Magic wands up and ‘’Wingardium Leviosa’’ to Scotland. Let’s rise up to those magical Scottish Highlands and beautiful medieval/neo-classical architecture. You can also bring a muggle or two with you.
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Starting point – Edinburgh airport, exit gate 9 ¾, continuing by bus/tram to your destination. I took the Airlink 100 to the city centre. A single adult ticket costs £4.50; return - £7.50. For your convenience, you can also order the tickets online prior to departure from the ‘’m-tickets’’ app. They are active for 180 days since the day you’ve purchased them. Activate your ticket just before to get on the bus and show it to the bus driver. Airlink 100 starts from stance D and arrives every 8-10 minutes or between 1:00 – 4:30 AM – every 15 minutes. The single tram ticket from the airport costs £6.50 in one direction and £9.00 – return. Below you can see a map with all the Skylink, Airlink and tram stations starting from the airport.
Once in the city centre, everything is easily reachable and connected. We explored the city on foot, but if you don’t like walking, you can purchase a day ticket for public transport which costs £4.50 or a single ticket – £1.80. I honestly, don’t think that this is necessary for Edinburgh, but it’s up to you.
WHERE TO STAY IN EDINBURGH.
Those are my top 3 favourite places:
The Dunstane Houses
This 5-star, family-run, boutique hotel is located in the west of Edinburgh on West Coates, just 30 minutes walk to the city centre and all the important sights. Buses are stopping right in front of the hotel – Airlink 30, Bus Nr.12,26 and 31.
The Dunstane Houses are in a beautiful area, dating back to 1860s, bringing the spirit of Orkney and the heart of Edinburgh. The two newly refurbished heritage Victorian townhouses are designed to perfection because the love is in the details. This is where the timeless tradition and modern comfort are meeting.
The 35 rooms in The Dunstane Houses are unlike anything else. They are all unique and designed to satisfy even the needs of the most demanding traveller. Perfect for a romantic getaway, honeymoon, celebrating special occasions and exploring the city.
It feels luxurious and homelike at the same time. Well, I wish my home was looking that way, but I am collecting ideas. This place inspired me and gave me much needed peace of mind in those difficult COVID-19 times. The warm welcoming, care and friendly service showed me again the authentic Scottish soul. They’ve managed to create a world of experiences and made my stay more than just a stay, but an added attraction to my trip. This one-of-a-kind heritage building host offers beautiful bathtubs, lots of books at your disposal, the comfiest beds and simply the best interior design.
There is an all-day dining room and lounge Ba’Bar, which is great for all the foodies out there. The chef Anthony Howard has chosen the best menu with the finest seasonal Scottish produce. On top of the main menu, there is a special 3-course vegan menu, which I tested. The food is delicious and you should not skip trying it. Their wine list and wine pairing possibility are great, but what is even more special is that they have the widest and best selections of rare and vintage whiskies in Edinburgh. Cheers!
Instagram: @dunstanehouses
Book here: https://thedunstane.com/
InterContinental The George Edinburgh
Scouting good places to stay while travelling is part of the travel experience, the next part is to actually find the ones which are satisfying our needs, but who would say no to a winner of a Luxury Brand Hotel of the Year at the 2019 Scottish Hotel awards?! InterContinental Edinburgh has easy access to all the Edinburgh’s points of interest, the best location for sightseeing, restaurants, shopping, business and getting out of the city, thanks to the well-connected public transport/rental cars options around.
With their extraordinary service starting even before entering the doors #InterContinentalEdinburgh elevates all your senses. The staff is very mindful and friendly.
Rich on history, dating back to 1775 as homes for Edinburgh’s most prosperous citizens and welcoming hotel guests since 1881, the hotel looks like sightseeing itself. Keeping the local tradition and charm: the men wearing Scottish kilts and all the luxurious natural materials used for the multi-million-pound restoration and refurbishment is bringing the trip to another level.
Modern, comfortable, well-equipped and the view I had from my room... I suggest you head to my Instagram Scotland’s Highlights to see what I am speaking about. First thing in the morning, view over the Edinburgh’s Castle, followed by a great breakfast in the hotel restaurant – The Printing Press. You can also head just for a great coffee in Burr & Co. Honestly, I couldn’t wish for more.
Instagram: @intercontinentaledinburgh ; @printbarkitchen ; @burrcocoffee
Book here: https://edinburgh.intercontinental.com/
Cheval The Edinburgh Grand
Perfectly located in the beating heart of Edinburgh, Cheval the Edinburgh Grand apartments are a wonderful option to explore the city and not feel far away from home. They are offering you all the comfort and equipment you might need. The 50 luxury serviced apartments are set in a building previously being a bank. The illustrious heritage, courtesy of this famous banking landmark, creates the feeling of a luxurious hotel residence.
It accommodates from 1 to 6 guests with apartments in all sizes, shapes and designs. Their authentic features, including original dark wood panelling, fireplaces, brass door handles and decorative cornicing, are making the place even more special. The spirit of Cheval the Edinburgh Grand and its amazing atmosphere help for a great rest and makes you wanna move in.
Try their wine café Lady Libertine and their bar/coffeehouse – The Register Club, which is perfect to ‘’meet and eat’’.
Instagram: @chevaltheedinburghgrand ; @lady_libertine_ ; @theregisterclub
Book here: https://chevalcollection.com
SIGHTSEEING EDINBURGH.
Now let’s start with the sightseeing part. Don’t skip the following places:
Edinburgh Castle
Keep in mind that the tickets specify an entry time for visiting. The best is to buy your tickets online as it is cheaper and you can avoid the queues. In comparison, the online price for an adult is £17.50, the gate price – £19.50. If you want to take a picture in front of the castle without the crowd, you should go early in the morning. This doesn’t apply to the current situation, but in normal times it is the only way to get the shot done without people around. Anyway, at the moment Edinburgh Castle is closed and the best thing we can all do is to stay home so that we can prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
Shooting tip: Head to the Vennel Steps for a great castle view and picture opportunity. The place is very quiet and has the most photo-worthy spot around Einburgh Castle.
Victoria Street and the Grassmarket Area
Don’t skip visiting this narrow curved, historical street in Grassmarket’s area. It is home of independent, colourful painted shops, selling wizardly supplies. It is believed that this street was the J.K.Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley in her Harry Potter books. The hued buildings and cobblestones are making it one of Edinburgh’s prettiest streets.
Tip: If you are a Harry Potter fan, you should visit the 2 official Harry Potter shops – The Musem Context and The Boy Wizard.
George Heriot’s School
A Scottish independent primary and secondary school, reminding of Hogwarts. Like Hogwarts, the building is grand and includes towers and turrets, but the house names are Lauriston, Greyfriars, Raeburn, and Castle.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
World’s famous graveyards, opened 24 hours a day. People believe that J.K.Rowling got the inspiration for some of the names in Harry Potter as William McGonagall – famous Scottish poet; Thomas Riddle; Elizabeth Moodie; Daniel Scrymgeour etc.
St.Giles' Cathedral
It dates back to 1130s. From May through September, the cathedral is open: Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 7 PM; Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM;
Sunday: 1 PM – 5 PM.
From October – April:
Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM; Sunday: 1 PM – 5 PM.
Edinburgh City Chambers
Every year the Edinburgh Award is given to an Edinburgh citizen for their contributions and the positive focus it has brought to Edinburgh from outside the country. As you already read, I am a huge Harry Potter fan and searched for all the Harry Potter-related places. Here you can find the handprints of J.K.Rowling.
School of Divinity, The University of Edinburgh
The School of Divinity is one of the most impressive places I’ve seen and it looks like out of this world. It is ranked in the world’s top 20 universities for teology, divinity and religious studies, taking the 1st place in Scotland and 4th in the UK.
The Forth Bridges
Three bridges, spanning three centuries. They are built side by side over the Firth of Forth. It is really impressive to see. Keep in mind that they are not close to the city centre of Edinburgh, so I recommend to visit/cross the bridges if you hired a car.
Carlton Hill
Great city views and easily accessible. It takes about 5 minutes walk to get to the top of the hill, which is included in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several iconic monuments and buildings located on Carlton Hill. Those are the Nelson Monument, the National Monument, the Old Royal High School, the City Observatory and few others.
Dean Village
Dean Village is a quiet area on the Water of Leith. Perfect for a walkway along the river and exploring Edinburgh from a different point. Very charming and picturesque. Don’t skip to see the Well Court building.
Circus Lane
Great city walk and lovely photography spots.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Meet a world of illusions, a game of lights, an incredible city views and so much more. It’s super fun and worth visiting. Don’t skip getting lost in the Mirror Maze and get confused and twirled in the Vortex Tunnel which almost made me puke, but it’s a cool, must-do experience. The ticket is valid for one day, which means that you can leave the building and enter again. Ticket price for an adult – £16.50.
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS.
We hired a car from SIXT for a day trip to the Scottish Highlands. For those of you who might not know, please keep in mind that the Scottish/UK are driving on the ‘’wrong (left) side’’ of the road. It is not such big of a deal, but it’s something important to know before renting a car, in case this might be a problem for you. I enjoyed very much driving on the left side of the road and benefiting from the beautiful scenery.
Wake up: 6 AM
First destination: Glencoe
The route between Edinburgh and Glencoe is about 118mi (190km) or a bit less than 3 hours drive. The fastest you can drive in Scotland is 70mph (112km/h) for cars. Don’t forget to drive on the left side if you are not overtaking.
The Glencoe Valley was carved out centuries ago by icy glaciers and volcanic explosions. It is known for waterfalls and trails that climb peaks such as Buachaille Etive Mor and Bidean Nam Bian. While driving through Glencoe you pass through the heart of an ancient volcano. This area is featured in films such as James Bond’s Skyfall and several Harry Potter movies.
On the driveway, there are plenty of small parking stops where you can go out and admire the landscapes. Those views are something you cannot see every day. There were plenty of lakes and rainbows following us throughout the entire way. I've never seen so many rainbows and double rainbows in my entire life. Fairy tales are real and they happen on Earth, thanks to Mother Nature. Don’t skip to put Glencoe on your Scottish travel itinerary.
Next stop: Glenfinnan Viaduct
Glenfinnan Viaduct carries the railway to Glenfinnan Station across a 1000 ft (305 metres) span, 100 ft (30.5 metres) above the ground. Known also like the Harry Potter Bridge where Hogwarts Express is calling, it attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world. The Hogwarts Express/The Jacobite Steam Train passes regularly twice a day, starting from April to October – please check the official timetable, by clicking here.
You can have a train ride or see the wizard’s train from the ground.
The distance between Glencoe and Glenfinnan Viaduct is 36mi (58km) or about an hour drive. There is a parking (£3) for the viewpoint, but as this viewpoint is quite far from the viaduct and not good for the photography lovers, I suggest you to just park and leave your car there. Quickly check the view from the official spot (believe me, you can skip that), before to head to the actual location, where you can admire and see the Glenfinnan Viaduct closer and in all its glory. Just cross the bridge, turn left straight after the bridge and continue walking the pathway until you get to the desired point for your picture.
NB! Don’t repeat my mistake and try to find another path from the parking side as you might end up in a mud hole. I had to ask for help to get my leg out of the hole. Luckily, I was prepared and was able to change my clothes after. :D
Followed by: Loch Ness/ Urquhart Castle
The way from Glenfinnan to Urquhart Castle is 62mi (100km) or 1h30min. This is where we decided to stop and see both – the lake and the castle at the same time.
We did not see Nessie, but I guess even the mythic monsters are afraid of the Scottish winds. The price to enter the Urquhart castle is £12 for an adult.
Last stop: Inverness
We stopped for a dinner before to head back to Edinburgh. The place we ate in is a food/bar chain called Revolution Bar and I had a great vegan burger, although they serve many different types of food. I recommend it for a food break if you are doing a similar day trip.
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK IN EDINBURGH.
I will briefly mention all the restaurants/bars I liked in Edinburgh. All of them also have vegan/vegetarian options.
Breakfast/Brunch
Naked Bakery – 100% plant-based; very Instagramable - @naked_bakery
The Pantry – delicious food/vegan options available - @thepantryman
The Printing Press – great buffet breakfast and menu options in the InterContinental The George Edinburgh - @printbarkitchen
Lunch/Dinner
Aurora – fine food; family-run restaurant; a great selection of wine - @auroraedinburgh
Franco Manca – my favourite pizzeria chain in the UK - @francomancapizza
Henderson’s – vegan/vegetarian restaurant - @hendersonsvegan
Ba'Bar in The Dunstane Houses- fine dining, great wine and the best rare and vintage whiskies selection in Edinburgh - @dunstanehouses
For all Harry Potter fans:
The Cauldron Pub – a fantasy-inspired potion pub. Get dressed as a wizard and create some magical cocktails while connecting with other fun, like-minded people. Super cool experience. Book in advance. @thecauldronpub
Price: Off-peak seatings – Wednesday – Thursday 5:30 PM to close £29.99
Peak seatings – Friday – Sunday 5:30 PM to close £34.99
Teleporting back in time was never easier than in Scotland. The atmosphere meets past and future and brings an entirely new meaning to traditions vs. the modern world. In Scotland, both live in peace and harmony, which even the moody weather can’t break. True magic kept by the Scottish spirit lives in this extraordinary country. You will find it in every corner and will always carry a piece of it with you. I will be forever a keeper of this magic because it deserves to be spread.
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