Happy New Year

As Edinburgh recovers from the big storm in January – winds reached in excess of 100 mph – and our roof tiles get replaced – hope it is nice and mild wherever you are, and that this year proves to be a good one.

Perhaps, having been inspired by a glimpse of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, which include the wonderful Torchlight Procession,  on TV, you may want to stay next year! Our 2011/12 Hogmanay guests  from the US, England and Germany certainly seemed to have had a ball.

Return Guests

Philip and I took a quick glance at our records of guests already booked for 2012 – we were delighted to see that almost 40% of bookings, so far, for this year, are return visitors to Pilrig House. We hope this paints a reassuring picture for you – we find it very rewarding.

Listening to Our Visitors

In 2011, one or two Australian guests mentioned that, as they do not experience the seasons of autumn or winter (as we know it!), they would love to see photos on our website of Pilrig House and Edinburgh in all seasons. I got out there with my camera in 2011, and our website desginer is in the process of adding the new pics to our Guestbook page. Hope you like them.

Six Nations Rugby Tournament  – February Fixtures at Murrayfield

Scotland v England on 4 February - Rugby Weekend Availability is as follows:

Garden Apartment (sleeps 2) is available at £330 in total

Park Apartment (sleeps 3) is available at £360 in total

Scotland v France – Availability is as follows:

Garden Apartment (sleeps 2) is available over that weekend at £330 in total

Planning Your Visit

Many guests email and ask us what we think they should do when they visit. Time Out offers ’20 Great Things To Do In Edinburgh’, which you may like to peruse.

You can look at events and festivals that are on during the month you will be visiting. For example, for guests visiting in January, tickets for a Burns Supper celebration may appeal.

The ‘Whiski Bar and Restaurant’ on The Royal Mile has live Scottish music 7 nights a week.

Summer Bookings

We are taking bookings for the summer months, so, do get booked up now if you are planning a stay! We still have availability for the month of August when Edinburgh’s Interntaional Festival will explode into life once more. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held in August and tickets are now on sale – they sell out very quickly every year, so we do advise that you prebook your tickets now!

You can check out our availability and rates on our website – we always keep them bang up to date.

Till next time,

Debbie

November Greetings

Whew – we’ve just returned from our yearly holiday and have been manically rushing around trying to catch up….

Scottish National Portrait Gallery…

… reopens on 1 December 2011, after a massive 2-year refurbishment. The Gallery is around a mile from Pilrig House, and well worth a visit.

Restaurant of the Year 2011

For all you foodies, Wedgwood on the Royal Mile has recently been named ‘Restaurant of the Year 2011′. Prebooking is advised.

Edinburgh Smart Phone App

Welcome to Scotland (which has French and German translations on-screen) has introduced a really great smart phone app - it covers Scotland and Edinburgh, and for the princely sum of £2.95 is well worth the money, as it includes great offers/discounts on tours, restaurants, attractions, etc. I took a look, and think it will be a great tool to use during your stay, offering local maps, restaurants and places to see nearby, what to do, information on all the local attractions, transport links. In advance of your stay, on the same site, you can also download a FREE Edinburgh guide.

History Buffs…

This year, the Carnegie Trust (based in Dunfermline), organised Scotland’s History Festival - we thought that the events lined up for Edinburgh looked really interesting. It was held 17-30 November, and is set to continue next year. History-lovers, keep an eye on next year’s events and dates for Edinburgh.

Till next time,

Debbie

Autumn tidings…..

Just returned from a lovely stroll in the nearby Royal Botanical Gardens - a lovely place to be on this Indian Summer morning…. Sunlight streaming through the trees, barely a sound except birds tweeting, and the lovely autumnal colours just on the brink of their peak seasonal beauty… what an escape right in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town….

33 Scotland St

Lovers of Alexander McCall-Smith’s books, and in particular ’33 Scotland Street’, featuring Edinburgh’s amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie’, should delight in reading the author’s website – check out upcoming news and events – you may be lucky enough to purchase tickets for an Edinburgh book-signing or talk. I have the novel in the Park Apartment for those who haven’t read this Edinburgh author’s work…am sure you will enjoy.

Sculpture Whodunnit in the City

Recently, our local newspapers have featured the really delightful story of  an anonymous artist, who has been leaving the most exquisite sculptures, fashioned out of books, at the city’s cultural hotpsots across the city.  Another blogger has captured the story so well, I urge you to read her account, which has photographs of the works of art.

More later…

Debbie

One-stop ticket-booking site….

A new one-stop website has been launched this year, providing the opportunity to buy tickets for  arts, festivals and cultural events in Edinburgh, 365 days of the year – it includes traditional and Scottish events, things to do with the children, dining out, theatre, and has reviews and recommendations – great for checking out upcoming happenings in Edinburgh!

A new way to see the city….

Why not see the city from another angle – helicopter tours of Edinburgh can be had for as little as £38 – for latest offers see the website.

Debbie

Latest News

The wonderful National Museum of Scotland, Chamber Street (a few mins’ walk from The Royal Mile), opened its doors again last week, following a mulitmillion pound revamp. Two major exhibitions have been announced for 2012:

- February to May 2012: ‘Fascinating Mummies’ – which will feature ancient Egyptian artefacts and explore the complex rituals surrounding death and the afterlife of Ancient Egypt (the museum will be the only venue in the UK to stage the exhibition); and

- July to October: ‘Catherine the Great’ – a one-off exhibition charting the reign of one of Russia’s most successful rulers and marking the 250th anniversary of her accession to the throne. It will include imperial court costumes and uniforms, and is being mounted in partnership with the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

The Kitchin, Leith

Tom Kitchin’s award-winning, Michelin-starred restaurant The Kitchin in Leith, was ranked 35th in the  top 50 eateries in culinary bible ‘The Good Food Guide’ – up six places on last year and will appear in the guide for 2012. Food lovers are recommended to book up…

John Muir - Conservationist

Guests can take a train from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station to nearby coastal town, Dunbar, and pay homage to John Muir by visiting his High St birthplace museum. Currently, there is an exhibition ‘One Touch of Nature: Makes All Kin’, which runs to September 4, featuring the work of 28 artists and poets from Scotland and beyond. Drawings, paintings, sculptures, films and artists’ books are installed in the stone walls of what would have been Muir’s garden. Well worth a visit!

More soon……

Debbie

A Highland Fling to Applecross – Our Top Tip Trip

Guests coming from overseas frequently ask us about taking  a trip elsewhere in Scotland. So, I have created a ‘Scotland Top Tips’ file, which I am happy to send to anyone who asks… One of our favourite places in the whole of Scotland is Applecross on the west coast, overlooking the Isle of Skye… It really is the most beautiful and wild and peaceful spot, with wildlife in abundance.  Stay at the Applecross Inn - the food is out of this world. It has rightly attracted awards and accolades too many to mention, including: ‘Best Pub Food in Britain’ and ‘Best Seafood in Britain’. And, the delightful owner, Judith Fish, deserves every award going too! Philip and I took some US friends there in July this year, and we had a memorable time – and could have eaten squat lobster, fresh from the bay, ’till the cows came home.  It really is a place that has it all. Each night, we drove around the bay, and gazed at the awe-inspiring sunsets,  while stopping along the way to watch the herds of deer… Here is a photo I took one evening, up in the hills surrounding the bay – a true Monarch of the Glen’. I hope you like  this beautiful creature- I couldn’t believe he let me get so close:

Torridon Sea Tours – The Best Ever Boat Trip!

While there, we also went on a one-day Torridon Sea Tour, departing from the village of Shieldaig – a 40-minute drive from Applecross – visting the remote and lovely Isle of Rona.  I cannot convey to you in words just how wonderful this boat trip is – taken on the most comfortable and lovely boat, run by the skipper Kenny and his daughter Gemma – both of whom live locally and have amazing knowledge of the place and the wildlife. The one-day trip costs £80, and includes maps, binoculars,  home-made snacks and a fantastic lunch sitting on-deck in the sheltered bay of the Isle of Rona – it really has to be experienced! We were lucky enough to see porpoise, sea eagles, wild mountain goats, seals, a plethora of sea birds – and, even though minky whales which had been spotted in the area, were not seen on the day, we were not disppointed! Trust me, you won’t regret it…. Philip and I thought it was a perfect day. I hope you’ll trust us and go there and see it for yourselves.

Debbie

The Scarlet Pimpernel returns….

I know, I know…. what a disgraceful blogger I am…. Having been severely reprimanded by our lovely website designer, who reminds me that is it any wonder no one reads my ‘diary’ if I don’t update it each week, I stand corrected and contrite, and promise that I will make appearances here more regularly…. I have no excuse other than I always seem to be busy, but that really doesn’t cut it, does it?? (Actually, it was when he mentioned the word ‘replace with twittter if you can’t hack it’ that my heart froze and I recommitted 100% to my dear old blog…)

Website Enhancements…

Perhaps the fact that I have been listening to our guests and making changes to our website to reflect what I am being told you want to see more of, will incline you to be more forgiving.  Namely:

- more pictures of the squirrels. I have added plenty to our Guestbook page and hope it satisfies your bushy-tailed enthusiasms - some kind guests sent me their own favourites, and I took a few of my own – given the acrobatics performed, the majority revealed a mere blur on the landscape, but,  a few crackers emerged… hope you like them. Which prompts the next bit….

…. Favourite Guest Quote in the Visitors’ Journal

Squirrels seem to provide endless amusement to many of our visitors here, and prompted our all-time favourite comment in the GuestBook Journal:

Q: People you met or talked to while in Edinburgh?

A:  A squirrel….

(Drum roll….. watch out for next week’s instalment – close runners-up to be included!)

- more photographs of Edinburgh and local spots of interest.  Days were spent trekking around to highlight these on both the FAQ  and Useful Links pages on the website. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking  them – it was like being a tourist in my own city again – huge fun. I tried to include as many local places as was possible, particularly those  which people often ask about when enquiring about staying, and local restaurants, shops, theatre, historic buildings, Scottish Malt Whisky Society, walkways/cyclepaths, and so on. And, as I now have a huge back catalogue and could not include them all, do ask if there is anything you would like to see and I can hopefully send you a photo-email.

- more photographs of the gardens and views of the park – these have been added to the Guestbook page also, and dotted around here and there throughout the site 

- loads of people ask about fishing in Scotland and whisky/distillery tastings - so, have added these Qs to our FAQs page also and created files that I can send to all enquirees….

- next works in progress - am awaiting September/October to take autumnal photos - and will add a Gallery of Pilrig House & Park in all the seasons – this was requested by many people from Australia and New Zealand, who, they tell me, like to see our winter and autumn seasons in all their glory. 

Our Home page is currently being redesigned, and, I am assured that we are soon to become ‘APPS friendly’ – just don’t ask me what this means – think it is something to do with your being able to use your iPads and such like technology to store our website details….

Edinburgh Sparkles

Anyways, perhaps as the summer is almost over, now is the time to get you thinking about Christmas and New Year. We take minimum 7-night stays at this time of the year, but would consider a 6-nighter….  Currently, there is availability in all 3 apartments. Do get the feel of this enticing time by looking  at our ‘Seasonal Attractions’ page on our website – it has some great links to reveal what’s on at Christmas and Hogmanay. And, for couples, we can offer better rates in the larger apartments – so do enquire!

See you next week – promise.

Debbie

Spring is on its way….

Hello again,

Crocuses and snowdrops are popping through the earth, and, despite warnings of  snow here today (hard to believe right now as I look out at blue sky and sunshine), it feels so welcome after our long winter.

 We look forward to welcoming all our new guests, and old (and not-so-old) and friendly faces, this year.

Summer Bookings

The Park Apartment is now almost fully booked for May, June and July, but we still have availability in our Garden and Balfour Apartments, so do get your skates on and get booking now for those summer months!

Edinburgh’s Farmers’ Market

If you are visiting, you may want to go to the Edinburgh Farmers’ Market, which is held each Saturday from 9am to 2pm at Castle Terrace – with Edinburgh Castle as a photographic backdrop. A good place to buy an original gift of delicious local produce – or, if you are like me,  just another great excuse to over-indulge and sample everything…

Treat Yourself to an Edinburgh Spa

During their stay. more and more of our guests are enjoying the luxury of a spa appointment.  The following are the best reviewed spas in Edinburgh – go on, treat yourself:

The Cowshed, Scotsman Hotel

The One Spa, Sheraton Hotel

Balmoral Hotel Spa

Apartment Refreshment

No, we have not started to serve cocktails on the lawn, but, thought that you may like to be kept posted on our latest work in the apartments:

- all have been totally repainted, including all woodwork and doors/ceilings;

- the Park Apartment has all-new-singing-and-dancing: bedroom blinds, bed throws, bedside and ceiling lamps; living-room cushions, Persian floor rug, table lamp and larger flat-screen TV.

- the Garden Apartment has been awarded total new hall and living-room real-oak flooring, new wood laminate flooring in the kitchen, plus there is new tiled floor in the bathroom, and larger glass shower-screen. And, we have also installed a larger flat-screen TV for your enjoyment of all those DVDs we leave you in the hall cabinet;

Now – I am off to book myelf into a spa, stuff myself silly with goodies from the Farmers’ Market (all organic of course), and to think about losing that stone in weight  next month.

See you soon!

Debbie

Happy New Year

Greetings! Hope 2011 is a good year for you all. Philip and I are starting to emerge from what feels like a winter hibernation. Brrrr… it has been so cold throughout November and December. However, I will refrain from boring you with a restrospective on the Edinburgh and Scottish weather… suffice to say, it has been the coldest winter on record, with lots and lots of snow (just incase you hadn’t heard enough about our travails and levels of endurance).

One day, when taking the car out was impossible and food rations were getting low, I walked to our latest shopping centre. En route, I couldn’t resist taking a few photos of one of Antony Gormley’s stunning life-size sculptures form the series ’6 Times’, heroically freezing in the River of Leith – isn’t he nice?:

Edinburgh International Festival, Fringe and Military Tattoo

Festival and Festival Fringe enquiries are starting to come in now, so do book up if you intend visiting in the month of August this year!

I telephoned the Edinburgh Military Tattoo office yesterday to get an update on ticket sales for the 2011 Tattoo… The weekend tickets are almost sold out, but single seat tickets, one behind the other with unrestricted views, or, seats beside one another with partially restricted views are still available for the weekend. Mon-Thurs seats can still be purchased without difficulty (as at this date!). This year, so am I told, visitors to the Tattoo will be able to experience the joy of more leg room and more comfortable seats in the new arena – you will still need your scarf and knee rug though…

Our Beloved Bard – Rabbie Burns

Burn’s Night has recently passed with heaps of neeps and tons of tatties being  savoured, as well as our beloved dish, revered around the world (ha!) of haggis. Did you know that there is a wonderful new site that has collated all of Burns’ verse and songs, employing the talents of Scotland’s most famous voices? So, if you are a lover of Robert Burns, this is the place to go. You can even listen to Prince Charles’ recording of ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’, or Scotland’s First Minister reciting one of my favourites: ‘A Man’s a Man for A’ That’.  Wouldn’t it have been even better if they had been singing…. hmmm.

Gourmet Dining in the Comfort of Someone Else’s Home…

When you visit, you may want to experience something new – the concept of ‘private dining’ or going to a ‘pop-up restaurant’, where you dine in style and comfort in someone’s home, meeting others on the night, and enjoying  great food at very reasonable prices. An Edinburgh couple, Charlie and Eveyln, have taken the plunge (Charlie is a professional chef and the menus look terrific), and created just such an experience – ‘Charlie and Evelyn’s Table’ has attracted rave reviews - all of them 5 stars. You phone to book, and take along your own drink of choice on the night – it is only half a mile from Pilrig House. We think it sounds great!

Must dash – we have painters, joiners and floor-layers all in the apartments at the moment, making sure they are in sparkling, tip-top condition for you in 2011, and they all need bacon butties urgently.

Wishing you fun, happiness and, most of all, good health for you and yours in 2011.

Debbie and Philip

White November

Greetings – we awoke this morning to a total white-out and the snow is still falling… If you want to see live footage of Edinburgh in the snow, take a look at the web cam on the Royal Mile You can also watch a variety of Edinburgh live scenes from different vantage points in the city - take your pick from those provided on live web views.  If you double-click on the live image, you will go to full-screen.

Our current guests are just heading off to Edinburgh’s German Christmas Market. Check out what’s on this Christmas. (They seem amazingly unperturbed at the prospect of being ‘stranded’ here indefinitely… )

Philip and I have just returned from a blissful week in southern scotland – staying in a little ‘Hansel & Gretel’-type cottage in the middle of the countryside outside Gatehouse of Fleet. We had many important decisions to make, such as whether to put another log on the fire, and if we should have three courses instead of two at the local inn that day. Aren’t holidays magic!

I was just about to head off for Edinburgh’s dry ski slope to watch our niece and nephew practise on the slopes, but, I think they may only have to head for the nearest hill in Edinburgh and get a taste of the real thing…

Wherever you are, we wish you, and yours, a very happy and peaceful festive season.

Debbie and Philip