A Knight in Edinburgh

When you lay back and think of Scotland what do you see? The vast expanse of hilly landscapes, coupled with the breath taking Loch views? You know… Those areas that consider their neighbours to be housed 4, 5, 6 miles across the horizon… Perhaps, broad accented, fire haired, skirt wearing men... The men who clink tumblers with other equally William Wallace looking chaps? Retrospectively, you may think of stories of middle aged park goers, in their out of date trackies and equally out of date anoraks, loudly congregated around a bottle of Scotland’s finest Buckfast? I can assure that people miss many things whilst digging through their minds for limited information they know about Scotland. Far away enough to consider Scotland for city breaks, but close enough to not break the bank… Cities like Edinburgh are perfect mini break locations.

Edinburgh. A well-known name, but by non-Scottish standards, what do we actually know about this under exposed treasure?

     If you’re looking for adventure by day and the finer things by night Scotland’s capital might be the city for you. The perfect city for indulging your cultural knowledge, expanding that photography portfolio, or even putting on a couple of pounds between the array of eateries and bellies full of laughter.

     With Edinburgh Castle watching over the city, it’s hard to believe people actually live side by side with this national treasure. A fully functioning metropolis of hustle and bustle, with a lacing of bronze age Scottish independence thrown in for good measure.

      You can visit The Edinburgh Castle, The Dungeons and even take the hair raising ghost tours this city has to offer… Perhaps, if that all sounds a little too sinister for you… You may want to take the world renowned Big ‘Red’ Bus Tour on its city route, and hop off at one of the cities other well liked attractions such as the famous Edinburgh Zoo. This zoo’s attractions cater for all ages, I challenge anyone to not enjoy the penguin parades. There is an abundance of tours you can embark on from within the city, from distillery tours, to traveling out of town to experience the sceneries of the naturally beautiful Loch scattered landscapes.

     Another highlight of visiting Edinburgh is its European renowned comedy scene. The household names of Sarah Millican, Jack Whitehall, Bill Bailey and even the great Stephen Fry are just a few of the many big names to have elevated their careers whilst giving it as good as they got on the comedic stage of THE EDINBURGH FRINGE. A festival that appears to spit out comedy legends every year, and where people come from far and wide just to get a taste of that unprecedented comedy scene. No matter what your comedy threshold, You’re guaranteed to find something to put a smile on your face.

    Nightlife wouldn’t be complete without a real taste of your surroundings, would it? What would a trip to Edinburgh be, if not for an evening tucked away in one of its many quintessentially Scottish establishments, with a plate of Haggis, neeps and tatties and a tumbler of locally produced Whiskey? Even if these national flavours are an acquired taste, Edinburgh is brimming with affordable, top notch restaurants. Whether your palate craves the spices of India, the oriental sweetness of China, the modern art that is Japanese chow, the deep fried and greasy classics, or the beauty of a buffet… You won’t go hungry here.

Words don’t do it justice.

(Scottish Tourism Bid)