Katie & Ben
Things To Do
Edinburgh
Buzzing with life, Edinburgh has been the historical, cultural and political capital of Scotland since the 12th century. Edinburgh’s rich history is evident as one winds through the Old Town’s warren of charming, narrow alleyways (known as closes and wynds) and vaults steeped in history. Dotted between the ancient towers, spires and steeples of these picturesque medieval lanes are characterful houses stacked right on top of each other and stretching up to 14 stories – the first predecessors to modern skyscrapers. Today, Edinburgh continues to be the heart of Scottish culture and cuisine. In addition to being the home of several excellent museums, theatres and art galleries the compact city is well-known for hosting an abundant of cultural festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The city also has a flourishing restaurant scene, whose inspired menus are often influenced by the hilly city’s coastal location.
The Royal Mile
Set in the heart of the Old Town is Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, a mile long, cobbled street flanked with shops, cafes & restaurants as it extends from the Palace of Holyroodhouse up to Edinburgh Castle, perched on Castle Rock and looming down over the city. Castle Rock also provides a vantage point overlooking Edinburgh’s New Town. Formed in the 18th century on the outskirts of the original city walls, the purposefully built New Town featuring orderly grid streets is a jarring contradiction to the medieval labyrinth only a few hundred metres away. While both feature gorgeous architecture, the Georgian New Town’s harmonious, neoclassical buildings & elegant gardens are more stately. Listed together, the Old & New Towns as well as Edinburgh’s striking volcanic surroundings have long inspired renowned authors such as JK Rowling. In 2004 Edinburgh was lauded as the first UNESCO City of Literature due to its extensive contributions to literary history.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. With a long rich history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, it is alive with many exciting tales. When you climb Castle Hill, you will walk in the footsteps of soldiers, kings and queens – and even the odd pirate or two. Edinburgh Castle is one of the most striking landmarks a city could hope for, but its history is just as remarkable. It has been a royal residence, a military barracks and a political stronghold, particularly during the Scottish Wars of Independence, and during the Jacobite rebellion. The castle has been besieged a reported 26 times, making it one of the most attacked castles in the world. Today, you’ll be able to explore its rooms and grounds, learn about life in the military or in prison, about the royal residences and visit the Stone of Scone and Crown Jewels.
Grassmarket
Grassmarket is an area just south of the castle, famous for being the site of various public executions, although it was originally a marketplace for cattle and horses. It is still a marketplace, although of a different sort, today home to various artisans of local produce and crafts. From here you’ll walk up towards Greyfriar’s Kirk. This is most commonly associated with the plaintive story of the little churchyard dog, who is commemorated with a statue of his own, but the churchyard itself is an attractive, ramshackle assortment of ancient tombs and gravestones.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is a striking sight, sitting atop a craggy prominence of rock, with views of the Trossachs mountain range in the distance. It's thought of as the best castle to visit in Scotland, & it's certainly a fascinating & interactive experience. It's possible to spend hours exploring, including learning about life below stairs in the Great Kitchens, seeing the Renaissance tapestries, visiting the regimental museum, which documents memorabilia of Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in conflicts around the world, & the Stirling Castle Museum which has exhibitions on the history of the castle. There is also a prized collection of wooden carvings of heads, each depicting a royal, noble, biblical or classical figure from history. For children, the palace vaults offer an interesting learning experience, where you can immerse yourselves in various aspects of medieval life, from musical instruments & royal jesters’ jokes, to creating paints & dyes from basic ingredients around the world.
Linlithgow Palace
Once a royal residence and a military base, Linlithgow Palace is now an empty shell, following its destruction by fire in the mid-18th century by the Duke of Cumberland. Throughout the building there are information boards to explain what each of the rooms and areas would have been used for. You can climb within each of the towers and explore the maze-like interior, and ascend to the top of one of the towers for good views across the countryside. The palace was used in the filming of popular television show Outlander.
Princes Street Gardens
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without taking a stroll through the spectacular Princes Street Gardens, which offer excellent views of Edinburgh Castle. Statues and memorials are dotted throughout the gardens, including the towering Scott’s Monument, which at over 61 m (200 ft) is the largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. The monument commemorates Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland's greatest literary figures.
The Macallan Distillery Experience
The Discovery Experience: takes guests through our proud heritage, while exploring the journey from acorn to glass & sampling some of our single malt whiskies. You'll be welcomed with The Macallan roast coffee & home baked scones, before exploring The Macallan Whisky Wall. You'll then be led by our hosts through the Distillery experience, including a guided tour of our iconic Cave Priveé for a tutored tasting of some Macallan whiskies, before visiting The Macallan Bar for a final whisky. The Mastery Experience: delves deeper into the whisky making process & starts with a welcome dram at The Macallan Whisky Wall before enjoying a 2 course lunch in our Elchies Brasserie, paired with wines. You'll be led on an in-depth experience through the distillery, before being guided through a tasting of a carefully curated selection of Macallan whiskies in our iconic Cave Priveé. You'll then be invited to The Macallan Bar to experience a Macallan whisky flight. Guests receive an engraved glass!
Glenkinchie Distillery
This is a favorite of ours to visit! Glenkinchie Distillery is a Scotch single malt whisky distillery in East Lothian, Scotland. Glenkinchie lies, as the name might suggest, in a glen of the Kinchie Burn near the village of Pencaitland, East Lothian. It is situated about 15 miles from Edinburgh. The distillery is set in farmland. The name 'Kinchie' is a corruption of 'De Quincy', the original owners of the land. Its origins date back to around 1825.
St Andrews Links: The Home of Golf
For more than 600 years St Andrews Links has felt the tread of every great champion and flinched as millions of golfers have hammered and hacked, swatted and swiped at balls of wood, leather, gutta percha and balata. It has felt the caress of hickory and the sharp assault of blades of steel and titanium. It is a living, breathing timeline with each and every single person who walks upon it an integral part of our history, our love and our passion for this place. There are a number of ways to book a round at the Home of Golf from the traditional Ballot for the Old Course through the online booking system. Pick the St Andrews Links course you wish to play to find out more. The nine-hole Balgove Course is the only course that cannot be booked in advance; simply turn up on the day. Write your own History at the Home of Golf. Get ready to play the round of a lifetime and write your own history at the St Andrews Links.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace Of Holyroodhouse is the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history. Open throughout the year, the Palace sits at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile.
Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano which is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park, described as "a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design". It is situated just to the east of the city center, about 1 mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. The hill provides excellent panoramic views of the city and beyond, is relatively easy to climb, and is popular for hill walking. Though it can be climbed from almost any direction, the easiest and simplest ascent is from the east, where a grassy slope rises above Dunsapie Loch. At a spur of the hill, Salisbury Crags has historically been a rock climbing venue with routes of various degrees of difficulty, but due to hazards, rock climbing is now restricted.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Views of, and from, the hill are often used in photographs and paintings of the city. Calton Hill is the headquarters of the Scottish Government, which is based at St Andrew's House, on the steep southern slope of the hill. The Scottish Parliament Building and other prominent buildings such as Holyrood Palace lie near the foot of the hill. Calton Hill is also the location of several iconic monuments and buildings: the National Monument, the Nelson Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument, the old Royal High School, the Robert Burns Monument, the Political Martyrs' Monument and the City Observatory.
Princes Street
Get ready to shop!!!! Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1.2 km from Lothian Road in the west, to Leith Street in the east. The street has few buildings on the south side, and looks over Princes Street Gardens allowing panoramic views of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and the valley between. Most of the street is limited to trams, buses and taxis with only the east end open to all traffic.
Scott Monument
Standing proudly in Princes Street Gardens, the Scott Monument is one of the most iconic Edinburgh landmarks, a must-visit for tourists and locals alike. Dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, it is one of the largest monuments to a writer anywhere in the world. On the death of Sir Walter Scott in 1832, the great and good of the city came together to agree on a fitting monument to this outstanding Scottish literary figure. In 1836, an architectural competition was launched, inviting designs for an appropriate memorial. Two years later, the trustees approved the design submitted by George Meikle Kemp, and construction began in 1840.