We love the Pentlands Hills Regional park and after the snow yesterday, we headed up a very cold Swanston track to get some wonderful views of Edinburgh. You can download a map of the Pentlands and plan your route according to your fitness.

We parked at the free car park beside the Swanston Golf Club House (open to the public) and followed the track through the picturesque Swanston village.

Approaching Swanston Gold Club House and the neighbouring car park

Choose your route

Walk through the cottages in Swanston Village

Tracks are well marked

It doesn't take long until you look back and get great views of Edinburgh

Looking over to Caerketton Hill

Looking over 'T wood' and Down to East Lothian

Enjoy the view!

Make sure you’re suitably dressed and have enough water and food etc. If you’re doing a long walk, please tell someone where you plan to go and what time you expect to be back.

Adhere to signs in the park with regards to dogs on leads and don’t go into the marked areas if the red MOD flags are up.

There can sometimes be highland cattle in this area, please do not approach.

How to visit the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo

Giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang moved to Edinburgh Zoo in December 2011.

Tian Tian (meaning sweetie) and Yang Guang (meaning sunshine) have been seen by over 100,000 visitors so far. Due to their overwhelming popularity, the zoo has an appointment system in place to visit the pandas.

Book your panda visit in advance

There is a detailed page on the zoo’s website explaining how to book your panda tickets. It doesn’t cost anything extra to see the pandas, but you should book your panda viewing slot in advance  of your visit. At the time of writing, the zoo is currently taking bookings up to the 30th June 2012. Slots for the school holidays and beyond will be released in due course.

If you are a RZSS member, you still need to reserve a time slot to see the pandas and can do this via the members forum.

There are a limited amount of tickets for viewing the pandas for those that turn up on the day. Choosing this way will not guarantee you get to see them, but if you are visiting them at the last moment, make sure you arrive very early and be first in the queue.

Photo gallery

Visiting the pandas

We booked our time slot for early on a Monday morning and attended at the zoo with our printed copy (smart phone/ tablet pictures are not allowed).  We arrived in plenty of time to get to the panda enclosure before our 10am ‘appointment’.

Along with a group of 40 or so people, we were ushered towards the enclosure and given a briefing on seeing the pandas and it was explained to us that flash photography is not allowed and would be strictly enforced.

As we entered the indoor enclosures (where both the pandas were at the time of our visit), we could see Yang Guang sleeping in his enclosure and Tian Tian munching on kilos of bamboo in her enclosure.

If the pandas are outside when entering this part of the experience, you are swiftly moved on to view them in their outdoor enclosure. Because both of the pandas were indoors when we visited, we spent around 8 minutes inside, while a staff member told us more about Yang Guang and Tian Tian.

There were lots of excited children (and adults) trying to see the pandas up close, so we didn’t hear everything that we were being told, but there are lots of information boards to learn about the background of Edinburgh’s cutest residents.

The next panda group was due in, so we had the choice to leave the panda area entirely, or continue to the see the outdoor enclosure and hear more about the black and white creatures from the zoo staff.

There’s certainly more room as you look at their outdoor area.  Had one of the pandas been there at the time, then everyone in the group would get a clear view.

Where you see the pandas is all down to luck on the day, but you are guaranteed to see at least one (except due to illness or special circumstances). Viewing them outdoors is definitely preferable to obtain a clearer view.

Yang Guang was snoozing when we left and looking at the panda cam a few hours later, it looked like he hadn’t moved an inch since we visited.

When leaving the zoo, there is a wide selection of panda memorabilia in the gift shop so you can have memories of ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Sweetie’ until your next visit.

Information

Edinburgh Zoo fully embraces the world of social media. You can follow them on twitter @EdinburghZoo and like them on Facebook. They have a popular YouTube channel and a panda cam.

Opening hours: April – September 9am – 6pm, October and March 9am – 5pm, December – February 9am – 4.30pm.

Address: 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS.  Telephone:0131 334 9171.

There are several ways you can get to Edinburgh Zoo.

Suitable for disabled? Despite the Zoo being on a steep slope, it is still suitable for visitors with disabilities. Read the Zoo’s information and suggested routes.

Entrance of Castle

A trip to Direlton Castle in East Lothian

We headed down to East Lothian recently to pay a visit to Dirleton Castle in the beautiful village of Dirleton.  The castle is set in wonderful gardens which are beautiful to enjoy and are worth a visit in their own right.

We used our Historic Scotland membership to gain entry but the normal charges are Adult £5, Child £3, Concession £4.

You can pack a picnic, take a book or if visiting with little ones, just spend time exploring the castle and having fun.

The staff are very friendly and showed us an aerial map of the grounds and castle and the best route we should take.  One part of the castle was closed due to restoration work, but this did not spoil our visit.

The gardens

After walking through the main entrance into the castle, we explored all the nooks and crannies of the remains.  Staircases led to various look outs and the areas that are are damaged, are safely fenced off to visitors.  This is another good castle for children to explore and climb all over without getting into trouble.

We explored the castle vaults and read all the information boards to learn about the castle’s past before we exited through the west gardens which had an immaculate bowling green and lawn.

Explore the castle vaults

The castle is worth a visit if in the area as well as  Tantallon Castle in nearby North Berwick.  With views out to the sea and the Bass Rock, it is a must see when in East Lothian.

Whilst in  the Direlton area, you can stop off for afternoon tea and cake in Gullane and take a walk along the beach.

Suitable for disabled? The gardens are, but the access to the castle is via a set of steps.

Our passes and free guidebook

Edinburgh Spotlight tests out the Edinburgh Pass

The Edinburgh Pass is the top tourist attraction pass for those visiting Edinburgh. We thought we would use our local knowledge and give a shot at cramming in as much as possible to get value for money.        

You can buy the pass online, at one of the various Visit Scotland Tourist Information Centres  and at the Edinburgh Dungeons in Market Street.        

Adult prices: 1 day pass £29, 2 day pass £39 & 3 day pass £49        

Child prices: 1 day pass £18, 2 day pass £24 & 3 day pass £30.        

Our review covers the use of 2 adults passes over 3 consecutive days (£49 each).         

There’s a section of FAQ’s on the Edinburgh Pass website, but the main ones we thought about were:        

Does the Edinburgh Pass cover Edinburgh Castle?  No.        

When does the card activate?  As soon as your visit your first attraction.        

Do I have to use the 2 and 3 day passes on consecutive days?  Yes.        

Does the Edinburgh Pass include travel on Lothian Buses?  No, you will need to pay for your fares separately, but most of the attractions visited can be done on foot.        

At the bottom of the Royal Mile

Bearing all of these in mind, we used the free information book and got planning!  Taking into account logistics and opening hours, we came up with 3 full-on days of activities. Each of the days are broken down with what we did and the total cost (if you were visiting without the Edinburgh Pass) which clearly demonstrates how much you can save.  We didn’t use the free airport bus ticket since we already live here, but that’s worth £6 and can be used on any day before or after the pass is valid.  We made substantial savings, making the Edinburgh Pass suitable for residents as well.        

Highlighted attractions are linked to individual reviews of the property or their own website.        

Day 1

Taking advantage of the 9am opening at Edinburgh Zoo (£15.50) we spent 2-3 hours exploring this animal attraction.  The highlights were the chimpanzees in the Budongo Trail and the sunbears.  We made use of the free hill-top safari to save our legs and left just before noon having seen the majority of what we wanted to.      

Zebra

Using the bus stop directly outside the zoo, we heading into town and the North Bridge.  Taking a left down the Royal Mile,  we were at the Queen’s Gallery (£6)  by 12.25pm where we enjoyed 40 minutes (including the free audio tour) of photos of the Queen from birth.      

Our next stop was the Surgeon’s Hall Museum (£5)  which is a fascinating series of exhibitions themed around surgery and anatomy in a building that is home to the Royal College of Surgeons. There are exhibits from years gone by, right up to information on modern-day sports surgery and a chance to try out keyhole surgery for yourself (simulated).   

We had to leave there by 3.30pm to get to the Mercat Cross in the High Street to start our 4pm tour with Mercat Tours – the secrets of the Royal Mile. (£10)   This was an interesting tour that informed us of the secrets that lurk in the history of Edinburgh’s most famous street.     

As this tour finished in Blair Street at 5.15pm, we walked the short distance to the timber-panelled  John Knox House (£4.25). Since it closed at 6pm, we quickly walked through this house (circa 1490).  It’s doubtful that John Knox ever lived here, but instead, preached from the window.  Although it was a quick visit, it was definitely worth taking the short tour for a glimpse of this old house.       

Our next stop was outside the Witchery on the Royal Mile to start our Murder and Witchery Tour (£7.50) at 7.30pm (pre-booking essential). Adam Lyal (deceased) told us stories from Edinburgh’s history with the help of a few characters from its past.  The tour is not frighteningly scary, but there’s a few ‘jump out’ moments, but all done in good fun.  This is an excellent tour and one you should make sure you fit in during your visit to Edinburgh.       

Total cost without Edinburgh Pass for the day – £48.25.  Saving of £18.25 per adult on standard 1 day pass (+£6 for airlink bus).        

Day 2

We visited Calton Hill first thing in the morning and soaked up the magnificent views that can be had from here,  before the Nelson Monument (£3) opened at 10am. This monument was erected in 1807 and stands 30 metres high.  There are 143 steps to reach the top of the public access and a further 27 that are private.  The viewing platform is small, but offers unrivaled views of Edinburgh.        

Gladstone's Land

Plan your itinerary and you can save substantial amounts of money

We took lots of photos before walking towards Charlotte Square (approx 25-30 mins at slow pace) and arrived at the Georgian House (£5.50). This property was formerly owned by the family of the Marquess of Bute before it was refurbished by the National Trust. It’s a delightful way to spend an hour and gives visitors a glimpse of life in the New Town in the 18th century.        

We headed towards Kingstables Road and the shadows of Edinburgh Castle,  through the Grassmarket and up picturesque Victoria Street to Gladstone’s Land (£5.50) at the top of the Royal Mile. This six-storey was home to a prosperous 17th century merchant.  The painted ceilings are incredible and the reconstructed shop booth is excellent with its 17th century replica goods.       

View down the Royal Mile from Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura is a must-see

Our next stop was one of our favourite attractions in Edinburgh - Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions (£9.95) which has a 150 year old observatory with a roving mirror that projects a 360 degree panorama of the city. The rest of the displays and interactive exhibitions drop you into a world of illusion and warped images. The views of Edinburgh Castle and down the Royal Mile are impressive, but we loved the shrinking room and mirror-maze the best.  Certainly a great way to spend the rest of the afternoon until it closed at 6pm.       

At 7pm, we started the  Ghost and Gore Tour (£7.50) outside the nearby Witchery.  Pre-booking  is essential.  We learnt about Alexander Clapperton, Jimmy Tamson and other characters from Edinburgh’s history and was an excellent (and not scary) way to the end the day.       

Total cost without the Edinburgh Pass for the day – £31.45. Savings so far on a two day pass (£39) per adult  is £41.45 (+£6 for airlink bus)        

Day 3

A more leisurely day was planned for our third day that involved our car.  If you’re a tourist, you could still do this day tour with a hire-car, picking it up early and dropping it off in the evening (or leaving town the next day).        

We chose to do it in the following order for a reason.        

Starting off at Hopetoun House at 10.30am (£9.20) we explored the impressive family home of the earls and marquesses of Linlithgow.  Most of the original 18th-century furniture and wall coverings can still be seen.  The grounds of Hopetoun House are also very impressive and we managed a brief walk around the parkland before heading down the east coast at 12.30pm.  The car journey took us approximately 1 hour to reach the National Museum of Flight (£9.50). We explored the hangars and parachute store and were amazed by the concorde experience which allows you to step inside a real plane.  The new interactive exhibits are excellent and we spent time learning how things fly and making the most of this hands-on museum.     

A short 15 minute journey saw us arrive into North Berwick at 4.15pm and into the Scottish Seabird Centre (£7.95).   We loved the live cameras that allowed us to snoop on birds nesting on Bass Rock and neighbouring islands.  The puffins were extremely cute and we made good use of the information boards to learn about the animals.  There is also an outdoor telescope deck that allows you to look at the islands more closely.     

Choosing to do these 3 activities in this order made perfect sense as we wandered round the streets of North Berwick and had a well-deserved ice cream.  The beach also makes a pleasant stroll and for anyone with any energy left after 3 full days of sight-seeing, you could make the effort to walk up Berwick Law.     

Total cost for the day without the Edinburgh Pass – £26.65        

Value

Total spendings with the 3 day Edinburgh Pass – £106.10        

Cost of 3 day Edinburgh Pass -£49.00  per adult      

Total savings – £57.15  per adult (+£6 airlink bus)        

Of course, there’s different combinations you can do, but that’s the itineraries that we came up to get exceedingly good value from the passes.        

View from Nelson Monument

Other attractions included

Dynamic Earth normally costs £10.50 and the Edinburgh Dungeons £15.84  (the Edinburgh Pass also giving you priority entry).  One tour that we highly recommend is one of the Greenyonder Tours run by Edinburgh woman, Jean Bareham. You can see the full list of attractions also included in the pass on the website.        

With a little bit of planning, tourists and Edinburgh residents can get good value out of the Edinburgh Pass.        

Further information

You also receive a voucher for £2 off any Edinburgh Bus Tour and 20% off Scottish Citylink buses. These don’t have to be used within the same time period as the pass.        

There are also good food discounts available with the Edinburgh Pass, all of which are listed here.        

All offers associated with the Edinburgh Pass can be found here.      

Hopetoun House

Gladstone's Land

Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House is a grand estate set on the outskirts of Edinburgh.  The 6,500 acres of land is glorious at any time of the year, but extra special when the sun is shining. You can visit the house and gardens, or just the gardens to enjoy one of the nature walks.  The House is open daily to visitors from Easter until the last weekend in September.  

Originally built between 1699 – 1707 for the 1st Earl of Hopetoun, the house is now run by a trust, but is still lived in by the current Earl of Hopetoun and his family.   

The Yellow Sitting Room

Inside the house, you get to experience how the wealthy family would have lived in the 1700s.   There is a lot of  gold amongst the magnificent interiors which also boast fine paintings and antique furniture.  Some of the sections of the house are closed to the public, but this does not detract from the experience.  

You do the tour at your own pace, but there are guides on hand to give you an introduction.  Each room has an information card which is valuable in finding out what happened in each of the grand rooms.  Even the butler’s pantry is amazing to see and imagine what hive of activity would have taken place hundreds of years ago.  

Don’t forget to climb to the top of the spiral staircase which leads out onto the roof terrace for magnificent views out to the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridges.  The Stables Tearoom is also visible from here and is an excellent way to round off a visit.  

Looking down to the Stables Tearoom from the roof terrace

 A wide selection of snacks and more substantial meals are available amongst the usual coffee and tea selections, or you could treat yourself to a champagne afternoon tea.  Hopetoun House also welcomes visitors to picnic in the grounds at their leisure.  

Buy a season ticket for the grounds and enjoy the wonderful walks.

Opening dates and times: Hopetoun House and Grounds are open daily from 22nd April to 25th September 2011 from 10.30am – 5.00pm (last admission 4pm) Groups can book by appointment all the year round.  

Admission Prices:  

House and Grounds:  Adult £9.20  Child (5 – 16 years) £4.90  Pensioner/Student £8.00  Groups (20+) £8.00  Family £25.00  Registered disabled £4.90  

Grounds Only:  Adult £4.25  Child (5 – 16 years) £2.50  Pensioner/Student £3.70  Family £11.50  Registered disabled £2.50  

Grounds Season Tickets:  Individual Ticket (admits 1) £20  Couples Ticket (admits 2) £30  Family Ticket (admits 2+2) £35. These offer great value for money as you can use them as often as you wish during the visitor season. They also allow you to join in the ranger activities free of charge.  

Butler's Pantry

Keep up to date with Hopetoun house

You can read their what’s on page for upcoming events.  Hopetoun House plans to open a farmshop at the end of May 2011.  You can sign up to their newsletter to keep informed of what’s new. 

Hopetoun House is also on facebook and on twitter. 

Suitable for disabled?  Concession tickets are available for those registered disabled. There is designated parking, wheelchair loan, a lift to the main floor of the house and interactive digital access to the upper floor. Assistance dogs are welcome. The Tearoom is accessible, as are the bathrooms.

*

Beautiful grounds

Panoramic views over North Berwick

We do love to be beside the seaside and a trip to North Berwick beckoned over the long Easter weekend.  It’s a beautiful town with several attractions and beaches worth visiting, but the purpose of this visit, was to climb to the top of Berwick Law which stands at a modest height of 187m/615ft

Blessed with good weather, we parked at ‘The Law’ car park (which is well sign posted around town) and just off the B1347. This walk can also be done from the town centre, but of course, adds to the total length. Walking Scotland gives a detailed description of this excellent 1hr long walk.

Start of climb to summit

We stuck to the main path as other routes up can be very steep and sometimes slippy.  After 10 minutes of walking this circular route to the top, we were afforded wonderful views west to Edinburgh where we could make out the shape of Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle.  There are plenty of rest stops on the way up, but after 20 minutes, we had reached the summit and started to soak in the panoramic views.

Berwick Law is a volcanic lump and the stone building at the summit was erected in 1803 as a signal station during the Napoleonic Wars.

There has been a whale’s jaw bone at the top of Berwick Law since 1709 but years of buffeting by the wind saw the jawbone become unsafe and it was removed in 2005.  A replica was winched into place by helicopter 3 years later in 2008 after being funded by ‘friends of North Berwick’.

Bass Rock can clearly be seen from the summit, as can the other Firth of Forth islands.  Look east and Tantallon Castle can be spotted and rolling farmland to the south.

We sat at the top for a good 20 minutes with our snacks and water before taking the same route back down.  Total walking time was 40 minutes (medium-fast pace) but the whole climb took longer due to photo stops.

Bass Rock and North Berwick below

The replica jawbone

Remains of St Baldred's Chapel

Boat heading out to Craigleith and North Berwick harbour area

Wonderful views of North Berwick and its beaches

Dunimarle Castle

Across the water for a day in Culross

As much as we love Edinburgh, it’s always nice to escape the city boundaries and explore nearby towns and villages.

Our chosen destination for the day was Culross, a former royal burgh in Fife.  Haar prevented us enjoying the Firth of Forth views that you can normally experience, but we didn’t let it stop us spending the day here.

We did a circular walk, starting from the car park (free) beside the railway line and passed Dunimarle Castle (private) and up into the woodlands before taking a right past some church remains and back down into town via Culross Abbey (free).   Information boards can help you choose your route.

We had a delicious light lunch at the Biscuit Cafe before exploring Culross Palace (admissions apply, free to members). It was fascinating to explore this late 16th century merchant’s house and its herb gardens with clear views out to the water.  Photography is not allowed in the property.

A wander round the different streets and lanes with colourful house designs, brought out 5 hour visit to an end. 

Well worth a visit across the water.

Views from the terraces in Culross Palace

Colourful streets to explore

Culross Gallery and Biscuit Cafe

Culross Palace exterior

Culross Abbey

Culross building

As much as we love exploring Edinburgh, we also like to head further afield  and explore various parts of Scotland on day trips.  

This weekend saw some glorious Spring weather, so the Edinburgh Spotlight motorbike was brought out from winter hiding and pointed in the direction of the Borders.  

Heading down the A7, we picked up the B7007 (B709) and headed for Innerleithen.  Immediately, we were met with rolling hills and fields upon fields of sheep with their newly born lambs.  

On the open road, passing cyclists and horseriders

As we rode southwards, we passed groups of cyclists on a day out and people riding their horses.  

Our first stop was Innerleithen to stretch the legs and sit by the river for a drink.  

It really is a different world down here and despite it being a weekend, there was hardly another soul around.  

If you take the car (and your mountain bike) on this route, you can take a right at here and head to Glentress Forest.  This is one of Britain’s best mountain biking areas, with paths to suit all levels and refreshments available at The Hub. There are several walking paths here as well.  

We re-fuelled in the delightful town of Peebles, before cutting back on ourselves to head for a brief stop at Kailzie Gardens. You could easily spend the whole day here and explore the gardens or visit the ‘chicken village’.  

We continued along the B7602 and passed Traquair House and picked up the A708 to head for the beautiful St Mary’s Loch.  This area is popular with other motorbike riders who all seem to converge at the road-side cafe and compare notes (toilets available).  Across the road here is the Tibbie Shiels Inn who do full meals and accommodation.  

Innerleithen rest stop by the river

 

We headed back the way we had come for a couple of miles and turned left at Cappercleuch and onto the unnamed road heading west (single track with passing places).  The road passes the Megget and Talla reservoirs and has the most stunning view over the latter.  It really was a perfect day weatherwise. 

St Mary's Loch, near Cappercleugh

 

We continued up the A701 and stopped off at Broughton and the rather excellent Laurel Bank tea room. We rode past several more fields of sheep and rolling countryside before picking up the A702 and heading back into Edinburgh. 

Of course, we had been blessed with the most gorgeous of weather, but there’s so much to do in the Borders, that even on a day with sporadic showers, it’s worth heading south and exploring. 

We covered 110 miles but felt like we had been away for longer than a day as we’d taken in so much of the stunning countryside. 

For more ideas, you can visit the tourist website that covers the area. 

Because it’s not dark until 8pm or so just now, you really can spend hours exploring and returning to Edinburgh at dusk. 

We do recommend fueling up in Edinburgh as the prices for petrol in the Borders are around 8p more per litre than the city. 

Suitable for disabled?  If done in a car, all of what we did today is suitable for disabled.  The countryside views are literally on each side of the roads and can be viewed from the car.  There is disabled parking at Kailzie Gardens and Laurel Bank tea room is on the ground floor. 

The view over Talla reservoir

 

We’ve been taking advantage of the lovely Spring weather recently and ventured outside Edinburgh earlier this week to take a lovely stroll around Linlithgow Loch.  The real name of this area is Linlithgow Peel, but people often refer to it as the loch and it’s also where Linlithgow Palace is situated.

Map of Linlithgow Peel

There are plenty of information boards dotted around the 2.3 mile walk and a couple of maps.  It’s really up to you where you start since the walk is circular, but the South side (Castle side) is a smoother path and more suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.

We started by Linlithgow Palace and walked anti-clockwise to avoid facing into the sunshine.  The whole circuit at a leisurely pace takes around an hour, but on beauitful sunny days, you may want to stop to take a break on one of the several benches and enjoy the magnificent views.

Looking back at St Michaels and Linlithgow Palace at the start of the walk

There were several people out walking their dogs, parents exercising with prams and cyclists even though it was a weekday morning.  A cheery ‘good morning’ goes a long way here as the chances are they’re doing a circuit walk as well and you’ll bump into them further on.

East end of the loch

Lots of swans, ducks and other wildlife

Looking at the Palace from the North side

Horses are allowed to ride on the North side, so don’t get a fright if you see some headed your way. 

There are several information boards at this side of the loch and is also perfect for spotting some of the rarer birds that visit the area.

Path on the North side

As you return to the South side, the area is busier with children feeding the ducks and you can continue straight to the Palace from the loch walk.  Admission charge applies for Linlithgow Palace.

This is an excellent walk that can be done at any time of the year.  In summer, the route is incredibly green and in winter, the loch sometimes freezes as pictured below.

View from Linlithgow Palace in winter.

There are many places to eat in and around the main street of Linlithgow but we like So Strawberry for toasties, baked potatoes and home-made cake.

Make sure you have a look at St Michaels whilst in the area and see the controversial 1964 aluminium crown which replaced the crumbling original tower.

St Michaels

Suitable for disabled?  The walk is partially suitable for wheelchairs, with a couple of steep inclines to negotiate.  There is unfortunately a gate which is not accessible on the East side and the North side is a rough path.  Best to stick to the North side close to the Palace and walk clockwise until the path roughens and then return.

Jupiter Artland is situated a few miles outside Edinburgh and is a fascinating place to visit.  Situated in the grounds of Bonnington House, this contemporary sculpture garden is a feast for the senses and a wonder to explore. The environment that has been created, nurtures the art and draws the underlying power of the land into a series of spaces. This review covers a visit on a glorious summer’s day, but we have not included any ‘spoiler’ photos so that you can still get the wow-factor when you experience Jupiter Artland for yourself. You can read all about the works on display on the website.

Entrance to Jupiter Artland

Directions to Bonnington House can been found here. Look out for these magnificent gates which lead you up a road that winds through woods and opens out into a large field housing the life mounds by Charles Jencks which take your breath away and gives you a taster of  what you will find in this art wonderland.

Driving through to the car park

Head for the bookshop and pay your admission charge and you will be given a map to explore the grounds.  There is no set route around Jupiter Artland, it’s all about the discovery.  Please adhere to the rules specified and don’t be tempted to bathe in any of the water features.

Outdoor seating area (indoor also available)

You can book in advance to guarantee your visit to Jupiter Artland, but please confirm with venue as when we visited last week, the system was down and they were just encouraging people to turn up.  Admission prices are here.

Suitable for disabled? Some parts of Jupiter Artland are unsuitable for those with resricted mobility due to the nature of the uneven ground etc.  Disabled badge holders get free entry and you can enjoy what you can see from the car on the way in as well as the cafe area and gardens.

Funky Cafe

We left early on a Sunday morning when the traffic in Edinburgh was very light and got to the picturesque town of New Abbey in a couple of hours.  

Sweetheart Abbey

Our first stop was Sweetheart Abbey was founded in 1273 by Lady Devorgilla of Galloway in memory of her husband John Balliol.  On her death, she was laid to rest next to her husband’s embalmed heart and the monks named their abbey in memory of her. 

We have Historic Scotland passes which allowed us to enter all these sites for free and they are still running their offer of 3 months free when you buy a years’ membership. We covered this fantastic offer a couple of months ago, but it ends 11th July, so be quick.  

Conveniently placed next door to the Abbey is a wonderful tea room where we had brunch including some freshly baked scones. We sat at one of the outside tables and admired the Abbey whilst eating.  

 Also in the village, is the New Abbey Corn Mill.   Again, it’s a Historic Scotland site, so we used our passes and were given a guided tour (no extra charge) of this Corn Mill that demonstrates how oatmeal is produced.  

New Abbey

Driving a few miles southwards towards the Solway coast, we reached the area of Southerness and took a stroll by the sea and admired the views.   It really was a perfect summer’s day and confirmed the reason why I love Scotland so much.  When the sun is shining, there really is no better place to be. 

Solway Coast

This was as far away from Edinburgh as we could realistically drive in one day, so headed back through New Abbey and to the wonderful Mabie Forest a few miles South of Dumfries.   We stretched our legs here again, amidst dog walkers and mountain bikers making good use of this wonderful forest.  

Mabie Forest

A few miles further down the road, we came to Dumfries again and branched off right, down to the magnificent Caerlaverock Castle.  The front lawn was full of families having picnics and children made use of the park in the grounds.  Exploring the castle,  we imagined how life must have been  hundreds of years ago.  What I love about this castle (and was also a favourite of my Australian partner) is that it is surrounded by a moat.  

Caerlaverock Castle

We made use of the food facilities here and had an afternoon sandwich and more cakey goods before taking the scenic drive back to Edinburgh through the Borders.  The whole day was about 12 hours long, with 210 miles driven, but a number of wonderful pictures stored in our minds forver (as well as the memory card).  

Suitabled for disabled?  New Abbey Corn Mill is not suitable for wheelchairs, but the others have limited access.  There are other view points along the Solway coast that have wheelchair accesible viewpoints.

St Mary’s Pleasance in Haddington is a beautiful garden which is part of Scotland’s Garden Scheme where private gardens are opened to the public for a small admission with all proceeds going to charity.  There are a few private gardens in Edinburgh that you can visit, all you need to do is a search to find gardens near where you live.

St Mary’s Pleasance is one of the gardens in the scheme which are open regularly, so you can visit at a time that suits you.  Enjoy the photos and get planning your garden visits now.

St Mary's Pleasance

Beautiful garden

St Mary's Pleasance

Archway of trees

Memorial benches

Open all year

Vogrie Country Park is just 12 miles from Edinburgh city centre and is a wonderful place to spend a day whatever your age.  Yesterday, on the bank holiday, the mini members of the Spotlight team were packed into the car, armed with lunch, bikes, footballs etc with the aim to spend the whole day there.  Entry to the park is free and as a general rule the park opens at 7.30 am and closes at dusk.  It was scheduled to close at 9pm last night, making it suitable for an evening visit in the summer months.  Dogs are welcome here.

Cedar Tree Cafe

There are several reasons why I like Vogrie and first and foremost, is the suitability for children.  Open spaces galore and encouragment to run around like children should do, with very few places out of bounds.  There are toilets in the main car park (now £1 entry through barrier system) but also at the main adventure playground.  Perfect for when kids just need to go.

Picnic tables are dotted around the park, but the Vogrie House itself houses the excellent Cedar Tree Cafe (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays apart from school holidays).  This option is not a strain on the purse strings with reasonably priced food, juice and ice creams.  Baby changing facilities are also in here.

Woodland walks

On the whole, the park is pushchair and wheelchair friendly, but you can pick up one of the excellent maps for free to plan your time and route suitable for you.

The adventure playground is excellent for all ages, complete with wood chips on the ground.  There are also carved wooden sculptures dotted around the park as well as over sized chairs to clamber upon and a 3 metre tall bicycle.

Oversized bike

Woodland walks take you over the River Tyne and through well marked paths lined with huge trees.  It doesn’t take long to get part of the park to yourself, so easy to get away from the noise of children if you prefer.  There are ponds and puddocks to wander round and a 9 hole golf course (must be booked in advance).

Beautiful flowers and trees

Two barbecue areas available within the park which must be booked seven days in advance.   The neighbouring events field is a 1 hectare enclosed area which can be hired for events and other informal activities.  Not operational on our visit, the Vogrie Miniature Railway is run by the Esk Valley Model Engineering Society (EMES), and runs throughout the summer on Sunday afternoons (weather permitting), from 2 pm – 5 pm.

A thoroughly enjoyable day out, which keeps youngsters amused for hours.

Vogrie House

Edinburgh Zoo

A day out at the zoo

Edinburgh Zoo is a fantasic day out for people of all ages.  I have been going to the zoo since I was a child, but now it was my turn to take some smaller members of my family for another visit.

The admission price is not cheap, so make sure you can spend a few hours minimum in the zoo, ideally the whole day.  Children under 3 do go free and there are family tickets available.  There is limited parking in the zoo car park, but it really is easy to get there by bus.

You are warmly welcomed into the zoo and given a map, but I found that everything is well signposted.  Edinburgh Zoo is on a steep slope and comfy shoes are a must.  If you have a buggy in tow, a full days’ walking around counts as a workout, so don’t feel guilty when you stop for an ice cream at one of the many stalls dotted around the park.

The Hilltop Safari is included in the admission price and is a great way to get orientated and also a great way to save walking to the top of the zoo !   You get a commentary on board and can start spotting some animals.

Hilltop Safari

Check out the times of the daily events so that you don’t miss something you really want to see such as the penguin parade.

There is no best route around the zoo, just keep on wandering.  Sometimes the animals you want to see might be hiding indoors, so you need to try again.    When we visited the African plains, the zebras were hiding under the trees, so had to wait a while before they came out onto the grass again

Zebra on African Plains

We then arrived at the big cats section where we got up and very close with one of the tigers.  Thankfully there is a huge pane of glass separating you and the animal, not that the little ones I was with were fazed whatsoever when near-kissing this beast!

Up Close With Tigers

Our next stop was the Budongo Trail or the ‘bongo trail’ as my nephew likes to call it.  This attraction opened last year and is nothing short of fantastic.  The chimps are allowed to play and climb out doors, with viewing areas for visitors, but when they are inside, thanks to the new centre, you can see them equally aswell through glass on the first floor, so you are eye level to where the chimps climb up.

Peek-a-boo

Beside the outside viewing area, there is a play park, one of many dotted around the park.  My tribe played on there for a while, waiting for the chimps to come back out and then we ate our lunch on one of the benches there.  I was organised and took a packed lunch, but there are a couple of cafes and numerous kiosks around the park.

Next stop was the daily penguin parade where they come out of their enclosure (if they want) and say hello.

Penguin on Parade

Other favourites with the kids were the rhinos and the pygmy hippos, along with the walk through Rainbow Landings (check opening times).   The koalas were sleeping the 3 times we visited them but the sea lions were having a cuddle fest.

Sea Lions

You have to leave the zoo through the gift shop, but can do it swiftly to avoid the ‘can I have …..?’ questions.

The zoo continues to be a great day out and learning experience for children.  Our top tips are comfy shoes, waterproof jacket, bottles of water, small snacks (in case hunger strikes when you are at the top of the zoo) and your camera.

The kids loved the day out, but I secretly really enjoyed it to as I’m a big kid at heart!  Highly recommended from Edinburgh Spotlight

Suitable for disabled? Although the zoo in on an extremely steep slope, with a bit of muscle power, it is suitable for wheelchairs.  Look at the downloadable map for where is accessible and the zoo’s guide for visitors with disabilities.

No Primark in Edinburgh

There is no Primark store in Edinburgh at present (one is in the making but council planning has yet to be sorted out), so you need to look further afield if you want to stock up with the latest low priced fashions and accessories. 

I headed over with 2 mini members of the Spotlight team who now wish to spend their pocket money on clothes.  They did a grand job of acquiring 8 t-shirts, pyjamas, shoes and accessories for under £25, making it much easier to handle when they grow out of them all in a couple of months. 

There is also a Primark in Stirling, but I find the Dunfermline one better for choice, neatness and layout.  They have a large children’s section and menswear in the basement and the ladieswear, shoes and home goods are on the ground floor. 

Easy to spend a couple of hours here, if not longer. 

How to get there 

By car and park at one of the city centre car parks (fee). 

By bus and walk a few short minutes. 

By train and a walk of 15 minutes. 

Suitable for disabled?   Yes, there is ground level access and lifts to both floors.

Gullane Falko

After visiting Dirleton Castle, we took the scenic road back towards Edinburgh. We stopped in Gullane to treat ourselves to something special from the German bakery positioned in the High Street, Falko Konditormeister.  I have previously visited the Edinburgh Morningside branch on several occasions and know the quality is good.

The Gullane branch differs in that it is table service, if you can get one. Visiting on a Sunday afternoon around 4pm, we had to share with another couple as every other seat was taken.  The displays were near empty of bread and only a handful of cake choices remained.

Every cake at Falko is wonderful, so from the selection left, my partner opted for the chocolate cake, whilst I  plumped for the cherry cake with cream and pastry.

Chocolate heaven

The chocolate cake was indeed a slice of heaven and had layers of mousse, making it an all over lighter experience.  My cake fork sliced effortlessly through the end of this cake, allowing me to sample it for the sake of this review

Calorie free!

As I tucked into my afternoon treat, the waitress informed me that because it was  a Sunday, the cake was calorie free!   Mmmmmm, not entirely convinced about that one, but am positively certain that the combination of pastry, cream and cherry filling was divine.

Our cakes were accompanied by a generous pot of almond tea and a coffee.  Total bill came to £11.30.  The cakes are not the cheapest price you could find, but the quality does not disappoint.

We were allowed to linger at the table to help aid digestion, but I suggested we should walk off the calorie laden chocolate cake at the nearby Gullane Bents.

Gullane beach

We parked  in the main car park (no charge in winter) and took the path down to the right, walking to the end of the beach.  It was reasonably busy for a Sunday tea time, with people coming here to eat their take out fish and chips from Gullane High Street.  Dog walkers and children in welly boots, all enjoyed the edge of the water and the wonderful sea breeze.

We walked re-traced our steps and beyond, then returned to the car park, taking in the view.

Gullane Bents

Suitable for disabled?  Falko is on ground level and has accessible bathrooms and Gullane Bents view can be enjoyed from the car park, but the walking tracks are a mixture of steps and sand.

By Miss Edinburgh

As much as I love Edinburgh, there’s nothing like getting out of town for the day and up to 70mph on the motorway before hitting the windy roads of Scotland.  Now that the sun is rising earlier and we get more daylight – you can really cover a lot of miles in one day.

Today I headed up towards Glencoe when the sun had just risen, giving excellent light on the beautiful Buachaille Etive Mor, where I couldn’t have timed it better with a wild deer strolling past.

I love to take photos of highland cows and for some reason today, they seemed to be everywhere – fields and fields of them.

Lochs were frozen over, the sun was shining in the blue sky and I had a wonderful day soaking up my stunning country in all its’ glory.  The photos are unedited.

Wild deer with Buachaille Etive Mor in background

Buachaille Etive Mor

Castle Stalker

One of the many highland cows I spotted

Kilchurn Castle

View from Duke's Pass in the Trossachs

Late afternoon at Loch Arklet

We drove a total of 300 miles in one day, which was about seven hours of driving over an eleven hour period .  We did stop for lunch and afternoon tea along the way – as well as all the photo stops.

NOTE – This tour was taken in the winter.  Summer ones would be very different weather wise.

As much as I love spending time in Edinburgh, I do like to get out of  town from time to time see other parts of my country.  Earlier this week, I opted to take a day tour with a friend visiting Edinburgh with Timberbush Tours.  I decided to leave the car at home in this freezing weather, let someone else do the driving and sit back, relax and absorb the beautiful countryside.

I chose Timberbush due to an Australian friend’s excellent experience with them in the summer when he did their 3 day Skye, Highlands and Loch Ness tour from Edinburgh.  He thoroughly enjoyed himself and said they were extremely professional and provided him with fascinating information about Scotland.

There is a great selection of tours to choose from and the meeting point couldn’t be easier to find if you are a tourist, it’s right beside the Castle.  Booking is essential and although there can be places left on the tours at short notice, it’s best to book in as far as advance as you can.

Our vehicle for the day

My trip left at 9.15am and we took our seats on a comfortable 16 seater coach and headed West out of the city.  Our tour driver introduced himself as Billy and was Scottish, but with a clear accent that everyone could understand.  He apologised for the weather (not exactly his fault) and said he would attempt the tour as per the itinerary, but obviously it may have to change if the roads were closed.  Billy gave us a friendly reminder to put our seat belts on (and every further time we got on the coach) and talked through a microphone which could be heard through speakers by everyone.  He gave little bits of information about Edinburgh as we left the city behind and onto the motorway.  As we passed Linlithgow Palace, he explained a basic  history of Mary Queen of Scots who was born there.

His historical information was simple but good, without bombarding us with too much information.  As we drove we passed Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument (which could be seen from the bus) he pointed them out and explained their historical background, encouraging the passengers to visit them another time.

Doune Castle

Our first official stop of the day was Doune Castle, a wonderful 15th century castle, but more recently famous for appearing in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  This was a brief photo stop only, not a visit inside the Castle. 

We continued along the road until we came to a cute little town called Callander and our next stop at Kilmahog, to see Hamish the highland cow.  This was also a bathroom stop, which I took advantage of.  It was at this point I began to truly appreciate the wonderful snow capped hills,  including Ben Ledi which seemingly rose out of nowhere considering we had been on the motorway minutes earlier.

Some locals were feeding Hamish as we arrived, so we got to see him up close as he chomped on apples and parsnips.   He may look a friendly cow, but you need to be aware of his horns.  Hamish is the ripe old age of 17 now and is definitely a little bigger around the waist than he used to be, despite his vegetarian diet.

Hamish the highland cow

We drove past Loch Lubnaig which was almost frozen over, taking in the surrounding scenery as we travelled.  Billy told about one of Scotland’s most colourful characters from the past, Rob Roy.  He also explained where Scottish words came from throughout the day, such as ‘Glen’ which means a valley, to help everyone on board understand where names of the places we visited originated from.

As we caught a glimpse of Ben More, standing in the snow covered countryside, I felt so proud to come from a country which has such majestic scenery.

We knew we were arriving further north in Scotland as the roads signs were written in both Gaelic and English.  This, coupled with Billy playing some “dramatic countryside music” as the roads wove through the Glens and alongside Loch Awe (longest loch in Scotland) was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  The sky was completely clear and bright blue – making it a perfect winter’s day.

Oban

Arriving in Oban around 12.30pm,  we were allocated just over an hour to explore, feed and water ourselves and on Billy’s recommendation, I tried the fish and chips!   There were hardly any traces of snow in town, apart from on the hills as we looked across to the Isle of Mull. 

Dunstaffnage Castle

After lunch, we stopped at Dunstaffnage Castle which is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland.  There was an additional £3 admission fee if you wished to look inside, but if you didn’t choose that option, you still get a good view from outside and over to the hills across the neighbouring loch.

Our journey continued back through the Pass of Brander and I was in heaven as I looked at the snowy scree-covered hills reflecting in the perfectly still Loch.  We changed direction and onto new roads and stopped at a beautiful viewpoint over Kilchurn Castle.

Kilchurn Castle

Billy explained that this whole area belonged to the Duke of Argyll and we caught a glimpse of his home, Inverary Castle, as we drove through Inverary town and alongside Loch Fyne.  The last of the daylight hid behind the hills at the Rest and Be Thankful Pass and the scene of another photo stop.

Last light of the day

We followed Loch Long southwards through Arrochar and everyone caught their first sight of Loch Lomond (I have seen it before).  We had another bathroom stop at the picturesque village of Luss on the edge of Loch Lomond, but considering it was minus 4 Celsius at this point, no one dipped their toes in the water.

Luss

Luss is where the tour concluded it’s scenic part, and Billy drove us back to Edinburgh via the motorway and finished the tour on time.

The whole day was fantastic and my New Zealand friend was so impressed with the scenery and everything that we had seen in one day, that he went on another trip the next day!

 

Conclusion

I am highly impressed with Timberbush’s professionalism as our safety was paramount in these extreme conditions.  All information and history given to us was relevant.  If Billy is an example of their staff, then you would have a good tour guide as well.  I think it helped that he is Scottish as his passion for his country definitely shone throughout the tour, despite probably having driven the route many times.

Other passengers seemed to have a good time and came from a variety of countries, including another from Scotland.  This is not a backpacker tour and there are no activities forced upon you such as introductory speeches or posing for group photos.  The bus I was on was separated into a row of single seats and a row of doubles, so if you are travelling on your own, you wont have to sit with a stranger for the day.

Bearing in mind this tour was done in the midst of the winter season, when daylight hours end at 4pm – it’s a fantastic way to see the country if you’re short on time and don’t want to go through the hassle of hiring a car.  Even if you are a local in Edinburgh, don’t rule out letting Timberbush do the hard work whilst you sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

 

Black framed photos copyright of Matt Dale

 

Suitable for disabled ?  Not for wheelchairs, but if you have mobility problems but can still transfer onto a coach, then they are suitable. Please bear in mind that you will get on and off several times throughout the day.

Today Edinburgh Spotlight took another little trip out of town and headed towards Stirling and onto Port of Menteith.    A google map of its’ location is here .  It took a little over an hour to get there from west Edinburgh.  Due to the continued cold weather,  Lake Monteith has frozen over and is completely solid.  People were ice skating, walking their dogs  and  I even walked out to Inchmahome Priory.  Last time I visited the island in the middle of the lake, I used a boat for transport.  Funnily enough, there was no one from Historic Scotland to charge today, but I do have a membership anyway    

We also had a picnic on the Lake and some lovely hot chocolate.   Last year I sat on Loch Morlich, but because this is so close to home, I couldn’t resist a couple of hours of icy fun.  It’s well  worth heading for a visit over the next few days if temperatures continue to be so low.

There may even be a curling ‘Grand Match’ this weekend which may see over 4000 people curl on the lake.  Details will be posted when the decision is made tomorrow.  The last one took place over 30 years ago, showing how rare a frozen Lake Menteith is.  *update – 8th Jan, curling match is not going ahead*

The Lake of Menteith Hotel were doing a barbecue today, providing hot food for skaters and walkers coming off the ice.  If it’s too cold to be outside, then you can warm up in their restaurant which overlooks the lake.

Enjoy the photos.

Frozen Lake Monteith with hotel in background

Inchmahome Priory in the winter

Dog walking on ice

Edinburgh Spotlight on ice

Wallace Monument, Stirling

The Wallace Monument   overlooks the scene of Scotland’s victory at The Battle of Stirling Bridge just outside Stirling city.   The exhibits and displays tell the story of Sir William Wallace.

Well worth a day trip from Edinburgh when visting neighbouring Stirling Castle

Suitable for disabled ?   The visitor reception is fully accessible, but the monument itself has a spiral staircase