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Mention Edinburgh and most people think festival – and with good reason.
Folk flock from all over the world to enjoy three exhilarating weeks of the very best in classical music, theatre, opera and dance.
Ten days ago the city was so busy Premier League football side Spurs struggled to find a base as they prepared for a crucial European match.
And while the famous festival ends on September 4, there will be no let up in the tourism industry in this part of the United Kingdom.
It takes around seven and a half hours to drive from Bedfordshire to the Scottish capital and it’s important, on a short break, to find the right hotel in the perfect location.
The Rutland Hotel was very easy to find and central, which meant we didn’t have to spend valuable time travelling in and out of the city.
A multi-award winning boutique hotel, the Rutland is located at the Castle End (West End), just off the famous Princess Street, so we were soon out the door and off and running.
With its streets steeped in history and its thriving cultural scene, Edinburgh offers something for everyone.
We thought we would start at the top, in height. Their most famous tourist attraction is the world renowned icon of Scotland, Edin - burgh Castle.
Dating back as far as the 12th Century, towering above the City, the castle is built on top of Castle Hill and houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny.
Inside and out, there is a variety of attractions and there is disability access to many points of interest.
Just outside the castle we found the Scottish Whisky experience where you can learn the origins of Scotch whisky. Guides also explain the different aromas and flavours that appeal to your palate and lead you to your perfect Single Malt. After working up an appetite, we headed off to the main shopping area on and around Princes Street, which offers a fantastic assortment of shops.
We headed straight for Harvey Nichols, YO! Sushi for a quick snack and then we slowly wandered back to the hotel, stopping at most of the other department stores and a couple of lively bars.
After a short rest back at the Rutland we headed for the hotel restaurant. I love my food and have eaten at excellent establishments around the globe - and the food here was fantastic.
We had the usual dilemma of what to order when presented with the innovative menu – created by the award winning head Chef David Haetzman, which he has obviously designed around local and fresh produce.
As I was in Scotland, I had to order local shellfish and fillet of Scotch beef and I was far from disappointed.
The presentation and quality of the food was sublime and the the well used ‘melts in the mouth’ adage was not out of place when referring to the beef.
It was the perfect sustenance and set us for a second day of sight-seeing in a city that has so much to offer for everyone whether it’shist ory, shopping or bars and restaurants.
Oh, and don’t forget the festival.
DAVE RICHARDSON
Info Station
Dave Richardson stayed at The Rutland Hotel, Edinburgh.
Room rates start from £130 per night excluding breakfast. The average price for breakfast is £10.
Bookings can be made by calling 0131 229 3402 or visiting the hotel website www.therutlandhotel.com
