Edinburgh isn’t just for the festival!
Edinburgh isn’t just for the festival! There’s plenty of things you can do in the wonderful Scottish capital this weekend, you could do all the normal things, but who wants to be normal?!
1. Scotland’s spookiest eatery
You just HAVE to try The Witchery, at the top of the Royal Mile. It’s worth warning now that The Witchery is not known for its low prices, but the food and setting does make up for it. You dine in view of the castle, in a candlelit dining chamber which has changed little since the middle ages. A gastronomic, if rather pricey, delight – although they do have some good offers.
The Witchery is a ten minute walk from the city centre. http://www.thewitchery.com/
2. Hit the seaside
Yes, it’s Scotland, it’s not the middle of July– it’s not going to be warm, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a trip to the seaside. Whilst Edinburgh has decent beaches at Portobello and Crammond, the fantastic town of North Berwick– and its beaches – cannot be surpassed. The high street is worth a look, with its mixture of local shops and boutiques, as does the Scottish Seabird Centre– where you can use remote controlled CCTV to spy on the nearby seabird metropolis of the Bass Rock, just off the shore.
Trains run from Edinburgh to North Berwick every hour, and take 35 minutes. Fare is £6.80 return. http://www.scotrail.co.uk/
3. Live the high life
Edinburgh plays host to a world class climbing arena, Edinburgh International Climbing Area. Built into an old quarry, the walls reach almost 30 metres high, and range from easy to fiendishly difficult. There’s also the ultimate assault course – if you’re not afraid of heights! Even if you’re not a fan of climbing, there’s still plenty to do – EICA also features a ceramic studio and a massage therapy room.
No direct public transport access, many buses travel to nearby Newbridge (1 mile) and Ratho (2 miles). http://www.travelinescotland.com/
4. Go flying
This one is a bit off the beaten track, but it’s worth it if you can make it out there. The Scottish Museum of Flight is located on an old air base some 20 miles east of Edinburgh. Fighter jets, classic airliners, excellent interactive exhibits– even one of the few remaining Concordes in the UK. You don’t have to be a plane geek to fall in love with this museum.
Take a train to North Berwick, then a service 121 bus to the museum. Return train fare £6.80, return bus fare approx £5. http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_flight.aspx
5. Look up
It’s really hard to miss this one. See it? That pointy thing? Yeah, that. The Scott monument is slap-bang in the city centre, and is a tribute to the great Scottish novelist– best known for transforming the image of the highlands from a bleak emptiness, to a romantic wilderness. It costs £3 to enter and climb the 287 steps to the peak. Don’t worry, there’s plenty stops on the way up!
Do it! Seriously, the views are worth the effort.
http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Scott-Monument.aspx
There you go, Edinburgh: one of the weirdest, and most wonderful, cities out there. Even a wander around the city is full of surprises – even for the locals!
Pic: Angus Duncan
