Expert: Willie Wallace - 7/1/2006

Question
Hello Mr. Wallace,

I'm going to have the chance to travel to Edinburgh in mid-August, and I can't wait!...I have a lot of questions, so thanks in advance for considering them!

1. I'm traveling alone and simple, inexpensive accommodations are preferred (e.g., dormitories are fine), so would hostels be the way to go?  Should I book in advance?

2. I'll be coming from London to Edinburgh by train and can spend 3-4 days in Edinburgh...can you recommend other jaunts from Edinburgh to adjacent towns for a day-trip or overnight visit? (#3 and #4 below may help you with this question)

3. I like the outdoors (not golf on this trip).  How would the Pentlands be for a day hike or biking?  Any other nature excursions that you could recommend?  I'm not familiar with the coastline...is it "hikeable" at the beach level?

4. I'm a Christian and am interested in the history of the Covenantors.  Is Edinburgh the place to be to learn more about that topic?  Where in the city (or where else in Scotland) should I visit related to the Covenantors?

5. Any other mid-August recommendations related to "happenings" or "sites" in Edinburgh?

6. Finally, what are average weather conditions for the heart of summer?

Thanks for your service,

Owen

Answer
Hi Owen,

Sorry for the slow response, but I was away at a wedding.

1)  Hostels are really the only cheap option in Edinburgh. If you don't book in advance, you wil  not find a bed.  The Edinburgh Festival will be in full swing and it is the largest book, arts, music, film and theatre festival in the world.

http://www.syha.org.uk

is the offical hostel and there are three of them, plus some Summer only student accommodation, which might be better as it is a room to yourself at a low price.  There are lots of independent hostels which are more laid back but also probably scruffier.  Keep your belongings safe and if there is a lockable locker, USE IT!!  Google edinburgh hostels.

2) http://www.rabbies.com

do day trips all over the place.  A tip, don't go for one of the long ones as most of the day will be spent in the minibus.  The shorter the distance, the more time spent doing things.

3) The Pentlands are brilliant!.  I grew up walking all over the Pentlands.  There is a lovely waterfall, which you can reach from several directions, but the easiest is to take the local bus service to Nine Mile Burn, walk up the stream and follow the path along the reservoir and then on up into the hills following the line of the river until you reach the falls.  Also nice to take the bus to Hillend Ski Slope and walk from there.  Paths everywhere and difficult to get lost.

Take the rain out to North berwick about 25 minutes away and starting from the harbour, you can walk just about all the way to Gullane with lots of rocks and beautiful beaches.  Bus back to town.

4) Geyfriars churchyard is where many Covenanters were kept prisoner, but also most importantly, was where the National Covenant was signed.  In a significant twist, the building next door to the Kirk (church), is George Heriot's Scool. which is where Cromwell quartered his officers when he invaded Scotland, after the Covenanters had supported the Stewart King, Charles the 2nd, as their king, after his Father had been executed by Cromwell.  George heriot was the Godlsmih and money-lender to James the 6th of Scotland, who became James the first of Great Britain and father of Charles 1st.  He left money in his will, to found the school for orphans of tradesmen (something like that anyway).

5) The Festival has something like 200 venues across the city and events occurring 24 hours a day.  Some people visit shows all night and sleep on the grass in the parks during the day.  Very cheap, but you get very smelly after a day or two.  Just Google Edinburgh Festival.  The Fringe Festival is the biggest of all.  HUGE!!!

6) Warm, in the sixties and low seventies mostly.  Sometimes wet, but an average of about 2 inches of rain EVERY month of the year, makes Edinburgh green and pleasant to live.

I hope that helps, now must get back to work.

Cheers,

Willie Wallace
http://www.rental-cars-scotland.com