History meets charm in Edinburgh, Scotland
By KIRAN GILL
Nestled amidst the beautiful peaks of the Pentland Hills and Southern Uplands, Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh marries history and culture with rocky crags, cliffs and volcanic hills. The charming city transports travelers and denizens alike with its cobblestone paths, Georgian architecture and white sandstone buildings.
From towering castles to lush gardens, museums, theater experiences, farm-to-table dining and whisky tours, a visit to the “Athens of the North” is a salve for the soul, equal parts restorative and inspiring. As such, the city is the ideal candidate for a weekend getaway.
Chronicles of time
The city boasts ties to the far past with evidence supporting human settlement as far back as 8500 BC. The land passed through the hands of the Votadini, a Brittonic tribe, and made its way to the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria before becoming the Edinburgh of today as the capital of Scotland in 1437 after the murder of King James I.
As such, one of the first sites to see in Auld Reekie is the historic Edinburgh Castle which stands atop Castle Rock and looks down upon the city’s Old Town and New Town. After visiting the most besieged place in Britain, travellers can visit 14 more castles and palaces all within the city bounds, including Craigmillar Castle, Lauriston Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse – the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.
Sights to see
A perfect day in Edinburgh is incomplete without strolling the scenic paths of Circus Lane, Victoria Street and Prince Street, where one-of-a-kind boutiques and specialty stores are intermingled with coffee shops, gastropubs and more.
Five minutes from Prince Street, visitors can discover Dean Village – an idyllic oasis right by the Water of Leith, where former water mills have been transformed into modern homes. Walk alongside Dean Path and look upon Dean Bridge, St. Bernard’s Well and statues created by British sculptor Antony Gormley. While exploring these sites, lucky visitors might even catch a glimpse of a proud heron or a brightly-colored kingfisher.
With a bustling art scene, the city is home to the National Galleries of Scotland, which has four separate locations devoted to a different speciality, including the National – inclusive of European masterpieces and Scottish works, Portrait, Modern One and Modern Two, formerly the Dean Gallery.
The city also boasts an illustrious literary past, having been the birthplace of titans such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Naomi Mitchison and Muriel Spark. In fact, The Writers’ Museum celebrates the lives of three exemplary Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
After exploring The Writers’ Museum, purchase a book from one of Scotland’s great authors at the many independent bookstores that dot the city. A beloved city favorite is Topping & Company, which spans three floors and houses over 70,000 books on handcrafted wooden bookshelves; each customer receives a complimentary cup of tea or coffee alongside biscuits.
Epicurean adventures
Indulge your taste buds with a seven-course tasting menu at Number One; dishes utilize premium ingredients such as N25 caviar and hand-dived Orkney scallops. The restaurant is located inside the iconic Balmoral Hotel, which first opened its doors in 1902.
A seafood lover will marvel at the eye-catching dishes of Lyla, where line-caught fish and sustainable shellfish sourced from the Scottish Isles are paired with produce from farms within the United Kingdom. For the small plate aficionado, sample the culinary delights of Stuart Ralston’s Noto, a restaurant that draws its inspiration from Asia and serves dishes such as duck bao buns and pork belly bo ssam.
No trip to Scotland is complete without a taste of whisky. Stretch your palate with a tasting at Single Malt Whisky Society on Queen Street, where the bar holds over 500 single malts from Scotland and beyond. The Bow Bar is a rare gem within a tourist hot spot and includes a wide selection of beers and whisky.
Rest and relax
After a day of exploring, rest and relax at the moody, atmospheric House of Gods, which has a penchant for velvet. An expert mixologist is on call around the clock to create a speciality cocktail within your room.
Alternatively, The Witchery by the Castle was first a merchant’s house from the 16th century and is now a romantic, Gothic destination. Each suite includes towering candles, sumptuous velvet and antique furniture alongside the best in-room amenities.