I’ve read so many posts titled that way. I’m not sure I can make just one post with the 91 pictures I took, so I’ll try to stick to the highlights!
Day 1 Old Town Edinburgh
A friend encouraged me and Hubby to spend the extra pounds and go first class on the train from London to Edinburgh. We got up early and took the LNR train on the eastern tracks, feasting on a full English breakfast and unlimited coffee in comfortable seats on a very quiet train car.
After a few hours, our patience was rewarded with views of the coastline along the North Sea and the Firth of Fourth. We arrived around 11 a.m. and walked a few blocks to the Ibis on St. Andrew’s Square. It’s a lovely little hotel in a great location with an amazing breakfast buffet.
We found out after planning our trip that Edinburgh was celebrating it’s 75th military tattoo the entire month of August. To say it was crowded might be an understatement.
We noticed no line at the Dishoom we’d passed on our way to the hotel, so we hurried back to it. It has outstanding Indian food, and for every meal purchased, they give one away. Super yummy!
Then Hubby and I headed up the hill to the Castle for our timed entry tickets. The day was perfect for all the views on this oldest spot of the city. We toured it using Rick Steves’ guide.
Coming out of the castle and into Old Town along High Street, we joined the masses. We followed “Uncle Rick’s” guide of Old Town to the midpoint at North/South Bridge, vowing to pick up the tour again in a couple of days.
Hubby and I decided to spend the afternoon wandering through Princes Street Gardens, once a stinky loch that protected the city but became the source for the city’s nickname “Old Reeky.”
To appease my shopping instincts, we spent about an hour on George Street before the stores closed. Edinburgh has several clothiers that I adore—White Stuff and Seasalt. Plus, the architecture here is drool-worthy with views of the water at the end of the streets.
Day 2 Rabbie’s Highland Tour
We were up early again to walk to the bus station about a block away. We’d scheduled a 12-hour tour of the Highlands, including Loch Ness, using Rabbie’s tours.
The driver of our 16 passenger van stopped at Loch Lomond, Glencoe Mountain, and then Loch Ness, which is part of Fort Augustus and connected to the Caledonian Canal. We enjoyed fish and chips here.
Our trip home took us through Caringorms National Park and past Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. We stopped for sandwiches at a spot that also kept some “Hairy Coos.”
It was late when we got back to Edinburgh, but Hubby needed a little more food before bed. He found a Hot Pot place next to TKMaxx. While I shopped for a new Tshirt for him to wear the next day, he made arrangements for us to eat.
When I joined him, his eyes were big, and he was very apologetic. I thought we’d be getting quick Chinese food. The look on his face said, “Hear me out.” He hesitantly announced that I’d missed a lot of explanations from the waitress and that we’d be cooking our own food tonight in the very large pot in the center of the table. Not a quick meal after all. Oh, and diners must collect all their veggies, noodles, and accessories from a bar below stairs. Great platters of raw meat appeared on our table. I was so sorrowful.
Day 3 From Arthur’s Seat to the Botanical Gardens
We elected to try to beat the crowds to Arthur’s Seat, a high point (800’) above the city. We resumed our guidebook’s tour at the midpoint and took a coffee/potty break at the palace before beginning our climb. Luckily for us, we’d bought new Gor-Tex hiking shoes at the Ecco Store in Covent Garden in London a few days before. We needed them.
The views were spectacular, but the crowd was beginning to seriously grow. We headed downhill at a clip. We found a free WC at the Edinburgh City Museum (very nice).
Then we found a Chai Latte at Grassmarket on Victoria Street. The views from below the castle were beautiful as we wound our way to another spot of interest in Edinburgh—Dean’s Village. The quiet little residential area oozes with Medieval charm. There WILL be paintings of it!
We followed the secluded waterway almost all the way to Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens. I could’ve spent the entire day there! It wows the senses.
Since our feet were about to fall off, Hubby ordered an Uber.
We put our name on a long list at a Mexican place (really a bar) and then walked some more. We looked through an open-air market, entered a different area of the Princes Street Garden and discovered the iconic fountain, as well as a statue of a Polish soldier and a bear. It’s a fascinating story, really.
Exhausted after having taken more than 32K steps that day, we slept well.
The next morning, we ate a hardy Ibis breakfast and caught the western train to Oxenholme in England’s Lake District. More on that portion of our 2025 UK adventure next time!
Here’s hoping you’re enjoying our journey and not needing a nap right now. May you be blessed until the next edition of the blog!
