April 2017 – Mary's Kitchen

48 HOURS IN EDINBURGH

Too much to see and so little time! My childhood friends were visiting me from Canada for only 2 days before embarking on a cruise around the med. Their modus operandi was to have fun and see as much of Edinburgh in that short time and breath in as much of the city’s culture as possible. I needed to come up with a plan and fast.

Having lived in this historical capital city since 1980 and I’m ashamed to say

that I have rarely been a tourist in my own town, other than when I first arrived. So the other day, spurred on by a visit from my Canadian friends, I decided to do just that – become a tourist for 48 hours.

For those of you planning a trip to Edinburgh in the not too distant future – here is my awe inspiring list of what to aim at seeing to get the most out of your trip.

MY TEN MUST DO’S

Edinburgh Castle

Class of 74 – My two amigos
Holyrood Palace
Royal Yacht Britannia
National Museum of Scotland
Greyfriars Bobby & The Grassmarket
The Scottish Whisky Experience
Underground Ghost Tour
Historic Grassmarket
Camera Obscura and World Illusions
Mary King’s Close

Now I can hear you say, that is a pretty tall order for 48 hours but let me tell you how this is achievable and the best and most reasonable money saving way of doing this.

Get yourself to Waverley Bridge where you will find all the tourist buses and buy THE ROYAL EDINBURGH TICKET from the Edinburgh Bus Tour operator (Hop on and Hop off bus). The cost of this ticket is £51 and what is included is the most outstanding value. All inclusive is – Fast Track Admission into

Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Royal Yacht Britannia, 2 for 1 entry into The Glasshouses at the Royal Botanics PLUS 48 hours travel on 3 different tour buses- Edinburgh Tour, City Sightseeing Tour and the Majestic Tour. The Hop On Hop Off buses cover different areas of Edinburgh. One covers the old town, the other the New Town and one is the City Sightseeing Tour. Also included in you ticket are a number of discounts into other major attractions.

The city sightseeing tour lasts for one hour. You can hop on – or hop off at any of the tour stops. Once you have finished visiting one of the many attractions along the tour just jump back on the bus again. You can do this for the duration of your ticket and I fully recommend that this is the best way to see the city in 48 hours.

Because I live in the city, I had forgotten just how magical Edinburgh is. A three dimensional city built on different levels and famous for it’s ghost tours, underground vaults and haunted graveyards.

Our first stop was Edinburgh Castle. Each day at the castle (except Sunday) the one o’clock gun is fired. Edinburgh Castle plays host each year in the month of August to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. If you are fortunate enough to visit during the Edinburgh Festival, be sure to get tickets for the Tattoo. A magnificent show of bag pipers from around the world.

The above pictures show the tiny chapel that is within the castle walls. Weddings are still officiated within St Margaret’s Chapel, but the chapel can only seat not more than 20 people. Perfect if your planning a small wedding!

Jumping back on the bus our next stop was Holyrood Palace. This is the official Royal residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth when she is in Scotland. This historic palace dates back to 16 century and is overlooked by Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano, that sits 251m above sea level and if you fancy a climb you will be awarded with some of the best views of the city.

Next stop – the Royal Yacht Britannia. This was The Queen’s floating Royal residence for over 40 years and we are very fortunate to have this magnificent yacht berthed in Edinburgh. This yacht has sailed over 1,000,000 miles around the world.

Whether you manage to fit this in on day one, you must visit, The National

Museum of Scotland on Chambers street. This museum has recently undergone massive renovation work and is a must visit for any tourist. You could literally spend hours exploring the diversity of this museum. From the age of dinosaurs through to the technology of the future, the galleries contain treasures from around the world.

While your at the museum, take an opportunity to visit Greyfriar’s Bobby. The

statue of Bobby sits on the corner of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row. Bobby is a famous Skye terrier who was born in 1855 and died in 1872 at the age of 16. When Bobby’s owner died, Bobby was said to have guarded his grave for 14 years. He is well known around the world and appears in numerous books and films.

Once you have given Bobby’s nose a pet, cross over the road and have a wander through the graveyard where Bobby and his master are laid to rest. From the graveyard, you will find a path that leads you into the Grassmarket.

Drop into Armstrongs, Edinburgh’s most famous vintage clothing store. In the

Grassmarket you will find many bars, restaurants and shops. If you are a lover of cashmere, it is here in the Grassmarket you will find The Tailor Retailored, a bespoke gents cashmere store carrying luxury hand crafted designs by Richard Olive, all made in Scotland. You will also find Hawick Cashmere who carry both men and woman’s designs. No visit to Scotland is complete without purchasing a piece of luxury cashmere.

While here in the Grassmarket, stop in for a refreshment to one of Edinburgh’s Oldest Inns, The White Hart Inn. An excellent pub with great grub. If you happen to be here in the evening, they have music every night at

9pm. You could pop in after you have been to one of the many ghost tours to choose from which you will find along the Royal Mile. The ghost tours take place as the dusk falls upon the city. You can book these online – try www.mercattours.com or www.cityofthedeadtours.com. Be prepared to be very afraid. Not for the faint of heart.

A well deserved rest and tomorrow is a new and exciting day.

Our first stop the next day was Camera Obscura and World Illusions – here you

will enjoy unrivalled views of Edinburgh’s skyline. This is rated one of Scotland’s top attractions where seeing is not believing . An Aladdin’s cave of illusions, tricks and puzzles. Can you find your way out of the magical mirror maze?

Now for one of our highlights on this tour – the Scottsh Whisky Experience. This is directly across the road from Camera Obscura. This attraction will take you through the history of Scotland’s national drink and one we are most famous for. There are several types of tickets you can buy but if you want to splash out, get yourself a Platinum Tour Ticket. You will take a whisky barrel ride through the production of Scotch whisky and get a guided nosing and tasting of various scotch whiskys. For some people this is a highlight of their visit. So if you enjoy a wee tipple of the amber libation, go Platinum(£36.50) and enjoy. There are many different types of tours running throughout the day – the Platinum Tour is early evenings and for 18+. You can also team this up with a scottish dining experience. www.scottishwhiskyexperience.com

Mary King’s Close is an old Edinburgh close under buildings in the Old Town. The close was partially demolished and buried under the Royal Exchange. The attraction gives tours of the ruins of several underground close remains – Mary King’s Close, Pearson’s, Stewart and Allen’s closes. See how people lived in Edinburgh in the 16th Century.

There are numerous of things to see in Edinburgh but that will take you much longer than 48 hours.

There are many attractions that are free entry and you could fill your day in Edinburgh without spending a penny. A trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens, a climb up Arthur’s Seat or a visit to one of Edinburgh’s many museums, most of which are free. I think that will fill another Blog on Edinburgh

I hope you have enjoyed this brief tour of Edinburgh. If you have, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my blog by filling in your email and thank you.

Month: April 2017

48 HOURS IN EDINBURGH – 10 THINGS YOU MUST SEE