that much time. You would need a good portion of the day for that. Linlithgow is one of my favorite castles and can be done in a quick afternoon visit along with St. Michael's Church. Make sure you visit the National Museum of Scotland (Chambers St) in Edinburgh. It just opened and is incredible. Take a couple days for Edinburgh and really enjoy it. There's always Tantallon in North Berwick. I've not been there yet but am going for a jousting tournament the weekend of June 12th and 13th. The word on that is also...fabulous! If you need to go beyond Edinburgh, stick to the basics to get a feel for Scotland and her history. Linlithgow and Stirling would do that for you. (In my *very* humble opinion!)

You guys have given me some great ideas. Thanks. Another important question I must ask is where to take them for a memorable dinner? I would like a restaurant with nice ambiance, good food, good wine list. Could be French or Scottish, or Italian. In a castle with romantic furnishings. Can I find all these ingredients in one place? I heard there is a Borthwick Castle with great restaurnat in it. Has anyone heard of it? Any suggestions will be greatly appreaciated.

Steve....price range???? I looked up the Borthwick Castle in Scotland the Best, my Scotland bible. It has never let me down yet. It didn't give Borthwick dining a great review although it did say the ambiance was terrific. Maybe someone out there has been there that can say otherwise. <BR> One of my favorites is the Atrium, right in Edinburgh near the castle. The Atrium has received a Michelin red M, one of only 2 Edinburgh restaurants to receive one in 1997, apparently. It has a terrific atmosphere and great food - both Scottish and otherwise, and really good service. My husband and I have been there and then have taken a stroll afterwards through Princes Street Gardens, underneath the Castle which is lit up at night. Talk about memorable. There are a ton of really good restaurants in Leith, basically Edinburgh but down by the docks. One is The Vintners Room. The food is similar to the Atrium's with haggis and black pudding to boot! Skippers and The Waterfront are next to each other in Leith and are good, too. The Waterfront has a conservatory in the back that's nice to eat in. Skipper's actually gives you free coffee refills, unheard of here in Edinburgh! Both places serve a lot of seafood but have other choices as well. I've been to both and both are excellant. <BR>You may have heard of The Witchery near the Castle. I haven't had a great experience there with the service, but others may be able to give you a better recommendation concerning it. It's a tourist trap, I think. But hey, who am I?!?! Make reservations at all Edinburgh restaurants. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. <BR> <BR>ps: There is a place called The Prestonfield House, but I think it's super expensive. It's supposed to be an impressive place, just outside the city center. Ben Franklin used to stay there when it was a reseidence. You have a drink in one room, eat in anther and have dessert and coffee in yet another! My husband has been there and loved it. Can anyone comment further on this one????

I was going to suggest the Witchery, but Molly got there first. I haven't eaten there but it gets really good reviews for hte quality of its food and you couldn't pick a better location. <BR> <BR>Using my "Good Food Guide" there's a place called Cringletie House at Peebles south of Edinburgh which gets a good review and is described as 1861 baronial (that's a fake castle to you or me). <BR> <BR>I think you may have to choose between Castle and good food ( using the word good to mean "very good". <BR> <BR>if you decide to go for the restaurant option I suggest as an alternative to the Atrium, a relativley new restauarant in the Meadows called the Marque. It is run by a bunch of Atrium renegades and I have eaten ther twice and they are the two best meals I've had in the last year.