One of our old photos of Ricky before the chimps moved to the Budongo Trail

We were sorry to hear the news that Ricky, Edinburgh Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee at 50 years old, passed away on Monday. Our condolences to all at the Zoo – especially Ricky’s fellow chimps at the Budongo Trail, as we know how tight-knit the chimpanzee groups are.

Edinburgh Spotlight loves living in ‘Festival City’ and already has all these dates in its calendar – here’s the rundown of 2012′s festivals.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest TBC for 2012

Paranormal investigations, celebrity ghost hunts and other spooky goings on at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Ceilidh Culture 16 March – 25 April

Edinburgh’s traditional arts festival, featuring music, dance, storytelling and more.

International Science Festival 31 March- 13 April 2012
The International Science Festival features a host of fun and educational events, lectures and attractions celebrating all things scientific.

Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2012
Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival and Edinburgh plays host to some colourful and exciting celebrations to mark the date.

Imaginate Festival 7 – 14 May 2012
The Imaginate Festival is Edinburgh’s children’s festival and has loads of plays, activities and fun things to do for youngsters of all ages.

Leith Festival 8 -17 June 2012
Come and celebrate all things Leith at this festival, featuring music, dance, art and other exciting events.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June – 1 July
The Edinburgh Film Festival is an internationally-renowned event on the movie festival circuit and attracts premieres and stars from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival 29 June – 6 July 2012

2012 will see Edinburgh host the third International Magic Festival with a range of performers show-casing their magical talents.

Edinburgh Art Festival August 2 – September 2
Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates the visual arts in all its diversity, from world-class exhibitions to strikingly original installations.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 28 July – 6 August 2012
Get your gladrags on and party to the sounds of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, a popular event which attracts international talent.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3 - 27 August 2012
Getting bigger, better and – some may say – weirder every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the highlight of many a festival-goer’s calendar.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 – 25 August 2012
Selling out months in advance, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular event taking place on the Castle Esplanade.

The Edge Music Festival TBC 2012
Adding alternative music to the August festival mix, The Edge Music Festival attracts A-list bands as part of its programme.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace TBC 2012

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace features music, dance, talks and other events highlighting humanitarian issues and causes.

Edinburgh International Festival 10 August – 2 September 2012
The one that started it all, the Edinburgh International Festival is a feast of world-class music, dance and theatrical performances.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August 2012
This literary event attracts major names in the writing, publishing and political fields to the serene Charlotte Square Gardens setting.

Edinburgh Mela Festival 31 August  - 2nd September 2012

Celebrating the cultural diversity of the city, the Mela Festival brings colour and exotic flair to Edinburgh in August.

Scottish Story Telling Festival 19-28 October
Celebrating the great Scottish oral tradition, the Story Telling Festival showcases the talents of national bards, poets and tale-spinners.

Edinburgh’s Christmas TBC – late November – End Dec 2011
Edinburgh sparkles at Christmas and features events, attractions and shows for all the family to enjoy during the festival season.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 December 2012 – 2 January 2013
End the year with the biggest street party in the world!

The Royal Mile runs through the heart of the Old Town and is a must for any visitors to the city.  As a resident, I have walked up and down the street hundreds of times over the years, but there is always some small detail that I notice every time I explore the area.   The Royal Mile  runs from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood Palace and consists of six different sections.

Edinburgh Castle

Starting from the top, there is Edinburgh Castle where you will find the Scottish Crown, Sword and Sceptre, and the legendary Stone of Destiny.  Free guided tours are included with the admission price, or you can take it at your own pace with an audio tour.  At peak tourist times, it makes sense to buy your tickets in advance as the ticket queues can take up valuable sightseeing time.  If your budget doesn’t allow full entry to the Castle, make sure you still walk through the grand entrance so you can say you have been within the Castle walls.  This is now possible due to the relocation of the box office inside the grounds, leaving the esplanade clear for taking excellent photos.

There are panoramic views of Edinburgh to be had from the castle esplanade.  Look out for the magnificent George Heriot’s School built in 1628 which looks like another castle, straight out of a fairytale.

As you head down the Castlehill section of the Royal Mile, you will see the Scotch Whisky Experience which also houses Amber Restaurant.  On your left, you will see Camera Obscura which is a 150 year old observatory and a fun place for children and adults alike.

Views down the Royal Mile from Camera Obscura

Moving down the Royal Mile, you will start to see many tourist shops which basically sell all the same souvenirs, but at a variety of prices, so it pays to shop around.

The Writer’s Museum is set in a charming courtyard which you can access through Lady Stair’s Close.  This is the place to learn about the three great Scots writers, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, through manuscripts, portraits and their personal possessions.  (free)

Moving down the Royal Mile, you will come to the High Kirk of St Giles (St Giles Cathedral) which has been an Edinburgh landmark since 1160.  Make sure you see the rib-vaulted ceiling of the Thistle Chapel.  The cathedral looks good at any time of the day or night and in all weather conditions (admission is free, but a donation is welcomed; there is also a small charge requested if you wish to take photos inside).   Opposite the cathedral, there is the spooky Mary King’s Close to explore which is a perfect all-weather activity for those aged 5 and up.  We have also visited the Close with a psychic medium.

High Kirk of St Giles

Further down the Royal Mile, you will cross North Bridge, and to the left, the road leads down to Princes Street.  Stay on the Royal Mile though, and on your left hand side you will come to the Scottish Storytelling Centre which is a theatre with a wide range of entertainment.  Those in the know enquire about the local storytellers who can often be found here.  This is also the place from which to access John Knox’s House, home to the fiery religious reformer in 1599.  The house is a beautiful building to admire from the outside as well.  Across the road is the Museum of Childhood, another council-run museum (free admission) which allows older generations re-live toys from their childhood. Young children also like this museum as they try to comprehend what amused the oldies in times gone by!

Why not stop at Clarinda’s Tearoom in the Canongate for tea and cake?   Make sure you adhere to the rules in this cute eatery.

Further down is Dunbar’s Close Garden, not often found by tourists.  This is a perfect little green area to enjoy a break from the main street. You will often find locals having their lunch here in the warmer months.

Right at the bottom of the Royal Mile you will find the Scottish Parliament.  It was designed by Spanish architect Enric Mirrales and despite being a controversial design, he won the contract.

Directly opposite is the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is the royal residence best known for tales of romance and intrigue during the time of Mary Queen of Scots.  The state rooms are still used by the present-day Queen, who stays here when she is in town.  There is an admission charge, but you can still take a good picture of the palace through the gates to the left.

Although, not strictly on the Royal Mile, you will see Arthur’s Seat which is a fabulous place to get sensational views across the city.  It forms part of Holyrood Park and it is worthwhile walking one of the several circular routes around the extinct volcano.  You will look down on the Palace and see the spires of the places at the top of the Royal Mile and a fantastic view of the Castle. We reviewed this walk when the area was covered in snow.

The Castle from Arthur's Seat

Bear in mind that it’s still light in the evening till around 10pm in the summer, so this free activity can be enjoyed when other tourist attractions are closed.

This guide is by no means a definitive list of what there is to do on the Royal Mile, but gives you a selection to choose from.  The whole area buzzes with charm and surprises and despite having trod the pavement for thirty five years, I still enjoy exploring the hub of activity that is The Royal Mile.

Many of these attractions are available on the Edinburgh Pass that we reviewed.

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

Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street

Leith’s Village Store at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall has opened its doors and is selling fresh, local and seasonal food.  Edinburgh Spotlight loves Out of the Blue as an arts venue and it also has a wonderful cafe selling a fabulous range of food.

Exhibitions are in the main hall and the current Exposed 10 one featuring Stevenson College photographic student’s work is amazing (on until 1st July only).

All the products at the Village Store are supplied by local farms, suppliers and producers.  There are eggs, fruits, veggies, cakes and jams to buy and everything looked amazing and fresh.  You can also get ecover refills here.

Well worth a visit if you’re in Leith – open every Saturday 10am – 2pm.   As word spreads, there will be several more stalls with further choices.

Village Store

Village Store herbs

Fresh peas

Local strawberries

Lovely venue

Main tourist information centre

The main Tourist Information Centre in Edinburgh sits on top of Princes Mall / Waverley Market.  Opening hours vary throughout the year, with longer opening hours in the summer to deal with the extra tourists visiting the city.  The tourist centre sells Edinburgh and Scotland related books, maps, small souvenirs and stamps.  The staff speak a number of languages as indicated on their name badges.   Free information leaflets covering Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland are available but apart from the basic ‘Welcome to Edinburgh’ leaflet, you need to request these from behind the counter, depending on your interests.  

The centre also offers accommodation booking service but charge a small fee on top of the price.  You can also buy the Edinburgh Pass here which is perfect if arriving by bus or train, but be sure to visit the Information Centre at the airport if arriving by plane as the airport bus is included in the Edinburgh Pass.
 

You may wish to have a look at out things to do section which covers all the places that the tourist information would as well. 

The staff are very helpful and the centre is completely accessible.  Be sure to pay a visit when you’re into town but we can’t promise there will be no queues like the picture denotes. 

Inside the centre

Judith Campbell's business

Award Winning Colour Me Beautiful Image Consultant Judith Campbell, set up Feel Brand New in 2007 and has been going from strength to strength, transforming both men and women in the Capital. “Managing your appearance is an important part of who you are. People who look good feel good, it’s as simple as that.”  Judith believes that by choosing colours and shapes that suit you and by wearing your clothes in the right way, your confidence grows and so do the many compliments you receive.

Consultation with Judith

People come though her studio doors in Newington feeling less than happy with the way they look, maybe they have become stuck in a rut, they have lost their way in knowing what suits them or they just feel it’s time for a revamp.  Whatever the reason as to why they are there, they always leave feeling transformed and much more positive about their appearance. What’s great about what Judith does, is that she offers tailor made style solutions for the individual.  You can select from short one to one consultations focusing on either colour, style or make up, go for the whole makeover package which includes wardrobe weeding and personal shopping or mix and match the services to get it right for you.  The choice is yours.
Judith is always taking Feel Brand New out and about all over the city. You will see her in various stores at the start of each season doing her fashion updates, giving people hints and tips on what’s hot and what’s not. She runs workshops on what not to wear for women’s groups, corporate clients and Edinburgh clubs and is always getting involved in various charity events and fashion shows.
“ I love what I do, it is so rewarding and I get to meet such a variety of fabulous people. I don’t have a typical client, it ranges from women to men and from 18 to 80yrs. Although my clients vary in size, shape and age, I can honestly say they all feel brand new after having invested time in themselves.”      

Great fashion advice

You can find out more about Feel Brand New on Judith’s website and you can watch Judith’s many style and make up tutorials on her youtube channel.  You can also follow her on twitter

New fleet of airport buses, March 2010

Updated – April 2nd 2010

Airlink (blue sky thinking) operates the quickest route between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre – usually around 25/30 minutes.  These buses are all wheelchair friendly and the company behind them have just rolled out a brand new fleet of buses with new features perfect for the travelling to and from the airport. 

Each airport bus now has 

…dedicated luggage area with CCTV security  

…cleaner emissions with euro 5 engines  

…warm, welcoming interior  

…tables and comfy seats  

…next stop information  

…free Wi-Fi  

A single fare is £3.50 for an adult and £2 for a child, or for an open return it’s £6 for an adult and £3 for a child.  You can now buy tickets online but it’s easy enough to do when you board or from the Airlink kiosk at the airport.     

Old airport bus

The airlink bus starts at 0420 hours from Waverley Bridge and continues until 2345 hours, making sure all flight times are covered.  During the night, you can get the Night Bus 22 to get to the airport using a slightly different route.  

When arriving at the airport, you simply step outside the terminal and purchase your ticket before you board.   Buses leave every 15 minutes or when full and there is a bus tracker at the airport.  The bus is a very economical way to travel into the city.

Edinburgh 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.

Edinburgh’s most historic street is set to get an exciting facelift next year, as plans are unveiled to build a funicular railway on the High Street.

The Royal Mile is studded with historical gems, from Holyrood Palace & the Parliament at the bottom, to the grandeur of Edinburgh Castle at the top. However, city planners have listened to the one major complaint from tourists and residents alike: that the steep climb from one end to the other can be exhausting, particularly in hot weather.

“We’ve wished the High Street had been built on the level for years,” says Royal Mile Association premier, Avril McCoy. “I know shops and businesses on the street will welcome this move, as – once it’s completed – it will bring more visitors to the area, as well as being an attraction in its own right.”

The plans involve the installation of a small single track railway line, running the length of the Mile. Parts of the cobbled streets will be replaced by a more modern surface, allowing the cable-powered train – said to be able to seat at least 30 people – to move more smoothly along the track’s length.

Work is expected to commence in early August and is estimated to take around a year to complete.

“We realise the High Street can be very busy around that time,” says McCoy. “But we only have a short window of opportunity to complete this work, due to resource and funding being shared with the trams initiative.”

Detail of the plans, including a working model of the railway, can be viewed at the City Chambers from today.

Photo courtesy of Lothian buses

From 28th March, Scottish National Entitlement Card holders will no longer just flash their card at the bus driver.  You have to use on of the newly installed machines which are on board all of Edinburgh’s LRT buses. This means that an OAP or concessionary card holder now has to ‘hold it right there’.

Lothian Buses Ridacards are already being electronically read by the new ticket machines, but this is a new process for other passengers.  I was concerned my parents’ cards wouldn’t work as they were 2 years old, but not near expiry yet.   I phoned Edinburgh council who sent out new cards to them just in case.  You can do this over the phone, as they have a digital copy of your photo on file and can find you by date of birth.  Until everyone has a new card/gets used to the system, you will be allowed to travel on your chosen bus even if you don’t have a new card.  Full information is below.

Information taken from www.lothianbuses.com

Transport Scotland, the National Transport Agency which administers and funds the national concessionary travel scheme, have provided new ticket machines capable of electronically reading concession cards on all eligible bus services throughout Scotland.

Everyone benefits from the electronic reading of concession cards: 

• For card holders, journeys are recorded more accurately, so that future service plans can take proper account of their needs.   

• For bus operators, these more accurate records mean that they can receive the correct payment for those journeys.   

• For everybody, the new system will ensure that public funds are properly accounted for and fraud is minimised. 

HOW TO USE YOUR CONCESSION CARD

(Also applies to Ridacard holders) 

1. If you keep your card in a purse or wallet, please remove it if necessary so that the driver can see the photograph on the card.
2. Hold your card against the card reader on the ticket machine.
3. Once you see the green light on the card reader or hear the short “beep”, the process is complete. The screen facing you will show the date when your card expires.
4. Take your card and enjoy your journey with us. 

USEFUL CONTACTS

City of Edinburgh Council 0131 200 2351

Midlothian Council 0131 561 5455

East Lothian Council 0162 082 7367

West Lothian Council 0150 677 5291

Esq Barbers

I used to live in Bruntsfield, and visited Esq Barbers since it opened in 2003. It’s clean, stylish and reasonably-priced, but the thing that makes it stand out is the cheerful, chatty manner of the owner, Kenny. A well-connected people person, Kenny’s got a story about everything, and is bound to have a ‘friend of a friend’ who he can put you in touch with if you’re on the lookout for something.

The quality of the hair cutting is equally high. Kenny and an assistant, who helps out on busy days, take time and care over your cut, making sure you’re happy with it before they finish. The usual range of Fudge and American Crew products are used for styling and I’ve never seen anyone have a haircut here who’s left unhappy – or, unless they’ve specifically asked, looking like Krusty…

ESQ is small, with four chairs and is very popular with locals and pupils from the nearby schools, so you’re encouraged to book on 0131 228 2024.

The best compliment I can give it – and the reason for the ‘recommended’ rating – is that I moved out of the area years ago, and after having tried several barbers in different parts of town, I now make a point of returning here every time I need a cut.

Disabled access: Yes, the shop is on the ground floor with easy access from the pavement.

On a street in Edinburgh’s City centre, in a premise between a veterinary surgeon and a hairdressers, bloody battles are fought out, daring raids against rival gangs are plotted and the fates of hundreds are decided on a whim.

Before you reach for the telephone to call the emergency services however, bear in mind that this is The Ministry of Gaming. It’s an online computer game & internet cafe with a loyal and devoted clientele of intelligent, interesting and friendly gamers whose hobby allows them to socialise with like-minded people across the world and spend quality time using some serious PC processing power and technology in a safe, well-run establishment.

The Ministry of Gaming

I was shown around The Ministry of Gaming by proprietor Dave.

“There’s a true sense of community here,” he says, pointing at the people engrossed in their screens and at the branded t-shirts on the walls. “World of Warcraft is our most popular game: we have several ‘Guilds’ operating out of the shop that come in here regularly to play it. Our staff are very respected in their knowledge of online computer games of all genres.”

He calls over one of the World of Warcraft players, a bright and personable young student.

“We love getting together in real life,” she says, referring to her World of Warcraft clanmates. “Whether playing or not, it’s great to be together with people you share something with.”

As she returns to her PC, Dave details a little more about his business.

“We’ve got 28 top-range gaming PCs,” he says, “with our own dedicated Internet connection deployed across our local area network. We’ve also got 3 online and networked Xbox 360s, and a Wii for the tournament nights we often have.”

Upcoming events

“We’re constantly upgrading our PC kit,” says Dave. “We’ve got a two-out, two-in policy, meaning we always have the latest builds on premise for games that really need them. We sell the older stock on second-hand.”

Leading me downstairs away from the glow of the screens, he shows me a small room with a felt-covered table. “This our tabletop gaming space,” he explains. “We sell some of the Games Workshop stuff upstairs and their games – like Warhammer 40,000 – have quite a following.”

Back in the main section The Ministry of Gaming, I ask about the clientele.

“A lot of our customers are students and young professionals – programmers and IT network people,” he says. “And most of them are playing MMOs.” (massively multiplayer online games, like World of Warcraft)

“We get a steady stream of people wanting to use our dedicated internet machines for checking email and browsing; we had people who were almost based here during the Festival using our PCs.”

“I remember one guy who came in here regularly during the Festival – I’m sure I recognised him from US TV dramas. Anyway, he took two machines and was running Eve Online (a complex online game of space strategy and intrigue) on both of them. Turns out, in the game he was using one character to lure people into traps; and the other account to benefit from the bounty – he was a double agent!”

A gamer at The Ministry of Gaming

In the future, he’s considering expanding the premises; extending the space at the rear and installing a dedicated XBox 360 space. The all-nighters and game-specific challenges will continue, and Dave is keen to strengthen relationships with other gaming cafes in Belfast and Glasgow.

Due to celebrate its official 3rd birthday in March, The Ministry of Gaming is a busy, yet relaxed and friendly place. Even if you’re not familiar with the gaming scene, what they have done in a relatively short space of time – create a place for gamers to meet and play with a true sense of community – is impressive.

So, even if you’re a n00b or a veteran seeking to p0wn your latest rival, the Ministry of Gaming will welcome you – with friendly customers, expert staff and the latest kit to allow you to live out your electronic fantasies as you see fit.

Check out the Ministry of Gaming’s website for more information.

The Nelson Monument on Calton Hill

In recognition of this news, the monument had 4 giant stars projected upon it last night – these will also be on show tonight and tomorrow (26th & 27th February).

With the reinstatement of the historic time ball (originally to signal one o’clock GMT to shipping in the Forth) and the interior of the monument upgraded as a result of the Twelve Monuments Restoration Project, now is a great time to visit the fascinating attraction and enjoy the wonderful views from the top (well, once the weather clears up, anyway).

Congratulations to the Nelson Monument for its well-deserved new rating!

To mark Fairtrade Fortnight, the Edinburgh Fairtrade City Group (supported by Scotmid) are holding a brunch at the National Library of Scotland on Thursday 25th Feb from 10.00am-11.30am.

Craft stalls, coffee, food – you’ll be able to browse a whole range of Fairtrade products from the One World Shop and Hadeel from the city’s west end, as well as goods from Palestinian craftworkers.

During the brunch, winners of the Lord Provost’s Fair Trade Awards will be announced, acknowledging the contribution Edinburgh’s individuals and businesses make to Fair Trade across the city.

Edinburgh has been an official Fair Trade City since 2004 and this brunch will be a good chance to pick up some unique gifts, relax in the surroundings of the National Library and indulge in some ethical shopping.

The Vue cinema at Ocean Terminal is my preferred cinema of choice for mainstream films.  I also love The Filmhouse and The Cameo, but for new releases, I head down the road and park my backside in one of the spacious screens in Leith.

Vue cinema, Ocean Terminal

Prices vary widely depending on when you go, but they’ve recently introduced a teen ticket making it slightly cheaper for 13-18 year olds to see something without having to pay the adult price.

There are reductions for pensioners (and even special screenings on a Wednesday complete with tea).  Reduced prices apply to children and students, but perhaps the best offer of all is ‘cheap Tuesdays’.  Pick up an application in the foyer with has a push out card within it and every Tuesday, all day, you only pay £4.10 per movie. 

The other handy thing that this (and other) Vue cinemas do is give you a money off voucher for your next visit, as along as it’s within two weeks.  £1.50 is offered off adult tickets and 75p off children’s ones making it a little easier on the pocket.

Digitial 3D films cost £2.30 extra for adults. You can also upgrade your seat now to a slightly larger leather one for an extra £1.30, but I find that there is ample leg room and comfort in the normal seat.

A wide selection of popcorn, hot dogs and drinks are available but of course, overpriced but with such a good selection of places to eat with the centre, I would be choosing elsewhere.

We have recently reviewed Ma Potters and Baxters.  You could even just pick up a meal deal from Boots for £3 on the ground floor.

Suitable for disabled ?   Yes, completely, with space for wheelchairs within the screens, but book ahead to reserve one if going at peak time.

The Scotch Whisky Experience (SWE) is a neighbour of Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile.   As a resident I have never had an inclination to wander in despite the amount of times I have walked past.  A trip to a Scottish distillery would be on my must do list when visiting Edinburgh and Scotland, but I understand that some people stay in town for brief visits or may not want to venture out of the comfort of the city.

At the top of the Royal Mile

I was intrigued to find out if this tourist attraction could replicate a visit to the nearby Glenkinchie Distillery or the slightly further afield, but smallest in Scotland, Edradour Distillery.  I didn’t look on their website beforehand, so really didn’t know what to expect.

I was warmly welcomed and opted for the silver tour at £11.50 which includes a trip on the Whisky Barrel Ride, a session on whisky aromas, a tasting and a view of the world’s largest whisky collection.  There are other tours available which include more tastings or a detailed tour in the collection room.

The staff through the SWE were extremely pleasant, polite and helpful.  The girl at the ticket desk explained that because I was an Edinburgh resident visiting the SWE, I was entitled to an Ambassador’s Card.  This allows me to have discounts on further visits and from their coffee shop, restaurant and gift shop amongst others.

Unfortunately, her introduction to the Whisky Barrel Ride was a little cringy as she stated, “welcome to Malt Disney”.  We climbed aboard the barrel, which is fully accessible for disabled people by means of a ramp and includes an audio guide in one of fifteen languages.

Whisky barrel ride

It seats any two adults with room to spare, or three normal sized adults and moves at a slow pace.  You are transported through the whole whisky making process in a replica distillery with the aid of a talking character.

I was actually a little distracted whilst I was on the ride, as I was conscious about where I going to next as I was turned around and found myself in a virtual vat of whisky.  It is certainly the ‘gimmick’ part of the tour and can’t beat seeing the real thing (with the accompanying smells).   This is the only downfall of the tour for me, but obviously not one that can be rectified.

The ride was over within five minutes and we were gathered together as a group in a small room with more whisky information on the walls.  Non-english speaking visitors collect a ‘wand’ at this point and can select the numbers shown on the wall throughout the rest of the tour in their own language.

Language wands for visitors

We were then taken through to the Sense of Scotland room where the history of where whisky is made is explained to us by a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable member of staff.  We were told about the four active regions and then given the opportunity to ‘smell’ a region of whisky from individual bottles in front of us.  We also told about the role of Master Blenders and how they do their job by sense of smell alone.

Sense of Scotland room

I decided to try a ‘lowlands’ whisky and it was poured into a glass which we got to keep (we were given a box to protect it with our entrance ticket).  I carried my glass with my dram through to the magnificent Diageo Claive Vidiz Collection room.  I am not going to spoil the surprise with pictures here, but it really is amazing to see this collection of 3384 bottles of Whisky in the one place.

The six bottles that started the collection

Our guide explained to us how to smell a whisky, how to taste it properly then said “slàinte mhath” (Scots Gaelic for ‘cheers’ and prounounced “slange va”) before encouraging us to try our drink.  I am not a huge whisky fan at the best of times, and since it was not even 11am yet - I didn’t particularly enjoy the taste.   My friend took advantage and finished mine for me and really enjoyed both blends.

We were allowed some time to admire the bottles and have a closer look before moving through to the McIntyre Whisky Gallery which is the end point for the tour.  The more humourous bottles from the collection are housed here such as chess sets and books that double as whisky holders.  The walls here re cap everything you will have learnt on your tour, but you can take this room at your own pace.  The guide thanked us for our time and suggested we try out some more whiskies at the bar there.  It was such a cold winters’ day outside, it would be very tempting to sit in one of the seats and work your way through some more drams overlooking the rooftops of Edinburgh.

We chose to have a drink in the coffee shop in the basement and next to the award winning Amber Restaurant.  Although I have not eaten here yet, I have tasted a selection of their dishes at the Edinburgh Foodies Festival and was blown away with the quality on offer.   The coffee shop is very reasonably priced for somewhere on the Royal Mile – £1.30 for a pot of tea and £1.70 for a delicious coffee.  I managed to do without a piece of the their Cranachan cake this time, but won’t say no when I return.

Whisky shop

The exit from the SWE is through the gift shop.  I had a brief look and was pleased that alongside the great variety of whiskies on offer, there was a tasteful selection of Scottish gifts with no tartan tat to be found anywhere.  Our entrance ticket is worth £2 off a big bottle of whisky here and you can also buy further tasting glasses at £5 each.

Not including our time in the coffee shop, we were approximately an hour in the SWE from start to finish.  I imagine it would be very busy at peak tourist times, so booking in advance is advisable.

Apart from not being an actual working distillery with the authentic smell that accompanies one, the Scotch Whisky Experience is pretty impressive.  The whole operation is smooth, with friendly staff and excellent facilities for foreigners and disabled people, it is worth while taking a journey through here.

It’s a perfect activity for residents on a rainy day in Edinburgh and any time of the year for tourists.

Suitable for disabled? Yes fully accessible via lifts and ramps onto the barrel ride and accessible toilets.

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Carry A Poem, launched today (1st Feb)

Official press release:

Poems will be tattooed onto naked backs, projected, animated, raced in the Poetry Olympics, narrated, read and most of all carried around Edinburgh this month following the launch of the Carry A Poem citywide reading campaign today. The Carry a Poem campaign, co-ordinated by the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and Scottish Poetry Library, aims to encourage and inspire Edinburgh’s residents to carry poems they love with them.

The Carry a Poem book shows how Scots from all walks of life, from Holywood star Alan Cumming to pupils at the Poetry School (Holy Rood High School), carry poems with them, and reveals the stories behind the poetry choices. 13,000 free copies of the book will be distributed all across the city, through arts and leisure centres, libraries, cafes, and primary and secondary schools and you can pick up your free copy from today while stocks last. 28,000 special pocket poetry cards will also be distributed across the city carrying poems for every occasion.

Poems will set alight the Edinburgh nights, as verse is projected onto the Melville Monument in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh’s Poetry Garden, onto the City Chambers in the High Street and the National Library on George IV Bridge. Energetic poetry fans can take the Carry A Poem Olympic Challenge in Holyrood Park with poem and spoon races, sack races, toss the poem and much more athletic activity. A full programme of events and activities will be running throughout the month and details can be found on www.carryapoem.com.

Poetry has been virtually exploding on the internet, with an animated film of urban-art poetry in Edinburgh created by BAFTA Scotland nominated animators, Binary Fable. The viral has been circulating cyberspace successfully and the full film can be found on the website – www.carryapoem.com