January in Edinburgh is a month of long nights and short days, so if you’re thinking about a visit to Edinburgh for a weekend break, then you’ll probably be looking for activities to keep you cosy and out of the cold.

Over the many years we’ve been offering self-catering accommodation in Edinburgh (since 2001), we usually welcome visitors from Australia during January – escaping from the soaring temperatures at home, or extending a family stay over Christmas and New Year to see more of what’s on offer in Edinburgh.  Coming to the city to do genealogical research, or visit places which are important for a family history are other popular reasons to be here in the first month of the year.

As we offer accommodation close to Dynamic Earth, we’ve already welcomed a group of guests in 2012 to the Geological Society’s Tectonic Studies Group who were here for a conference, and appreciated the home-from-home atmosphere that they had at Craigwell Cottage.   (You can see their guest book comments for more.)

But if you’ve a little more time on your hands to explore Edinburgh, here are some ideas of top things to do on a weekend break in Edinburgh.

Visit the Turner in January exhibition

Every January, as a result of a bequest by the distinguished collector Henry Vaughan, his collection of Turner Watercolours are exhibited at the National Gallery of Scotland.  You can walk there easily from Craigwell Cottage, and even take a short-cut via Waverley Station leaving only a quick sprint across the eastern end of Princes Street Gardens if the weather’s particularly bitter.

See the Faces of Scotland old and new

Characters from Scottish History at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Keeping the theme of galleries, we were so pleased to have the Scottish National Portrait Gallery re-open in December 2011, but have only managed two visits there so far – one mainly sampling the coffee and scones in the excellent café in the Gallery, and the other to make more of a foray into the collection itself.  The renovation work has really managed to reveal the beauty of what had been a tired looking Victorian sandstone structure.  But the clever use of internal partitions has increased the hanging space in the gallery hugely, and there are great views from the now accessible windows.  I really liked looking at paintings including seascapes of Fife and the Firth of Forth, and then being able to look out of the windows to see the modern-day view. It was also nice to be asked by the @NatGalleriesSco – the National Galleries of Scotland on Twitter – what I thought of my visit!

RT @2edinburgh: @WhiskyTastingCo Been out visiting Scottish National Portrait Gallery today – Nice time? Do let us know what you thought!

— National Galleries(@NatGalleriesSco) January 9, 2012

As Scots, our thoughts in January turn to the celebration of Burns Night, of which more below, but while in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery you can find the statue of Robert Burns in the entrance hallway, and elsewhere in the gallery a portrait of his sister Isabella Burns Begg 1771-1858 – the youngest sister of Robert Burns. He asked her to sing his songs so he could hear how they sounded. Painted by several artists and photographed by Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill, the portrait on display is by William Bonnar.

The statue was commissioned originally to be sited in the Burns Monument on Regent Road, which is at the top of the garden of Nether Craigwell, and which you will see during your stay at Craigwell Cottage.

If you’re taking a weekend break with children in Edinburgh, then they can have fun choosing which works of art in the collection most resemble them (actually, this one’s not just for the kids as I had good fun with it too!)

You use a touch-screen computer display to pick a work of art which most resembles the things you love.  Choosing: Fife – Sea – East Neuk gave me this work of art.

and using the people characteristics selections of:  brown hair – female – arty gave me a portrait of Tracey Emin.

Again, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is able to be reached on foot from Craigwell Cottage – this time the top tip for a short cut is to go via St James Centre and Multrees Walk, and try to remember that the shops will still be there on the way back, so don’t get diverted by all those January sales bargains on offer!

Oh, and a quick personal recommendation if you find the cafe in the Portrait Gallery too crowded (it’s the ‘in’ place for meeting up at the moment and can be a bit busy) – we’ve loved Henderson’s Restaurant and Bar for many years – a vegetarian haven in the city centre where you can descend to the cosy basement and find some veggie comfort food.  It’s close enough to pop out and return for more at the Portrait Gallery after lunch.

Go on a hunt for the Best Hot Chocolate in Edinburgh

A great way to keep warm when out and about sightseeing in Edinburgh in January is to start a search for the Best Hot Chocolate in Edinburgh - The List has suggestions for Edinburgh and Glasgow, and we’d love it if you could let us know which one you enjoyed the most.

Visit the street in Edinburgh where it never rains, snows, hails or gets frosty!

A must at any time of year is a visit to Mary Kings Close, a good way to find out more about how the people of Edinburgh’s Old Town lived before the planned expansion of the city to the broad New Town streets.  If you’ve found members of your family tree who were at one time resident in one of the many “closes” (narrow streets and lanes) running off the Royal Mile, then a visit to Mary King’s Close can give you real insight into how people lived in these streets in olden days.  Some of my ancestors lived in the street which used to be called ‘South Back of Canongate’ and is now Holyrood Road (where you can find the offices of The Scotsman as well as Dynamic Earth), so when I visited Mary King’s Close when our son was studying the Royal Mile for his school project, it was fascinating to see the set up of rooms and cramped conditions which would have prevailed at the time when my ancestors lived near by. Visits are by way of small group tours, with a tour guide playing the part of a historical character and telling tales of days gone by – particularly the time when the plague known as the Black Death swept through Europe.

An easy walk from Craigwell Cottage via Campbell’s Close and up the Royal Mile to Mary King’s Close, which you’ll find by the City Chambers and near St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

Celebrate the life of Scotland’s Bard – Burns Night in Edinburgh

Although Robert Burns is primarily associated with Ayrshire, he did visit Edinburgh, and you can find out more about Robert Burns, his life and works at The Writers’ Museum in Lady Stair’s Close off the Royal Mile.  Scots still celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns on 25 January with poetry reading, singing songs, and gathering with friends for a traditional Burns Supper.  While visiting Edinburgh you might like to book a Burns Supper at one of the Restaurants near Craigwell Cottage.  We’re close to Howies Restaurant in Waterloo Place where in January 2012 local writer and broadcaster Alison Craig will be giving reply on behalf of the Lassies and world class piper: Louise Cantara will be playing  – a very reasonable £30 per person. Easy walk from Craigwell Cottage.

Our local on-line magazine “Informed Edinburgh” has published a list of Burns’ Suppers in Edinburgh for January 2012 which includes the others I was going to mention at The Tass and The Whiski Bar as well as a few I hadn’t heard of, so you might like to check their list for more details.

Join the 26 Treasures Project

If immersing yourself in the art and literature of Edinburgh has got you inspired, you might like to spend part of your weekend at another famous and recently refurbished one of Scotland’s public buildings – the National Museum of Scotland which has welcomed over 1 million visitors since it opened again in July 2010.  There’s currently a special project – 26 Treasures which runs until Burns’ Night on the 25 January 2012.  Find out how to join in the 26 Treasures Project and see the 26 Treasures on-line.  That’s one we’re hoping to be able to visit ourselves.

The National Museum of Scotland is also easy to walk to from Craigwell Cottage, but if you’ve young children with you on your weekend in Edinburgh, then the Lothian Buses 35 service might just help you get back to base after you’ve spent hours and hours in the Museum.  This is one place of the many places you definitely won’t finish exploring in one weekend, and you’ll hopefully want to come back again for another weekend with us.

We do hope you’ve enjoyed reading our selection of things to do on a January weekend break in Edinburgh.  We hope it’s encouraged you to come and visit us at Craigwell Cottage.  In January 2012 we’re reducing the price of our remaining weekend breaks to £275 for accommodation which sleeps up to 4.  Here are the weekends we have on offer:

20 – 23 January 2012 – 3 night weekend break at £275 – book now

27 – 30 January 2012 – 3 night weekend break at £275 – book now

If you’ve visited Edinburgh in January and have other great suggestions which we could include for next year, we’d love it if you’d leave a comment for us.

And if you can’t visit in January, but would like to find out more about dates for Festivals in Edinburgh 2012, then our friends over at Edinburgh Spotlight have put together a handy list of all the Edinburgh Festivals 2012.

Slainte Mhath!

Address: 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE (on left hand side as you head towards Edinburgh Castle – Telephone: 0131 550 0441

Website: http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScotchWhiskyExperience

Twitter: @ScotchWhiskyExp

Restaurant: http://www.amber-restaurant.co.uk (Telephone: 0131 477 8400)

Scotland is known the world over for its production of Scotch Whisky, which is a major export for Scotland. The main markets as of 2011 are USA, France and Singapore. (Source: BBC News)

If time is tight on your visit to Scotland and you don’t have time to visit one of the many distilleries around the country which offer tours, then a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience might prove an excellent alternative.

We have had guests at Craigwell Cottage who have come to Edinburgh to enjoy one of the Scotch Whisky Certificate Courses which are run monthly throughout the year, but you may choose to pay a visit for one of the three different tours which run frequently each day.

As a result of hearing about our guests’ experiences, and a chance meeting with Lara Dunston, a world travel blogger, I decided to pay a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience after the attraction had kindly hosted a Travel Tweetup in September 2011 and given me a couple of complimentary tickets to go on a tour.

At this point I have a confession to make.  Despite being Scottish, I don’t think I have ever sampled neat whisky more than a few times in my life, and can confirm that these times have been restricted to tastes of my Orcadian Uncle’s favourite tipple, Highland Park, or as a liqueur in the form of Drambuie, which I do like over ice.   And what’s more, I’ve committed whisky sacrilege by using up our supplies of whisky miniatures making our annual batch of mulled wine.  I feel better for these confessions – you know that any comments on the tour and the tastings are not being done from any past history of enjoying or knowing anything about whisky.

As I was going on the tour to represent the point of view of ‘ignorance of the product’, I thought it would be a good idea to bring along someone whom I know enjoys the odd dram or two.  I can tell he does because I’ve seen photographs on his daily photo blog on Blipfoto, where the subject often turns to which whisky he’s been sampling (whether a wee dram from a miniature; quaffing different samples in the pub or even taking his samples abroad and in my favourite blip of all time: a cold night on the Royal Mile).

So in early November 2011, Mr G and I set off to sample the delights of the Scotch Whisky Experience tour.  I knew that I’d selected the right man for the job when he sent me a message the night before saying that he was practising!

We arrived at the Scotch Whisky Experience a few minutes early and took the opportunity to have a little browse in the well stocked shop by the entrance.  There were plenty of gifts and cards of good quality to buy as well as whisky and whisky-related goods.  My companion became quite animated at the sight of a range of whiskies which were from the ‘Flora and Fauna’ range. He explained these were small batches of single malts released by producers who normally do not retail single malts, but usually provide the component malts for the production of blended whiskies.  Blends comprise over 90% of the global sales of whisky.

We were soon off on our tour, starting with a barrel ride where we learned about the ingredients which go into a single malt – barley, water and yeast.  We did observe that there was perhaps a missed opportunity in this area to present photographs of the beauty of the Scottish countryside where the barley is grown.

Our next stop was to learn about the different regions of production throughout Scotland, and the characteristic flavours and scents pertinent to each region.  In doing this we were able to identify which notes were most appealing to us and had the opportunity to select a sample to taste.

Mr G was soon armed with a peaty Islay malt, and I selected a floral Speyside.  We moved to the room housing the Claive Vidiz collection – the world’s largest collection of Scotch whisky, where my companion was like a wee boy in a sweetie shop as he took some of the details of this vast collection.  In fact we could quite easily have spent a lot longer in this area poring over the labels, bottles and different varieties.

We were instructed in how to taste and savour the whisky we’d selected, and I can report that the AnCnoc which I’d selected was wonderful – I’m completely won over with the idea that there is definitely a whisky to suit every palette.  However,  Mr G’s selection smelled altogether less appealing, although very distinctive.  Even from yards away his selection was reeking like a fireman’s jacket, and I had real difficulty in understanding how he could actually swallow the stuff.  But that’s the lesson learned, and a great opportunity to find out more about our national drink.

I’d definitely recommend a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience to visitors who want to understand more about whisky before making a purchase to take home, or who would be interested in whiling away a couple of hours sipping some additional samples by extending their tour – either formally, or informally in the well stocked bar of the Amber Restaurant where I could quite easily have spent the rest of the afternoon.

Other ideas to try:

• Glenkinchie Distillery (near Pencaitland, only 20 miles from Edinburgh)
• Scotch Whisky Association
• Rabbie’s Day Tour from Edinburgh

Taking a city break in Edinburgh for the August Bank Holiday weekend means that you’ll have plenty of activities to choose from, with our top attractions like Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Zoo, Royal Yacht Britannia and the Royal Mile. But if you’d like to try a host of different activities, we’ve put together a little list to suggest some different ideas for you.

Ten things to do in Edinburgh – 26 – 29 August 2011

1. Visit the Elizabeth Blackadder Exhibition at the National Gallery of Scotland.
2. Go to a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
3. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is staging its final events of the year this weekend
4. Find a haven of peace in the city by visiting the Royal Botanic Garden
5. Have fun at the Free Fringe on the Royal Mile or Mound Precinct
6. Go for afternoon tea – the Signet Library is only open from 5 – 29 August for a very elegant Champagne Afternoon Tea
7. Visit the Camera Obscura
8. Go underground and find out about Edinburgh’s Old Town life at Mary King’s Close
9. Climb a hill – we’re right between Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill
10. Debate the future of the web at Edinburgh Tech Festival.

We’d love to welcome you to Edinburgh!

Before our first review assignment

Last year, we were stepping into the great unknown, wondering how we would get on reviewing shows, and perhaps keeping to relatively safe choices as it was our first year as reviewers.

This year, our review team is of course all a little older, and the challenge to find shows aimed at the right level is proving a little more tricky. The transition from childhood to the teenage years means that our elder reviewer, at age 13, is eager to try more ‘adult’ shows, while our younger reviewer at age 9 is happy to see shows which satisfy his curiosity and love of magic and science.

All of our reviews can be found over at Edinburgh Spotlight, but here are links to the first few for you.

The Amazing Bubble Man (USA) – The Amazing Bubble Show (C too) – read review

Comedy Club 4 Kids (The Bongo Club) – read review

I Hate Children Children’s Show – Bad Magician (Zoo Southside) – read review

Nunsense – American High School Theatre Festival (Pilrig Studios) – read review

If you’re staying at Craigwell Cottage, you’ll have access to free wi-fi and many of our guests find it helpful for keeping up to date with their emails or booking tickets for events while they’re here.

Apps for Edinburgh

If you’re an iPhone user, then there are some Edinburgh Apps which you might like to download ready for your visit.

Edinburgh Spotlight’s iEdinburgh app gives you an insider’s view on places to eat, current events and perennial favourites around Scotland’s capital city – you’ll even find a review of Craigwell Cottage in there.

The EdinBus app provides up to the minute information about bus timetables.

Getting last minute tickets at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and Fringe was made more exciting by the Theatre Ninjas app – great if you’re in town and want to take in a show.

And if you’re an Ian Rankin fan and would like to take narrated walks round the Edinburgh featured in his novels, then the Ian Rankin’s Edinburgh app is the one for you.

The Walking Through Time app developed as a joint project between Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, and the National Library of Scotland overlays historic maps on present day ones so that you can see historic changes as you walk round the centre of Edinburgh.

Do you have a favourite app for your mobile phone which you’ve used when visiting Edinburgh?  Leave me a comment and I’ll check it out.

I’m excited to see that the Granturismo Project being undertaken by Lara Dunston and Terry Carter will culminate in the two globe-trotting travel writers spending two weeks in Edinburgh in January 2011. They’ve chosen a great property in Edinburgh’s historic New Town to base their stay.

Over the course of the last year, it’s been entertaining to dip in and out of their posts to see what their latest adventure or discovery has been as they make their way slowly around the Globe, staying in vacation rental homes in each of their destinations. Self-catering holiday property stays are favoured by more and more travellers who like the options to eat out or eat in, get up late, or get up early – in short to enjoy freedom to relax and enjoy slowing down and remembering to savour cultural and local highlights wherever they choose to spend their precious days away from normal routine.

I look forward to seeing what culinary discoveries they make when exploring Edinburgh – they’ll be able to buy a great range of Scotland’s best produce at the weekly Edinburgh Farmers’ Market, and I’m sure they’ll be sampling haggis, whisky and shortbread. A personal favourite would also be a trip to Clark’s Fishmongers in Musselburgh. Where else in Edinburgh do you think we should recommend they visit to source local delicacies?

Clark's Musselburgh

St Giles Cathedral

While you are on holiday here, I wonder how you will tell your friends about your travels and adventures? Times are certainly changing in the way that we communicate with our friends as we travel. If, like me, you’re active on Facebook and Twitter, you’re probably posting photographs and little snippets of information about your travels – texting or sending emails from your smartphone or using the Sodasnap app to send little virtual postcards to friends and family.

But back in the 1700′s when visitors came to Edinburgh, if they wanted to tell others about their travels they would send letters about their adventures, which would have taken weeks to arrive and been carried by a variety of means involving stage coaches and horses.

One such traveller was a gentleman named Edward Topham who came to Edinburgh in 1774 and wrote letters to his friends in London telling tales of what he found here. The Edinburgh World Heritage site has recently put together a series of small video clips about the Edinburgh Adventures of Edward Topham which are most entertaining. They’ve been filmed on location around Edinburgh and are an interesting insight into the world of the traveller to Edinburgh in those times.

How will you record your visit to Edinburgh? Do you think people of the future will be writing about your letters, diaries, blogs, photographs or video clips in 200 years time?

Thanks to the folks at Informed Edinburgh, I’ve just been reading about of a walking route which follows the trail of ancient pilgrimages from Edinburgh to St Andrews. A book by Cameron Black called ‘The Saint Andrew’s Way – Restoration of a Medieval Pilgrimage’ is due to be released. You can obtain copies by emailing standrewsway@ymail.com

With excellent public transport routes from Edinburgh to Fife, Craigwell Cottage might just be a possible base for walkers who come to Edinburgh to start the walk and intend to walk it in sections. And even a stay at Sandcastle Cottage, our lovely seaside home in Fife, might be an alternative base for those wishing to walk sections of the Fife part of the walk.

I’ve entered the competition to win a guide, but it will be going on my Christmas wish list too! Would be great training for next year’s Edinburgh Moonwalk which I’ll be walking towards during 2011.

St Andrews Cathedral

Dan from Potted Panto with McNaughton Family Reviewers

Our 2edinburgh blog is designed to give a flavour for things to do and places to go when visiting Craigwell Cottage, our little city centre cottage (with parking) right in the heart of the city of Edinburgh.

We occasionally review special events and happenings in Edinburgh, but as a family we’re not able to cover a vast range of different types of event, preferring to focus on little news items about permanent attractions or events which are annual occurrences in the Edinburgh calendar.

This year, our family was given the opportunity to undertake a very special assignment – that of guest reviewers at some Festival Fringe performances on behalf of the review site Edinburgh Spotlight. We were very excited to be asked, and as soon as the Fringe Programme was issued we pored over it working out and planning which shows we would ask to review, and fitting reviews in as best we could with other holiday activities we had planned.

As first time reviewers we really had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for, but the owners of Edinburgh Spotlight were very helpful and patient with us, explaining what would be required. We also opted to go to some shows simply as ‘the audience’ so that we could relax and enjoy them without having to exercise our critical faculties.

Our first reviews of CBBC’s Dan and Jeff in Potted Panto, and the West End Glee Club have now been published, and you can find our other reviews by following the links below We hope you enjoy sharing our experiences.

Hairspray

Sausage & Samosa

Dr Bunhead is Volcano Head

Azincourt performed by Willington School

James Campbell’s Comedy and Song for Kids

Things that go…bump, rattle, klunk, cackle, woo!

Water Babies – Stage Stars Young Actors Company

Fabulous Female A-Capella – In the Pink

Dandelion’s Story – Modl Theatre

Shipwrecked – The Amazing Tale of Louis de Rougemont as told by Himself

Time-Tastical Productions – Dr Austin and Sparks in Space

Indefinite Articles – Pinocchio

Thanks Edinburgh Spotlight for this opportunity to experience so much of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010.

Came across this little publication by Kerry Nelson

Kerry Nelson's Pocket Guide to Edinburgh Walks