Edinburgh
- Thread starter [TW]Fox
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Been three times on short breaks and I quite frankly don't get the attraction - GF likes it, though because it's pretty to look at. For us, it's about choosing the nicest hotel, best restaurants and mucking about whenever possible.
Unless you want your jaw to hit the floor looking at your overall taxi spend then I'd take a back pack and some hill climbing boots because nothing is within walking distance, everything is up a knackeringly steep hill and I shiver at the thought of taking my motor there.
All the bars seem to be about 2 miles apart and at least 5 miles from your hotel. George Street is about the only upside, nice shops and restaurants if you fancy splashing out a bit.
If you're a tourist with an anorak, some boots and can put up with the comical patriotism then it's the place to be otherwise you'll be splashing out on a swa.nky hotel and fancy eating.
I'd really have to disagree with all of that
but then, I saw your location.It is pretty, there's so many places around the city you can just stop and take in the views, but that's about as far as I'll agree. I've genuinely only taken taxis twice in Edinburgh, having lived here for 5 years - if you're in the centre, there's really no need. Sure, they're expensive, but they're also unnecessary. Everything is within walking distance, unless you're staying way out of the city itself - though, even if you are, there are regular cheap buses going all over the place.
As for bars, there are 7 within 2 minutes walk of my flat, and I'm not even in the centre. There's a ridiculous number of them, scattered all over the place - and I'd add that George Street is possibly the worst place I've ever been out to, unless you're a great fan of overpriced pretentious holes. Decent enough restaurants, but the nightlife there, while supposedly "classy", is just awful.
I actually quite liked it, despite it being in Scotland
.... and in the summer.
I can never tell if you're being serious or not....his car already has well over 170k on the clock iirc
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Welcome back! I missed you SO much.
I don't drive an M5 replica, but thanks for your concern.
I stopped contributing to threads where you are making a donut of yourself 6+ months ago after I got bored of you trashing everything in retaliation, are you going to stop being irritating yet?
Fox - If you are driving up to Scotland head up to Stirling, then North heading for the Trossachs. From there then head through Callander and up towards Lochearnhead then up to Crianlarich and then Tyndrum. Stop at the Green Welly for fuel and then drive up through Glencoe.
The drive up through Glencoe, scenery wise, will have your jaw drop ( try and keep yer eyes on the road though!! ).
Then come back down to Tyndrum and take a right towards Oban out on the Dalmally Road. Billiard table smooth road surface with great visibility and lots of fast sweeping bends. Just mind the sheep have no fences to keep them in their fields.
Utterly brilliant road that. If you go via Dumbarton (as suggested) you get to drive the road around loch lomond which is fun
I blatted up and down to Fort William in a new RX8 about 2 years ago and it was immense, although the car probably helped make the drive enjoyable hitting 9K on the rev counter
Of course, the scenery on the drive is impressive as well
Fort William, unfortunately, is not an impressive town
Mary King's Close is worth a shot, and if you like the sound of it, book in advance. Very interesting though and really quite grim. There's some mad National Trust house on the Royal Mile worth visiting called Gladstone's Land. It's a mishmash of lots of eras/periods and really quirky from what I remember.
Edinburgh Castle is well worth a visit too, quite a lot of military history there. However, it's basically 2 or 3 hours of reading about how much Scotland hates the English and why.
The vaults are meant to be interesting/scary, but I didn't get around to going. Avoid the Edinburgh Dungeon at all costs.
Take advantage of the buses when you're there. Seriously, they run constantly, and if you're more than a mile out of the City center, they're worth using and run 24 hours IIRC. A day ticket is peanuts from what I remember.
Agree with all of this, though don't be doing any reading in the Castle at 1PM. Outside is where you need to be at that time.
Also, didn't have to pre-book Mary King's Close. Just turned up and it was fine. That was a few years ago though so maybe it's got busier.
Yes, the hills were tiring but I'm far from anything that could be called 'fit', and I managed them. At least you know you're only going to be spending half your time going up.
I didn't use a taxi once. Did use the buses plenty of times but they seemed cheap and frequent so why not.
Definitely spend at least a day out of town looking at the scenery though. Just try to pick a day where the weather is conducive to actually seeing any of it!
Edinburgh is a lovely city, the architecture is very much like Bath but has many more grand buildings. The highlands are about an hours drive or so, so quite easy to get to.
I work up here during the week and the wife came up for the weekend a couple weeks ago, so did quite a few of the touristy things like Mary Kings Close, the dungeons, open top bus (not really worth it but it does give you discounts into other places) etc.
There are loads of good places to eat. I can recommend Martin Wishart, the Tower and Witchery for fine dining. Many think the Kitchen is the best place to eat in Edinburgh but I cant say as I havent been there yet but the other three are very good, Martin Wishart especially. Many of the places in Rose Street are good for normal dining.
I work up here during the week and the wife came up for the weekend a couple weeks ago, so did quite a few of the touristy things like Mary Kings Close, the dungeons, open top bus (not really worth it but it does give you discounts into other places) etc.
There are loads of good places to eat. I can recommend Martin Wishart, the Tower and Witchery for fine dining. Many think the Kitchen is the best place to eat in Edinburgh but I cant say as I havent been there yet but the other three are very good, Martin Wishart especially. Many of the places in Rose Street are good for normal dining.
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Fantastic city. Pretty architecture, great people, fantastic night life, lots of culture to see and do, amazing history. Definitely a fun town.
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I'd really have to disagree with all of that
It is pretty, there's so many places around the city you can just stop and take in the views, but that's about as far as I'll agree. I've genuinely only taken taxis twice in Edinburgh, having lived here for 5 years - if you're in the centre, there's really no need. Sure, they're expensive, but they're also unnecessary. Everything is within walking distance, unless you're staying way out of the city itself - though, even if you are, there are regular cheap buses going all over the place.
As for bars, there are 7 within 2 minutes walk of my flat, and I'm not even in the centre. There's a ridiculous number of them, scattered all over the place - and I'd add that George Street is possibly the worst place I've ever been out to, unless you're a great fan of overpriced pretentious holes. Decent enough restaurants, but the nightlife there, while supposedly "classy", is just awful.
+1
spot on. in rose street alone there must be 15+ pubs
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Freefaller's words seconded.
I am about 90 minutes drive from Edinburgh and it really is a fantastic city to visit.
I am about 90 minutes drive from Edinburgh and it really is a fantastic city to visit.
Me and the girl friend tend to go up for a couple nights at Christmas time. Yes it's cold, but I love the market on princess street and all the shops lit up. I normally stop in Leith somewhere and don't use the car till the Sunday when I have to check out and parking is easier (free). The bus service are normally ever 15mins max into the centre and cheap . My biggest advice is to make sure your sat nav is up to date with speed camera info and take it easy up there. As soon as you cross the border it's speed camera hell!
Enjoy
. My biggest advice is to make sure your sat nav is up to date with speed camera info and take it easy up there. As soon as you cross the border it's speed camera hell! Enjoy
Man of Honour
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It's really not that difficult to navigate around on foot, sure there's hills but they're not that bad unless you're hiking up Arthur's Seat (I'd recommend this if you feel like tromping about in the country but not actually leaving the city) or going into the Pentlands. You do have a bit of a point about cars at the moment due to the one way systems which catch out the unwary particularly with the tram building going on so my suggestion would be simply to drop off the car somewhere and take buses (quelle horreur) unless you are leaving the city to go venturing further afield.
[TW]Fox;17588277 said:
What sort of scenery? The Pentland Hills are towards the South-West of Edinburgh and offer pleasant rolling hills if you wanted a walk - if you go up the A74(M) then cut off along the A702 via Biggar and West Linton sort of way then you'll pass through and see quite a lot of them, it's almost always a nice way to come to the City and you'll end up near Hillend which is about 8 miles from the City Centre. That route up comes pretty much straight off the M6 which is a fairly decent way to go if you're coming from Plymouth, not the most exciting road in the World the M6 but it's easy enough to get through the miles on. If you want more physically imposing mountains or lochs then you've got to head further North, another few hours drive depending on exactly where you want to get to.
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Man of Honour
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I knew there was something I forgot to mention.
Do watch out for speed cameras as said Fox.
They are everywhere north of the border.
Do watch out for speed cameras as said Fox.
They are everywhere north of the border.
Easy to spot on the 74 though, they are 99% on the road bridges which cross the M74
I actually tried this, went up the easy route but got scared of falling when it got rough and as I was on my own, gave up and headed back down. Would love to make it to the top, someday.
Make sure you go to the deli on Cockburn Street and try their haggis samosas
It'd be a crime not to!