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.

View from Camera Obscura

Get busy in the Easter holidays by exploring Edinburgh

It’s almost the Easter break and the kids will be off school looking for things to do.  Here’s some of our suggestions that come with our full recommendation and have all been individually reviewed.  You can also look at our things to do section for further ideas and our kids section.

1.Visit the excellent Camera Obscura on the Royal Mile.  Allow the kids to explore and learn on this very hands-on tourist attraction.

2. Take a trip to Edinburgh Zoo.  It’s a firm favourite of ours and we’ve taken the mini-Spotlight members many times. Read about our visit to see the Pandas.

3.  Explore underground Edinburgh at Mary King’s Close.  Perfect for any weather, the mini-Spotlight members enjoyed their time there.

4.  Pay a visit to Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston and pretend it’s a secret wonderland.   FREE

5.  Use up energy by climbing to the top of the Scott Monument and enjoy panoramic views of Edinburgh.  Get children to count every one of the 287 steps.

6. Explore the National Museum on Chambers Street and be sure to visit the 7th floor for spectacular views of the Edinburgh skyline, including the castle. The new museum is open. FREE

7. Go squirrel hunting the Botanical Gardens.  Arm the family with some nuts and hunt out the squirrels and feed them.  FREE

8. Be a tourist in your own city and make good use of the Edinburgh Pass.  We saved a whopping £57.15 with a bit of careful planning.

View from Nelson Monument

9.  Admire the swans at St Margaret’s Loch and then walk around Arthur’s Seat.  Point out areas of Edinburgh to the children and get them to spot buildings such as Edinburgh Castle and Easter Road football stadium. If you’re feeling particularly energetic, you could also walk to the top!   FREE

10.  Visit an ancient castle.  We love Craigmillar Castle as you can climb all over it and explore every nook and cranny.

11.  Pay a visit to Gorgie Zoo. The goats, pigs, horses and other animals will keep youngsters amused for hours.  FREE

12.  Take a stroll along the Water of Leith and see if you can spot one of the otters living there just now.  There’s an abundance of wildlife to be seen and if you do spot any, photograph it and submit it to the excellent Edinburgh Wildlife site.  FREE

13.  Take a trip to the Edinburgh Brass Rubbing Centre.  Admire the beautiful building and have some quiet ‘craft’ time with children.  A perfect wet weather activity. (currently closed for refurbishment),

14. Visit the Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile and show the little ones toys from years ago. FREE

15. Ever seen a million pounds?  You can at the Museum on the Mound as well as seeing what used to be used as money.  The museum often run workshops for children in the summer holidays. FREE

View from the Scott Monument

16. Explore the Royal Mile and Holyrood Park. Start at the top and walk down one side exploring every close, nook and cranny.  Once you reach the Parliament, cross the road and explore the other side back up to the Castle. You’ll discover secret gardens and places you never knew existed. FREE

17. Walk up Calton Hill and soak in the views of Edinburgh. Look southwards and try to spot Holyrood Palace. You also get a perfect view of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags.  Sit on the Portugese Cannon and climb the Athenian acropolis. FREE

18. Visit Nelson Monument and climb to the top for unrivaled 360 degree views of Edinburgh.

19. Walk up and down the newly opened Scotsman Steps that connect North Bridge to Market Street.  There’s 104 different coloured steps to count and get the wee ones to point out their favourite colour. FREE

20. Have a game of pitch n’ putt on Brunstfield Links. FREE

Heron, Water of Leith

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.

Commonwealth pool

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is scheduled to open on Wednesday 21st March 2012. We can’t wait to get back in there for a swim after the £37m refurbishment. We saw the refurb in progress last year (minus the water) and it was looking great.There are plenty of activities to choose from including fitness classes and the excellent new gym facilities as well as the swimming and diving pools.  The main pool is open from 5.30am until 9.30pm on weekdays and from 5.30am – 5pm on Saturdays and 7.30am – 5pm on Sundays.

A selection of coaching and courses are available for all levels. There is also a Clambers soft play area and a cafe.

You can look at the different types of membership available here.

We can’t wait to see the new facilities and will bring you a full review once it’s open. You can see pictures of the old pool on the AJ Buildings Library website.

‘Commie pool’ memories

Submit your memories of the commie pool via their website and be entered into the daily draw for  a chance of winning  free passes. They are also having an overall draw for Commie goodies, a year’s free membership and new sports kit courtesy of our official swimwear partner, Speedo.

Information

Royal Commonwealth Pool
Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh
EH16 5BB
0131 667 7211

You can find all the opening times of the pool and other facilities on the Commie Pool website.

New features

The new features will include:

-  a 50m, eight-lane pool for community and specialist swimming use with a boom capable of subdividing the pool into two areas;

- a re-orientated 25m diving pool up to 5m deep with moveable floor which can be used for swimming when not in use for diving;

- a dry dive facility including trampoline and springboards to allow divers to practise out of the pool;

- a 25m pool with moveable floor to accommodate warm-up provision, swimming lessons and informal play utilising pool toys;

- new dry soft play facilities;

- a refurbished and expanded gym and fitness studios; and

- a refurbished and redesigned changing village, meeting and conference rooms

The RCP will host the diving events as part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the British Swimming squad have selected the facility as the venue for their final training camp in July 2012 ahead of the London Olympics.

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.

For years, the Royal Museum on Chambers Street was the ‘forgotten bedfellow’ of the National Museum of Scotland. Now, after a three year refurbishment, it is ready to reopen its doors once more: with a treasure trove of objects and exhibits and a modern space which has been designed to give access to its rich and varied collection to everyone.

View our photo gallery and video tour of the National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland - a treasure of Edinburgh

Window on the World

The grand steps from Chambers Street leading to the entrance doors of course remain: but street-level access to either side of them now leads into the new Entrance Hall. Originally the basement, the space was used to store the huge number of objects not on permanent display.

Now, with its vaulted ceiling and new Caithness stone flooring, the Entrance Hall provides a new and welcoming introduction to the museum, with a shop, a brasserie and visitor facilities. Described by architect Gareth Hoskins as like ‘holding up a grade-A listed building with one hand’, the work done on the Entrance Hall is the first sign of the museum’s impressive and modern transformation.

Newly-installed glass lifts take visitors into the stunning Victorian architecture of the Grand Gallery. As they glide smoothly upwards, they pass the Window on the World, a four-storey installation of objects from the museum’s collection. An example of the innovative work by designer Ralph Applebaum, it is intended to evoke a sense of drama and wonder: a nod to the original Victorian intention of the museum as a ‘portal’ into cultural amusement and public education.

The World Cultures galleries

The lifts also ensure access to the upper galleries is easy and fully accessible. Prior to the refurbishment, only around 10% of visitors ever ventured above the ground floor. Now, we imagine most people will take the lifts straight to the top, to marvel at the architecture of the Victorian ‘birdcage’ design and to enjoy the new sense of light and space which the transformation has provided.

From the Grand Gallery, 16 new themed exhibition spaces can be reached. The National Museum of Scotland’s collection is broad, encompassing science, nature and culture: but the galleries are connected by a broad theme of showcasing the Scots as a nation of inventors, entrepreneurs and explorers; their objects telling stories of the nation’s ingenuity, sense of adventure and its thirst for knowledge.

The galleries therefore include Shaping Our World, an innovative look at how technology has affected our lives; and the World Cultures galleries, bringing together objects from all corners of the world in a fascinatingly curated collection.

Old friends in the Natural World galleries

If like us, you have fond memories of visiting the museum as a child, then the Natural World gallery will be a welcome surprise. A stunning new three-storey installation, it is filled with some old friends – and some destined to become new favourites. Sealife exhibits ‘swim’ overhead: above leaping tigers, fighting peacocks and powerful dinosaur skeletons. The overall impact is striking and modern, and this section of the museum is likely to be the first stop for children and families.

When the museum first opened in the 19th century, the papers proudly reported that there was ‘no sign of wantonness’. Nor, we are happy to report, is there any on display today – only a stunning and impressive modern museum for the 21st century which is all set to become one of Edinburgh’s top attractions for visitors and residents alike.

The National Museum of Scotland opens to the public at 10:00 on 29 July. The grand reopening will be preceded by celebrations on Chambers Street outside at 09:15 – more information is available here.

Video of the Grand Gallery and Natural World gallery

Head down towards Mountcastle and beside the High School lies Figgate Park. The last time we visited this gorgeous green space, it was so foggy, Arthur’s Seat couldn’t be seen, but today, the sun was shining and we got views galore.

There’s some more information on Figgate Park on the council website but we found it a great place to wander around and soak in the views, look at the wildlife in the pond (with board walk) and admire the beautiful pictorial garden. You can walk your dog here, there’s picnic tables for good weather and it connects to Edinburgh’s cycle network.

Well worth a visit, but make sure to take your camera and binoculars for all the wildlife.

Figgate Park with Arthur's Seat in the background

Pictorial Garden

Baby moorhens

The excellent boardwalk

A heron on the central island

Chambers Street

The newly re-developed National Museum opens on 29th July 2011

We are absolutely itching to see inside the newly re-developed National Museum on Chambers Street.

On Friday 29th July 2011, there will be an opening ceremony to celebrate, with the entertainment starting at 9.15am.

Marvel at the sea creatures on stilts from and an animatronic T-rex dinosaur whilst enjoying the beats of the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers. Just before the museum opens to the public, Grant Stott will invite the competition winner to open the doors, prompting a fanfare and the unfurling of banners. There will also be an abseil from the roof of the building.

The museum opens at 10am sharp – be one of the first to discover the amazing displays with new objects like the T.rex and familiar favourites like the Totem Pole.

Grant Stott will be hosting the festivities and continue with his 10am – 2pm radio show live from Chambers Street.

A world of discovery will awaits with 16 new galleries to explore, showing a dramatic range of treasures from dinosaurs to designer chairs, and mummies to motor cars. Music and activities will feature throughout the day.

Getting around the museum will be even easier with new entrances, glass lifts and escalators and a complete new floor at street level.

Other activites on at the museum over the summer are:

• Drop-in Days. Mon 1 – Sun 21 August 1030 – 1630 (drop in) Free
  Visit our fantastic new Learning Centre and meet the team. Take part in daily taster activities to mark the opening of our new galleries.
• Explore Time. Daily during August and September  1030 – 1630 (drop in) Free
  Get the most out of our new family galleries. Enablers in Imagine and Adventure Planet help you and your family discover even more about the stories these galleries tell.
• Free Fringe Music. Sat 6 – Fri 26 August. 1245 – 1330 (drop in) Free
  Each lunchtime, take time out in the transformed National Museum of Scotland to enjoy a musical celebration of our new World Cultures and Discoveries galleries with music from around the world

The best thing of all that the National Museum is free to enter and is suitable for all weathers.

A million pounds

Museum on the Mound (free entry)

Ever seen a million pounds in real life?  You can at the Museum on the Mound amongst many other interesting bank-related exhibits.  The museum has been open for a few years now and is an excellent free activity for people of all ages.

The museum has different sections to explore and the friendly staff supply you with a map of the floor plan and any information you may need.  As you walk through the entrance, you immediately spy £1,000,000 encased in a glass display.  Look carefully at the top right hand corner, it looks as if there’s 4 lots of bank notes missing – but there’s no money missing.

This money display used to be housed elsewhere but the sheer weight of the money (130 lbs) was no longer suitable for the cabinet, so it’s now been placed here.  Every single note has been marked ‘cancelled’ so it’s no longer legal tender.

Although we think of money today as banknotes and coins, things like tea, shells and even feathers have been used in the past. You can find out how money has evolved over the past 4,000 years and even have a go at cracking a safe!

There’s a few hands on exhibits, which will amuse children whilst adults may look at the old currencies on display and remember the designs of the coins and notes.

It’s certainly interesting to use the interactive maps to see how the city has changed and grown since the 1600s and to find out how the Mound got its name.

During the school holidays, the museum normally runs special workshops with hands-on activities.

There is a small gift shop that sells a selection of money-related items and the museum is completely accessible and buggy friendly.

Information:

Museum on the Mound
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH1 1YZ

Tel: 0131 243 5464
E-mail: info@museumonthemound.com

Group visits by appointment only

Opening hours:

Tuesday – Friday  1000 – 1700

Saturday – Sunday  1300 – 1700

Bank Holiday Mondays  1300 – 1700  (closed normal Mondays)
13:00 – 17:00

Free entry to the museum

Free museum

The Museum of Childhood, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

By Victoria Bamber

The City of Edinburgh is home to many museums, all of which have a unique and interesting way of portraying the story they wish to tell. One museum which does this particularly well is the Museum of Childhood, situated on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. As many would agree, childhood is a magical time; a time of learning, developing, growing and playing. The Museum of Childhood is solely dedicated to this period and it enchants its viewers in the only way it knows how; pure, innocent nostalgia – and lots of it.

With free admission, and generous opening times, the Museum of Childhood is instantly appealing to those visiting alone or as part of a group. Surprisingly roomy and with 5 floors full of artefacts, guests can easily spend a good couple of hours drifting back to a time where Muffin the Mule ruled our television screens, stamp collecting and metallic spinning tops entertained children for hours and pristine dolls with porcelain faces were to be admired from afar, out of reach from sticky fingers.

Collection of dolls

The museum is arranged in five well presented sections; ranging from hobbies, activities and games to the school yard, teddies, health and holidays. The third floor is especially impressive and plays host to hundreds of dolls, each with their own history and culture – many dating back to the early 19th century.

At the moment, some exhibitions in the Museum of Childhood are undergoing a refurbishment, leaving parts of the second floor in particular a little sparse, but despite this each section has the wonderful ability of appealing to visitors young and old through the classy displays, interesting arrangements and clever use of sound and picture. As expected, the museum is exceptionally child friendly, and offers old-fashioned games and toys such as snakes and ladders and rocking horses on every floor to combat boredom whilst educating and entertaining youngsters. One particular part of the museum which is especially thoughtful is situated on the fifth floor and gives children the opportunity to dress up in the fashions of the early 20th century with a few chosen garments symbolic to the period (adults too could indulge a little here if willing to leave their dignity at the door.)

One of the other lovely aspects of the Museum of Childhood is that visitors are so obviously enchanted by the items they see in the display cases. Whatever era you lived in, it is almost a guarantee that you recognise and identify with many artefacts on show – although the fact that your childhood toys are now behind glass in a museum is a harsh reality many adults can probably do without. Often the phrases ‘I had one of those’ or ‘Do you remember that?’ can be heard when passing a meccano set from the 1960s or a pedal car from the 1940s. Often much comfort can be found in the past when reminiscing over items which obviously brought much joy and happiness once upon a time.

Various displays

The Museum of Childhood is obviously popular with guests and has an informal air that many larger, less intimate museums lack. If you visit on a bank holiday, or at weekends the floors are usually busy – yet quiet reflection and pointed silences can be found when visiting on weekdays.  During the holidays family classes, events and workshops are introduced by staff, which help enhance visits and provide entertainment – usually free, for children and adults alike. The museum shop, selling replica toys and faux vintage items is also worth a wander around and one can almost guarantee that each group will leave with a few ‘Daddies Sauce’ or Reliant Robin postcards as a memento of a fabulous trip back in time.

Information:

The Museum of Childhood

42 High Street, Royal Mile, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TG
Tel: 0131 529 4142

Suitable for disabled?  Galleries One to Three are fully accessible. There are stairs to galleries Four and Five. Please ask the customer assistants for directions to the disabled toilet.

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

Nelson Monument in Spring

Magnificent views from Nelson Monument

The Nelson Monument is in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory and death at the battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. We have previously visited the monument in winter but returned this week to enjoy the magnificent views in the sunshine.

The 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.

The monument’s up-ended telescope design is topped with a mechanised time-ball sycronised with the one o’ clock gun fired from Edinburgh Castle.  The time ball, which is dropped daily, allows ships in Leith Harbour to set their chronometers by it.

Every year on 21st October, the anniversary of Nelson’s death, naval flags are flown from the monument signalling his famous words:  ’England expects every man to do his duty”.

If you are visiting Edinburgh, then try to pick a clear a day as possible to get the best views and if you are a resident, then choose a good weather day.   In summer, the sun does not pose too many problems when taking photos as it’s so high in the sky.  In winter, the sun can be low and early in the  morning it can spoil the views over to Arthur’s Seat and around lunch time, it’s above Edinburgh Castle.  You can never taken sunset shots from here as it’s only open till 6pm in summer and closes at 3pm in winter.

Arthur's Seat

Admission is  still £3 (April 2011) and is pretty reasonable for the rewarding views when climbing to the top.  The stairwell up to the outside viewing area is not cramped like the Scott Monument but has a very narrow exit.  We have actually measured it and it’s only 18 inches / 46cm in width. It would be impossible to fit through it front ways for any adult, so make sure you will be able to squeeze through sideways.  

Edinburgh Castle and Old Town skyline

There are great views looking down to the Athenian acropolis and over to the Firth of Forth.  It’s fantastic looking over the roof tops of Edinburgh’s New Town and working out which buildings are which.  It’s easy to spot the Botanical Gardens from the top and Easter Road, the home of Hibernian Football Club.

Looking down on the Athenian acropolis

Looking west over towards Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town skyline is clearly visible.  You can spot the buses on Princes Street and crowds of people. 

The view south to Arthur’s Seat is also fabulous and you can also spot many other landmarks such as the Scottish Parliament, Dynamic Earth and Holyrood Palace.  Just make sure you bring your camera to the top and a pair of binoculars if you have them.

At the bottom you can even get a certificate to commemorate your visit.   

Looking down onto Princes Street

Opening Times.  April to September:   Monday 1pm–6pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am–6pm   Closed Sunday.   October to March:  Monday to Saturday 10am–3pm (no sunset shot available)  Closed Sundays.
 
Suitable for disabled?   Unfortunately not as there is only stair access.  If you can manage to walk up to the entrance, it’s worth looking at the imformation displays (free of charge)

Easter Road, home of Hibernian Football Club

Edinburgh residents and six Australian tourists have a ball at Camera Obscura

 

Camera Obscura entrance

Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura 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.   

Last week, with Australian relatives in tow, we headed to this popular tourist attraction first thing in the morning.   

Our party of 9 (5 adults and 4 children) were warmly welcomed by the staff and given an allotted time for the observatory.  Everyone ran up the stairs to the very top and absorbed the views of Edinburgh in all directions.  The smaller children loved using the (free) telescopes to see as far as they could.  Wonderful views down The Royal Mile can be had here and over the Old Town rooftops.   

We were taken into the observatory where it is completely dark, but can be guided by hand rails to take your position above the image circle.  The guide talks through the history of Camera Obscura and points out everything you can see from the revolving view.  The staff member was enthusiastic as he spoke about the history of the camera and explained how it worked.  The children loved seeing the 360 degree views and were allowed a short time to ‘lift up’ people walking on the Castle Esplanade (a magic trick).   

View down The Royal Mile from the top

“Wonderful views down the Royal Mile”

You only get to experience this part once, which is all that is needed to be honest, but you are then free to spend as much time as you require exploring the other floors before leaving.   Our group as whole absolutely loved exploring every nook and cranny.  

We started at the Magic Gallery which is full of lightning tubes, plasma domes (including one of the largest in Europe) and lumiglass. Again, this floor is dark to give the best experience but shouldn’t be scary to young children as the lights lead the way through to the other section on the floor.  In this room you will find magic eye optical illusions on the wall.  There are also true mirrors which are interactive and suitable for all ages.  Some of the group’s favourite items were the kaleidoscope, an exhibit which allows you to swap heads with someone and a machine that took pictures of your shadows.      

“The new additions make this a must-visit attraction for tourists and residents of Edinburgh.”

Moving down to the 3rd floor, we came to ‘light fantastic’.  Holography was explained with numerous examples of dinosaurs, people’s heads and a giant spider so big it’s enough give an arachnophobe a heart attack. The kids were impressed, as were the adults and everything so far had been a sure-fire hit.   

Squeals of excitement were soon heard as the kids explore the new section of Camera Obscura and one we hadn’t seen before.  “Woooaaaah, that’s soooooooo cool” shouted one as another popped his face up on the ‘head on a plate’ exhibit.  We quickly ushered the kids to the morphing machine so the adults could take their turn and join in the fun.  

The amazing Ames room

On this floor is also the incredible, but disorientating Ames Room. You can become a giant or a dwarf here, which provided us with 20 minutes of fun as we took pictures of every combination of our group possible.  The youngest in the group (aged 7) loved that he became ‘bigger’ than his father and we laughed hysterically as other visitors turned their 2 year old into a giant.  This was a personal highlight for our group and full marks to Camera Obscura for allowing free photography of inside the room.  

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the children led the way to the mirror maze and tried to find their way through, but kept bumping into themselves.  The vortex tunnel was next and the children took great pride in managing to run through the ‘rotating’ tunnel as the adults clung onto the sides as they were disorientated completely. (Closing your eyes and walking straight gets you there, if it’s not for you).    

Put your head on a plate

Moving down to the 2nd floor sees a display of old, new and unique images of Edinburgh.   

Several pictures of how the streets of Edinburgh used look are on the walls and you can think and compare how they look today.   

There is an excellent sepia photograph of St Giles Cathedral in the 1880s with a horse and cart in the foreground and beside it sits a picture of how it stands today with a taxi – a complete contrast.    

Throughout the building, there are optical illusions on the stairways and corridor walls, continuing the visual workout.    And on all the floors, there are little kick stools for smaller children to stand upon to make the most of the exhibits.  This is a well thought-out addition and saves adults lifting their children around the higher exhibits.  

If you’re an Edinburgh resident and not been to Camera Obscura for a while, there’s an excellent selection of new additions  that make it a must-visit tourist and resident attraction.  

We spent just under 2 hours here, but were on a tight schedule with limited time.  You could certainly spend a good 3 hours here (with children) exploring every single exhibit and it’s good value for money. For adults visiting,  we recommend 2 hours to do the place justice, but of course you can whizz around as fast as you like. 

Click here for admission prices, current opening hours and to book your visit online.  

You can find Camera Obscura on facebook and follow them on twitter.  

Suitable for disabled?  Unfortunately not due to the age of the building.  There are only stairs inside.  

Views over Edinburgh Old Town

Old Children’s Bookshelf, Canongate

By Victoria Bamber

“Do you see that thick, dark wood over there, backing on to the lane at the bottom of our garden? Well, listen, that’s the Enchanted Wood! We’ve had all sorts of adventures there, adventures you wouldn’t believe in your wildest dreams…”

In an unobtrusive area of The Royal Mile, there is a shop, a shop easily overlooked by many visiting Edinburgh’s Old Town. ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ is, unsurprisingly, a children’s bookshop, yet it provides its visitors with so much more than just literature.

The Old Children's Bookshelf

Tucked away on Canongate, ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ sells copies of well loved children’s books, comics, annuals and prints from the 1950s onwards. Specialising in classics – the shop includes works from Enid Blyton, A.A Milne and Beatrix Potter, many of which come complete with authentic illustrations, dust jackets and in the case of ‘Last term at Malory Towers’, a message from the original owner.

 Walking into ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ is reminiscent of walking into a library or museum as a child. The floorboards creak under your feet, you feel the need to speak in hushed tones and the shelves are filled with a rare and unusual array of novels you remember from years past – possibly owned and now misplaced or given as a gift one Christmas when you still wore your hair in plaits and left a carrot for Rudolph.

The shop itself is tiny, split into two sections – novels and annuals/prints. As one would expect, many of the books in particular are somewhat expensive (around £15/20 for a hardcover, depending on its age and condition), although considering many on offer are first editions and over 50 years old, the price isn’t horrendous – especially if buying a gift or making an investment. The prints and annuals on the other hand – including classic Beano, Dandy and Bunty comics, are within a pocket money price range, which can provide the modern reader – young or old with much entertainment and amusement when investigating the contents. King George VI commemorative stamp anyone?

The staff in ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ are also very knowledgeable and friendly – as one would expect from such a lovely business. They appear very willing to answer any questions, including daft or obscure ones, and will let you wander around the shop at your leisure without interruption. (It came as a welcome relief not to feel at all pestered or pressurised when browsing).

Overall, ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ was a pleasure to visit and well worth a trip back time and time again. For those who crave nostalgia, the past and an air of mystery, this shop would suit perfectly, and the atmosphere and sense of intrigue is a rare treat one would find difficult to recreate on the high street.

175 Canongate,  Edinburgh EH8 8BN   0131 558 3411

Opening hours  Mon-Fri 10.30am – 5pm, Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 11am – 4.30pm

Oldest short hole golf course in the world

Play on the world’s oldest short hole golf course for free

A wonderful free activity to do all year round is to play golf on Brunstfield Links.  Believed to be one of the oldest sites of gold (pre-dates 17th century), the short hole course was founded in 1895. 

Situated south of Melville Drive, there are two courses available to play on.  A summer short 36 hole course (open end of April to October) and a 9 hole winter course (open October to end of April). 

In the summer months, the green starter’s hut on the edge of the links is open most days to get information and advice on where to start your game. 

Pasture Golf state you must follow the rules of the Bruntsfield Links which are as follows: 

1) playing each hole from the tee areas
2) replacing any displaced turf (divots, not just your own, all over the course, particularly the tee areas.
3) repairing golf ball plugmarks on the putting greens.
4) keeping a watchful eye open for anyone: – a) causing willful damage to the course, b) damaging/stealing the flag pins, c) not playing in accordance with the Course Rules, e.g. playing over paths, and to politely advise them accordingly. 

You must also adhere to the rule that  ”no player shall play his or her ball across any footpath or road”. 

Permanent maps explaining courses are available

Playing on the course is free, so just take a long your own clubs and balls.  Should you need to hire equipment, visit the Golf Tavern on the edge of the links and hire them from behind the bar.  £5 deposit for clubs and balls (£3 hire, £2 returned at end of play) which is very reasonable. 

This BruntsfieldLinks course is not to be confused with the golf course situated at Barnton of the same name. 

You can play all year round, but adhere to the rules

Pic courtesy of Tollcross.org

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

We love Arthur’s Seat and have previously covered a walk around the extinct volcano and also when it has been covered in snow.

Today we were taking our usual walk around the path but had the sudden urge to head for the summit once we reached Dunsapie Loch.

The summit in the distance

There are various routes you can choose to walk up to the summit, some of which are suggested here.  The easiest way to reach the top is from this point up one of the two recognised paths on the grass, which leads to a stone path and steps closer to the top. It’s really important that you use this path as the area can be slippy, especially after rain, but also to stop further erosion of this natural beauty spot.

The stone path to the summit

It takes about 15 minutes from Dunsapie Loch to reach the summit, longer if you stop to take photos on the way up.  On a clear sunny day, you can see across to Fife and right down the East Coast.

At the summit

It can be very windy up at the summit and today was one of those days.  It was hard to hold the camera steady to take pictures of the wonderful views.

Looking East

Looking North

Edinburgh Castle from the summit (zoomed in)

The weather was only a few degrees at the top, so after 5 minutes we headed back down taking care to watch our step as the rocks are uneven.  We continued on our way anti-clockwise around the path and patted ourselves on the back for choosing a fit and healthy way to start the day.

The view as we continued around the footpath

The minute we touched back down to ground level, the skies turned blue and the sun came out (just our luck) but we’ll save going back up for another day.

Suitable for disabled? There is a road all the way around Arthur’s Seat, but not to the summit.  There’s a separate path for walkers and joggers, so suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.  There are car parks at the top beside the Loch and lay bys that you can park in and enjoy the view.

9 -22 April 2011

Edinburgh International Science Festival 9 – 22 April 2011

 Packed programme launched this morning.  

The Edinburgh International Science Festivaltoday launched a packed programme for 2011 where visitors can travel from outer space to the deepest depths of our oceans, join in a Guinness World Record Attempt, experience a new hands-on Chemistry exhibition, enjoy the BBC’s Big Bang Theory Roadshow and meet a real live, space walking astronaut – all in the centre of the city.  

Guest Director, Richard Wiseman

Running from 9 to 22 April 2011, the Science Festival celebrates its 23rd Anniversary by welcoming guest director Richard Wiseman and introducing new venues and partners and offering an exciting expanded series of events for adults.   

With over 200 events taking place in 38 venues across the city on topics ranging from Aardman Animation to the Large Hadron Collider via the Internet, the Pill, the Science of Miracles and the psychology of dog training, the Science Festival offers debate, discussion, information and entertainment for kids of all ages – from toddler to octogenarian.  

Excellent events

The opening event on Saturday 9 April will feature TV’s most extreme scientist Dr Bunhead who we reviewed  during last year’s Fringe .  As part of his heart-stopping, multi-themed barrage of explosions and experiments in the Usher Hall, Bunhead is calling for his audience to become part of the live Guinness World Record attempt to create the longest glow-in-the-dark necklace ever made.  

A series of events telling the story of our oceans will be headlined by Into the Deep, a free exhibition of photographs in St Andrew Square which has been curated by Steve and Kathy Bloom. Open from 25 February to 30 April, Into the Deep features spectacular images by some of the world‟s most respected underwater photographers, which take visitors on a journey from the water‟s surface to the ocean floor. Steve Bloom’s Spirit of the Wild photos were extremely popular last year with residents and tourists alike.  

In addition, The Filmhousewill be showing a number of underwater films including Luc Besson‟s The Big Blue, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea starring Kirk Douglas, while Dr Alan Jamieson explores Beyond the Abyss: Life in the Deepest Places on Earth in an event at the Informatics Centre.  

Fun for all the family

The family programme centres around the City Art Centre where all seven floors will be jam-packed with activities, workshops, performances and hands-on experiments. New for 2011 are the World of Bubbles workshops where ‘bubbleologists’ will make round bubbles square, make children disappear into their own bubbles and generally make bubbles fun. The City Art Centre also sees the return of some old favourites such as ER, Unwrapping the Mummy, Dr Clot‟s Blood-Curdling Adventure, Nina and the Neurons and Rampaging Chariots.    

Family fun at the City Art Centre

The Scottish Storytelling Centreis a new addition to the Science Festival and will be presenting a series of events for young people showcasing children‟s science authors including Professor Lord Robert Winston and Paul Collicutt, and providing interactive storytelling sessions.  

The Family events continue at The Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh which will present a varied programme of walks, activities and exhibitions for all ages whilst Discover Science is a fun, family-friendly event created by the University of Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland and Adam House on Chamber Street. Events will also take place at Edinburgh Zoo, the Scottish Seabird Centre, Our Dynamic Earth and the Royal Observatory.  

The 2011 programme is full of exciting events, so put the dates in your diary and get involved.   

Hard copies of the programme will be available around town and downloadable ones from the Science Festival’s website. 

You can read our reviews of the 2010 Science Festival here.  

You can find all the details on the official website. The Edinburgh Science Festival are also on twitterand facebook.

Market Street

Avoid with young children – too scary.

We try not to be negative at Edinburgh Spotlight, but having experienced the true horror of The Edinburgh Dungeon, we had to forewarn residents and tourists of our experience here.  

Today was the last day of the February break for the mini-Spotlight members (aged 6 and 10) and we set off out to explore Edinburgh for the day.  I had decided in advance that we would visit The Edinburgh Dungeon tourist attraction, mainly because the online price was £7.92 instead of £15.84 (walk-up price) for an adult. That’s the price without VAT, which is a strange booking system – why not just say it’s £9.50 a ticket?  

Each of the children’s ticket was £7.06 and that was the off-peak, non-priority option!   

£24 lighter in the purse, we headed down there as it opened in the morning and struggled to find our way to the ticket desk as it was so dark and no-one was there to point us in the right direction.  Before getting to the ticket booth, we were stopped by a staff member who got us to pose by some Edinburgh Dungeon stocks for a photo I knew would be available to buy at an inflated price at the end.  

No smile from the ticket assistant who said ‘go down there’ as she pointed to her left and she didn’t inform us when the tour would start.  We sat in a very dim room with a handful of other tourists not knowing what was happening and this was when the 6 year old started getting nervous.  I told him it was all pretend like the pantomime baddie which seemed to placate him a little.  

Grabbing onto his sister’s hand (the first time in years!) we all followed the first ‘character’ through to the start of the experience.  

At no time prior to the tour starting were we told what to do in case your child (or adult) was so petrified they had to get out of there immediately.  I had clocked the emergency exits if needed, but a bit of basic health and safety would have been nice.  

I am not faulting the staff here, they played their part well and were extremely enthusiastic.  In the Judge’s Court, audience participation was needed – and ‘Paul from Plymouth’ was not happy about saying ‘my name is Shirley and I’m a big girlie’ and that he liked to wear woman’s clothes.  

Others took it as light-hearted fun, but some certainly didn’t.  It was easy for us to understand the local accents, but the tourists did not know what was being said much of the time.  

In the Torture Chamber, I wasn’t impressed with the character saying he was going to cut a man’s penis off (not the exact words used, but the 6 year old got the drift).  Surely stopping at the tongue and fingers was enough?  

The Cave of Sawney Bean had indecipherable audio for the children and as we sat ourselves in the boat , we were met with complete darkness as we shuffled along the water a few metres.  The ghost music was atmospheric and the finale of the ride did make the wee ones jump (and me!).  

The experience continued and I got bored very quickly as we were herded form room to room and had to keep reassuring the youngsters that it would ‘be over soon’.  The 6 year old was terrified by this point and the bravado of the 10 year old had disappeared - she was also clinging on to me for dear life.  

We passed through more rooms including a Mary King’s Ghost section (which was an insult to the real thing), a room all about William Wallace and to the ‘ride of doom’.  We opted to watch the Extremis ride, as did the other children on the tour, who feared what might happen to them.  

We watched the others be dropped in the darkness and despite all being adults, these were the highest pitched screams of the tour so far!  Speaking with one of them after, they said it would not have been suitable for the wee ones, despite both of them reaching the minimum height requirements.  

The tour finished in an optical illusion room full of mirrors which was fun, but was over far too soon as we were ushered out to the picture area where we were offered our photos from the start (£6.95 each) or a photo from the ride.  

We took the lift to the mandatory walk-through the tourist shop, but by that time, we just all wanted to see daylight again.  No acknowledgment from the staff member who was too busy on her mobile phone.  

As we enjoyed our daylight steps onto Market Street, it was clear that the children were not impressed that they were subjected to such terror.  “You said it wouldn’t be scary” was the line I heard over and over.  “We would have never gone in if we’d known” said the other.  

Considering the price options are from visitors aged 4 upwards I was shocked at the scary-factor.  This is NOT a suitable attraction for your average child.  I am sure there are some in similar ages groups that would love it, but we are just here to forewarn you.  

As I mentioned before, I can’t fault the quality of the actor’s performances as they can only work with what they are given, but for £24  (£39 walk-up price) for a little over an hour’s performance, we were sorely disappointed.  

In need of a little pick-me-up we headed to the Castle (with Historic Scotland card) and enjoyed exploring the ramparts and looking at the cannons in the fresh air.  

If we had been doing this as part of an adult group, I would perhaps give it 2 stars, but only if the tickets were bought at half-price.   

Suitable for disabled?  Read the Edinburgh Dungeon disabled information here.

We are frequent visitors to Edinburgh Zoo and are particularly fond of its chimpanzee enclosure, the Budongo Trail.

Yesterday when we visited, all the chimps were inside, sheltering from the cold weather and using the time to catch up on their grooming and beauty sleep!

Here are a selection of photos we took; hoping to capture the unique personalities and fascinating human-like expressions of our closest primate cousins.

Our closest cousins

One of the family

We could watch the chimps all day

Mutual grooming

Chillaxing in the Budongo Trail

An elder of the Edinburgh Zoo chimp family

What do they think of us?