Hey Scotts, I'm coming to you! :)

[Beldarna]

I got an "experience" of my choice as a birthday present from my family and decided to make it a trip. I've always been fascinated by Scotland and so, my experience is to travel to Edingburgh which will happen mid-june. The trip will be 4-5 days and we're gonna be four to six people going.

Besides visiting the Castle and Old Town, I want suggestions on what I should do and where I should visit. Museums, mainly, but for a living, are there any good B&Bs or cheap but nice hotels? Restaurants? Pubs? Any cool places to visit outside of town?

Reading only help me so much, but I want the real scottish feel. So what are your take?

[melodys_angel]

Oh, how fun!  Congrats hun^^

[kaoskat]

Oh that sounds awesome! Scotland seems like it is a great place to visit! Have fun!

[ponylady]

Oh my god, I am so jealous!! Scotland is my dream destination!

[Clarabel Sapphire]

Wow, what a great choice in birthday destination 

Edinburgh is my birth city and I lived there until I was 22. I still get 'home' to visit my parents and am always happy to go back.  It's a very pretty and compact city which makes it easy to get around.

Along with Edinburgh Castle, it is worth visiting Holyrood Palace at the opposite end of The Royal Mile, this is the Queen's residence when visiting Scotland's capital. There is quite a bit to see along the Mile too, the Museum of Childhood and Scotch Whisky Experience are worth a look around, plus there are loads of tourist stores as you'd expect. 

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Childhood

http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/

There is quite a big pub culture in Edinburgh, a good selection of pubs can be found in Rose Street located behind Princes Street (which faces the castle).

If you like nature and wildlife, Edinburgh Zoo is great and is the only zoo in Britain to have giant pandas.  You have to book viewing tickets for them though.  The Royal Botanic Garden is also a nice place to visit, I used to go there with my grandparents 

http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/

http://www.rbge.org.uk/

There are lots of tour buses that take you round the city attractions allowing you to get on and off all day.  The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed in Leith on the city outskirts and is well worth visiting (great tea room on board too!) 

http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/

Take a trip across the Firth of Forth and you will find Deep Sea World aquarium in North Queensferry, plus get to see the famous Forth Rail Bridge.

http://www.deepseaworld.com/

Further north and there's lots of lovely scenery like Loch Leven and the fishing villages along with the ancient capital of Dunfermline with its palace and abbey. Depending on how far you want to travel away from Edinburgh of course! 

I hope you have a wonderful time and Google is definitely your friend when researching a trip. 

[OLumeVaSti]

Awesome! If I had the time off, I would totally go. I guess for the mean time, I will live victoriously through you.  I heard Scotland is better then Ireland. I have never heard a bad word about it.

[Beldarna]

Wow, what a great choice in birthday destination 

Edinburgh is my birth city and I lived there until I was 22. I still get 'home' to visit my parents and am always happy to go back.  It's a very pretty and compact city which makes it easy to get around.

Along with Edinburgh Castle, it is worth visiting Holyrood Palace at the opposite end of The Royal Mile, this is the Queen's residence when visiting Scotland's capital. There is quite a bit to see along the Mile too, the Museum of Childhood and Scotch Whisky Experience are worth a look around, plus there are loads of tourist stores as you'd expect. 

http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Childhood

http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/

There is quite a big pub culture in Edinburgh, a good selection of pubs can be found in Rose Street located behind Princes Street (which faces the castle).

If you like nature and wildlife, Edinburgh Zoo is great and is the only zoo in Britain to have giant pandas.  You have to book viewing tickets for them though.  The Royal Botanic Garden is also a nice place to visit, I used to go there with my grandparents 

http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/

http://www.rbge.org.uk/

There are lots of tour buses that take you round the city attractions allowing you to get on and off all day.  The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed in Leith on the city outskirts and is well worth visiting (great tea room on board too!) 

http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/

Take a trip across the Firth of Forth and you will find Deep Sea World aquarium in North Queensferry, plus get to see the famous Forth Rail Bridge.

http://www.deepseaworld.com/

Further north and there's lots of lovely scenery like Loch Leven and the fishing villages along with the ancient capital of Dunfermline with its palace and abbey. Depending on how far you want to travel away from Edinburgh of course! 

I hope you have a wonderful time and Google is definitely your friend when researching a trip. 

Thank you so much for the info. I didn't get half of those link while googling.

[little.fox]

Congrats Beldarna, I'm sure you'll have an awesome time there!

[Clarabel Sapphire]

Thank you so much for the info. I didn't get half of those link while googling.

No problem, was happy to help. 

If you are looking for reasonably priced, clean and comfortable accommodation, take a look at the Premier Inn website.  My fiance and I have travelled all over the UK and have stayed in lots of them, all good value for money. 

My birthday is also in June (14th) - when is yours? 

[Khema]

So jealous! Can I had in your suitcase?

[Diamond]

Oh my god, I am so jealous!! Scotland is my dream destination!

That's cause you want to steal all of Cat's ponies.  LOL

What a wonderful present, I hope you have an awesome time.

[Beldarna]

Thanks everyone. I'm sorry but I won't be able to take anyone in my suitcase. Besides, you would have to travel to Sweden first, Khema.

Thank you so much for the info. I didn't get half of those link while googling.

No problem, was happy to help. 

If you are looking for reasonably priced, clean and comfortable accommodation, take a look at the Premier Inn website.  My fiance and I have travelled all over the UK and have stayed in lots of them, all good value for money. 

My birthday is also in June (14th) - when is yours? 

Thanks again. I'm gonna check it out.

Mine was February second. I've taken my time thinking what I want to do. The date of travel is my first week of vacation.

[hathorcat]

Oooooh!!!! You are coming to visit me right?

Now...I am on the west coast so I am of course bias towards Glasgow but I actually adore Edinburgh as well. As Clarabel its an wonderfully compact city centre with so many things within a short walk or even bus/taxi/tram ride away.

Make sure you take a walk along the Royal Mile - even as a Scot you cant help but see tartan and hear bagpipes when you walk along that street its just so gloriously Scottish. There are some wonderful little hidden streets off the Mile as well with lots of lovely tea rooms and cafes. Its the oldest part of the city [other than the Castle of course] and it remains relatively untouched. Likewise Edinburgh's World Heritage site - the Old and New towns is so much fun to wander through.

When you go to the Castle - make sure you are there for 1pm for the daily canon salute. It will make you jump...even if you expect it but its a typical "must do" thing in Edinburgh. Although you can hear the canon from most of the city centre depending on traffic of course. 

We love folk lore and anything a little dark in this country so if you get time check out Edinburgh Dungeons or my favourite and not as well known is Mary King's Close. Underneath the Royal Mile there is a hidden part of the city which was locked away and remains completely untouched - it is very cool! http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/. If thats your thing there are a couple of companies who do City of the Dead/nderground City of the Dead/Haunted City tours which are good fun.

Scott Monument, Greyfriars Church/Graveyard and Arthurs Seat [Edinburgh its the only city to have a dormant volcano right at its heart after all!] are also all great places to take in.

If you get a change there are some options out of the city which are fun as well and because its such a big tourist town there are regular coach trips - Rosslyn Chapel, which is of course famous from the Da Vinci Code novel is a bus trip away and you get to see a lovely stretch of countryside on the way.

For lovely restaurants and some of the best foot, you should try out the Leith area of the city - its trendy, upmarket and quirky all at the same time.

As for guest houses, there are some quaint ones but for value for money in the UK I agree you usually cant beat Premier Inns - they are central to the city, with set prices and you know you get good quality accommodation. Its not spectacular or stunning or one of the city's heritage hotels but its normally a good price if you book ahead. In June to September a lot of guest houses in Edinburgh get pretty pricey but it looks as though you will be there just before the festivals so you should manage accommodation at a good price

When I have friends or colleueeus who come to the city, I always give them this link - http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/itineraries/edinburgh-lothians/72-hours-edinburgh - it covers all the key points in 3 days...just to make sure you see everything you want.

Have fun and if you have any questions, pm me

[Beldarna]

Aaaw! I would love to visit you(re collection) . I've considered taking a trip to Glasgow as well, my initial thought was going there (as I love Scrooge McDuck and it's his hometown), but there were no direct flights going there and Edingburgh seemed larger. But as it is very close, a quick trip over the day might be happening. I'm not sure yet. As of now, were gathering thoughts and ideas for things that will suit everyone.

I'm a history nut so the Mary King's Close appealed to me just hearing about it. Like wow.

My boyfriend is very keen on going outside of town and see the nature so bus trips to other places might be a good choice. I have no memories of the Rosslyn Chapel being in Scotland and I've read the books a lot of times.. I learn and relearn every day, lol.

I'm so excited about this, you have no idea! Thank you so much for all of this.

[Marlin]

Awww! This all sounds sooo good and makes me want to go to Scotland!!

House swap, Hathorcat?! 

Not that I have funds for such a cool trip    That and Italy and France are going to have to wait. I canne do it, ye ken?!