Save our holiday! Edinburgh in August?!

[user1471548941]

We’ve been invited to a wedding on the outskirts of Edinburgh… on a Wednesday…. In August! We live on the South Coast!!!

Original plan was to travel up Saturday have a city break in Edinburgh before the wedding on Sunday and stop at a nice adults only/spa hotel over night somewhere between Northumberland and the Peak District on the way home.

We’ve already canned the overnight stop on the way home because we can’t find anywhere nice for a sensible price that’s not miles out the way and I’ve just been speaking to a friend who is an actor who regular performs at the Fringe Festival and has been going into great detail about how busy it will be….

We are both major introverts (I’m actually autistic) who hate crowds and busy places… are we going to be miserable?! We like food, culture, lazy mornings sat in a coffee shop, as well as long walks and beautiful scenery.

I’ve already established that we can’t get castle tickets though maybe able to get Holyrood tickets. I can’t get any reservations in any Michelin star restaurants which is something we’d like to do as a treat. Are we going to hate it and shall we just ditch it?! The hotel was £££ but free cancellation and we could just go another time and spend less money and have a better break.

We can’t find any alternative locations that aren’t crazy money or just not exciting us.

So can it or stick with it?

And if we can it, any other suggestions for a place to stop between the Peaks and Edinburgh for 3 nights in August that is either lovely (happy to pay for somewhere nice!) or cheap and cheerful. If the accommodation is great happy to have less options of things to do. If the accommodation is average, a great location with lots to do…

Or just 11 hour drive on a Tuesday… wedding on Wednesday… 11 hour drive home Thursday?!

We booked earlier this year and had a brilliant time avoiding most of the Royal Mile. We're introverts and like walks, museums, museum shops, eating and antique hunting. Actually, we just did the charity shops for books and art and didn't do the main antique shops.

We spent the morning walking from Waverley Station to Stockbridge for brunch bacon rolls and then to The Pastry Section for cakes in a box for the next few days. Raspberry and cardamom roll was the hit of a very good selection.

Better day was train to North Berwick and a long walk along the beach and around the town. Great seafood restaurants and interesting art galleries/jewellers for our vintage and modern tastes. Beach not at all busy and we just hunted pretty shells and if we'd been organised would have done a seabird tour by boat.

Edinburgh isn’t as busy as a normal year. Slot of the fringe venues this year are outdoor and out with the main city.
Try to book Camera Obscura, you can see the castle from the esplanade. The National Museum on Chamber Street is interesting. I would definitely still come to Edinburgh.
I would possibly look at moving accommodation from RM to Dalmahoy or Norton House. You could visit South Queensferry, Scott’s is an amazing place for food, the ambiance is so lovely and after you can walk over the Forth Bridge. Jupiter Artlandbis another lovely spot to visit and you could go to the beach in Fife, Aberdour is very nice. I’d recommend the open top bus tour for sightseeing, you could book the Royal Botanic Gardens which are beautiful and the open too bus stops here on one route. I think you would have an amazing time

Make sure you go to gullane beach if you go to the bonnie badger.
Also go to yellowcraig beach . Gorgeous and empty!

For your stop between Northumberland and the Peak District what about Thorpe Park or Oulton Hall hotels on the east side of Leeds? Both very close to the motorways

What about stopping in Peebles, and having a few nights at Stobo castle for some proper R&R.?
Don't worry about the hotel in Royal Mike. It's all part of the Edinburgh August experience. You'll love it. Town quieter this year but still busy enough to have a bit of a buzz about it.
Restaurants- try The Wtchery, Rhubarb at Prestonfield, Monteiths on the High street. Harvey Nichols brasserie good, of phone up the Michelin starred ones and ask to be put on a cancellation list.
Book a ticket for Sunshine on Leith at the Fringe, find a rooftop bar such as at Chapraoya or the Register club. Try a gin tour. Or the chocolatarium. Do an open topped bus trip. Definitely do an underground city tour or Mary Kings close. Book in advance.
Visit south Queensferry. Go to Scott's there.
Pop into the Museum of Scotland. Visit the new St James Quarter.

What are you driving the DeLorean? It took me 7 hours to drive from Edinburgh to Durness in the north the other week and we only stopped briefly for a pee and a sandwich at Inverness 😆

I drive regularly from Edinburgh to Weymouth and Portsmouth and can do that with 2 drivers in just over 8 hours - It's virtually motorway all the way.

Edinburgh isn't as busy as a usual pre-COVID August and even during the Fringe, Edinburgh is do-able if you avoid the city centre.

If you want to do a castle - see if Stirling has tickets available (I prefer Stirling castle anyway!). It's a short drive from Edinburgh and you can take in the Falkirk Wheel on the way. There is lovely walking around the FW and it's quiet and peaceful.

If you want seaside - North Berwick is worth a visit and is an easy drive or take the train. The John Muir Way is a coastal path that runs through East Lothian and if the weather is nice, Yellowcraigs beach is gorgeous - and is accessible from the walk. There is a lovely castle at Direton too. North Berwick has a michelin restaurant I think? I would also recommend Greywalls at Gullane.

I would imagine that the many museums in Edinburgh will be reasonable and not wildly busy as the main focus will be on the Fringe events. I second the suggestion to visit the Botanic Garden.

I can also recommend the Water of Leith pathway. You can pick that up from the West End of Princes Street through Dean Bridge and Stockbridge right up to the Botanic Garden.

I would also recommend the River Almond Walkway and Crammond Falls. Park at Crammond Beach and there is plenty of walking there - either along the coast path east, south along River Almond or head west toward the Forth bridges.

Don't let the Fringe put you off. There is ample opportunity to escape the madness of the city centre and find some of Edinburgh's quiet oasis'.

Can I go in your place?? I've not been home for over 10 years and was planning a trip up this year but things are against us.
Normally I'd say avoid at all costs in August but I hear it's quieter and sounds like you could have an amazing trip.
Botanic gardens are a lovely escape, seafront at Cramond for a walk or Portobello and Arthur's seat for the views.
Have fun!

This hotel is close to the border with Northumberland schlosshotel-roxburghe.com/en/home

August this year?? That's crazily short notice planning!
I wouldn't even consider driving that distance for anything less than a week. I once did Edinburgh - Portsmouth with 3 of us tag teaming the driving and that was bad enough. The cost of flights might balance out petrol, service station snacks, overnight stay, parking in Edinburgh (have you factored that in because it's rarer than hen's teeth?) etc.
The city is nowhere near as busy as it normally would be in August but I haven't been in for a few weeks to tell you how much impact the Festival Fringe is having.
Alternative locations you could look at rather than the Royal Mile: Stockbridge, Bruntsfield, Leith, Portobello, all have their own "village" within a city thing going on.
A bit further out South Queensferry has a couple of hotels and is on the bus or train into Edinburgh.
North Berwick and Dunbar, a bit further again but both on the train and by the sea, and would save you 30-60 min on your drive north if you came up the A1.

Thanks for all the recommendations. We’ve decided to stick with it and have managed tickets for Holyrood and the Castle for separate days.

We’ve got Urban Angel booked for brunch and am looking at various dinner choices- The Lookout is our favourite so far.

If it’s too busy for us in town we’re going to use all your great suggestions for long walks out of town!

@user1471548941

Thanks for all the recommendations. We’ve decided to stick with it and have managed tickets for Holyrood and the Castle for separate days.

We’ve got Urban Angel booked for brunch and am looking at various dinner choices- The Lookout is our favourite so far.

If it’s too busy for us in town we’re going to use all your great suggestions for long walks out of town!

Hope you have a lovely trip. DD had brunch in Urban Angel yesterday… her tastes are sweeter than mine! Hope you love it, it’s a firm favourite in our house.

ooh i haven't been to Urban Angel in years, it used to be lovely!!
Have a look at Gardener's Cottage. It's not Michelin star but gets very good reviews.
Don't forget your facemasks!!