{Postcards from... Edinburgh}

Edinburgh at night

This Halloween weekend I ventured north to Scotland’s Edinburgh – a prolific gothic city, composed of grey, windy cobblestone streets and looming turrets.  Only an hour plane ride away from London, Edinburgh is the ideal city to toast to ghostly ghouls as it is filled with glorious and gory histories.  Highlights include the Edinburgh Castle, a medieval fortress from the 12^th century, where Mary Queen of Scots once lived and legends of revenge reign supreme.  There her lover was dragged from his dinner and stabbed 56 times – ouch!  Also, the Holyrood Palace, the current Queen’s summer home, enchants crowds with its majestic glory and decomposing abbey.  Aside from the city’s histories, its effervescent energy runs through the streets from its many bagpipers and William Wallace impersonators to its shoppers scoping out tartan keepsakes.  In the spirit of the holiday, I dined at The Witchery – an intimate eatery, with intricately carved wood-panelled walls and thistle and rose tablepieces, dangerously illuminated by candlelight.  Their menu offers traditional Scottish specialities like haggis (a kind of sausage containing sheep’s heart, liver and lungs) and grouse (a game bird).  Unsurprisingly, I skipped the main course for a chocolate torte with pistachio ice cream – my preferred holiday treat.  Hoping your Halloween was equally sweet!

Yours, Jenn 

The Royal Mile

Holyrood Palace

The abbey at Holyrood

The Witchery



Edinburgh Castle



Some travel tips...

Hotel
The Balmoral
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Tel: +44 (0) 131 556 2414

Restaurants
The Witchery
Castlehill
The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NF
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 5613

Stac Polly
38 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SX

Shops
Ness
Ness Castle
336-340 Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, EH1 2PH
Tel: +44 (0) 131 225 8815

Ness St Giles
367 High Street, Royal Mile, EH1 2PW
Tel: +44 (0) 131 226 5227