Ali & Gavin
Things To Do
Edinburgh Pubs and Bars
Edinburgh has some really great pubs and bars! Here are some crowdsourced favourites from ourselves, friends and family. Prince Bar - Bar - Right next to Waverley Station in the Balmoral Hotel. Bow Bar - Bar - A popular spot with a ton of whiskey options, located on Victoria Street. The Dome - Bar - Upmarket cocktail spot (and former employer of Gavin) on George street. The Ensign Ewart - Pub - A historic cosy pub on the royal mile that dates back to 1690. Halfway House - Pub - One of Edinburgh's smallest pubs, located on Fleshmarket close between Waverley Station and Cockburn street (aye, they really are called that).
Edinburgh Food Recommendations
Howies $$ - Scottish - A great, affordable Scottish restaurant that can be found on Victoria Street (Diagon alley for the Harry Potter fans). Monteiths $$$ - Scottish - One of Gavin's favourite restaurants in Edinburgh, situated in a close off Edinburgh Royal Mile. Would recommend booking in advance. The Witchery $$$$ - Scottish - Next to Edinburgh castle at the top of the Royal Mile. Expensive, but a great restaurant. Dishoom $$ - Indian - A beloved UK up-market chain that has a really really great breakfast. Duck & Waffle $$$ - Gastro Diner - Known for their famous restaurant atop the Heron Tower in London, we have one too in Edinburgh!
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle - At the top of the Royal Mile, this is the icon of Edinburgh, built in 1103 and gave J.K. Rowling her concept of Hogwarts in Harry Potter. Mary King's Close - A 17th century street beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile that was originally sealed and built over. You can see what it was like to live in Edinburgh hundreds of years ago, during the bubonic plague era (Ali enjoyed the tour!). Victoria Street - A stunning street in the heart of old-town (it's Diagon Alley!). Grey Friar's Graveyard - Where J.K Rowling took names for the books. Also Elephant House coffee where she wrote some of the earlier books. Arthur's Seat - A 350 million years old extinct Volcano next to the city centre, that you can hike up in 30ish mins each way. Prince's Street Gardens - It used to be a loch back in the day, now it connects the old town and the new.
Scotland
If you speak to any Scot, you’ll quickly discover how proud we are of where we come from. There are countless ways to explore Scotland, and unfortunately my 1,000-character limit won’t let me do it justice here. Many of Scotland’s most iconic sights can be found heading up the northwest, where the North Coast 500 begins (see the attached map for a few of our favourite stops). And if you’re looking for truly epic landscapes, the Isle of Skye is an absolute must — this video says it better than words ever could. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPXWLOnFJms) If you are into playing some golf, my brother has recommended the following: - North Berwick West Links - Pay to play - Gullane (Home of the Scottish Open) - Pay to play - Kilspindie - Pay to play - St Andrews - 48 ballot prior, or with a hotel package.
If you're a fan of the show, here's an Outlander tour
A lot of Outlander was filmed in and around Edinburgh! Midhope Castle - Jamie Fraser's home, Lallybroch Castle. Hopetoun House - Multiple shots throughout season 1-4, but most notably the Duke of Sandringham's home. Blackness Castle - This serves as Fort William in the show, and is the set of Jamie's brutal flogging. Also, it's the set where Jamie scales down to enter through a window to save Claire (sorry for the spoiler). Linlithgow Palace - Wentworth Prison where Jack Randal almost stops the show's audience from progressing to season 2. Doune Castle - Portrays Castle Leoche, the home of clan Clan MacKenzie (fun fact, it's also Winterfell from Game of Thrones!). Culross - It's the set of Cranesmuir in season 1 and you get to pass over the three bridges to get there.
