Journal

March Around Edinburgh

After flying in the night before from Paphos, Cyprus, for our destination wedding at Mansfield Traquair, we woke up to the most glorious March spring day. Full sunshine and only a wisp of fluffy clouds in the perfect blue sky. There were puddles on the ground from previous rain, but we had the weather and a full day to explore. What a day to pick to see the fabulous city of Edinburgh in Scotland — it made the city shine.

Aerial view of Edinburgh Castle on its rocky crag above the city skyline

A Scottish spring day

We were photographing a destination wedding the day after at the stunning Mansfield Traquair in the city. We will be doing a journal on that in the very near future.

Edinburgh Castle

We visited Edinburgh Castle, set high upon a hill called Castle Rock that dominates the city skyline. The hill was once a volcano — now dormant, thankfully. There has been a castle here since the 12th century, and the first King of Scotland to be based here was David I.

Greyfriars Bobby

Also on our itinerary was a visit to Greyfriars Bobby — a wee Skye terrier who pined at his master's graveside in the nearby cemetery for a supposed 14 years in the 1870s. A small monument to the dog marks the spot. Don't rub his nose!

Statue silhouetted against blue sky in Princes Street Gardens, with Edinburgh Castle behind

The Elephant House

We could not come to this amazing city without a visit to The Elephant House. The gourmet tea and coffee house has been made even more famous by JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. Ian Rankin also wrote his Rebus novels here. The loos are a particular feature.

The Halfway House

Another pub we had to visit is the city's smallest, The Halfway House. A tiny one-room pub off steep steps, partly carpeted, partly tiled, with a few small tables and high-backed settles, lots of drinks, four well-kept Scottish ales, a good range of malt whiskies and friendly staff.

Mary King's Close

We also visited Mary King's Close — Edinburgh's deepest secret; a warren of hidden streets frozen in time since the 17th century. A fascinating place that you could get lost in.

Edinburgh Castle seen through bare winter branches from Princes Street Gardens

A special mention to the owners of ROCKS BY ROCKMAN, who very kindly helped me with my belt. They make stunning, unique leather notepads and other items — if you are in the city, please take a look.

Cocktails and curry

We ended the day with cocktails. In the heart of Edinburgh sits Juniper Bar — a vibrant, sophisticated cocktail bar serving an eclectic menu with a mix of old and new. Then more cocktails and a trip to the famous Heads & Tales Gin Bar — home to Edinburgh Gin and their distillery, with creative gin cocktails shaken by mixologists in a bar with timber ceilings and smart armchairs.

We ended the night with a great curry with good friends who kindly put us up for the stay — ready for the wedding the next day.

Ornate iron archway and lamp leading to a turreted stone building in Edinburgh's Old Town

Gilded hanging pub sign above tall sandstone buildings in Edinburgh's Old Town

Gothic church spire rising between sunlit tenement buildings in Edinburgh

Looking up at an ornate carved stone facade and lamp post in Edinburgh

Black-and-white street view of a busy Edinburgh street leading to a church tower

Stone pub and tower glimpsed past blurred iron railings in Edinburgh's Old Town

Greyfriars Bobby pub sign with hanging flower baskets, Edinburgh

Ivy and a hanging lantern against a stone building, looking up in Edinburgh's Old Town

Bronze Greyfriars Bobby statue in front of the Greyfriars Bobby pub, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle beyond bare trees and old stone tenements on a sunny day

Washroom at The Elephant House café covered in handwritten graffiti, with an elephant painting

Close-up of graffiti on a washroom wall, including a "Viva Harry Potter" message

Photographer taking a mirror selfie in a graffiti-covered café washroom

Black-and-white view of a café interior with a counter sign and customers seated by the window

Narrow toilet cubicle at The Elephant House café with every wall covered in fan messages

Graffiti-covered washroom with a mirror, sink and framed picture, in warm light

Smiling older couple posing together inside an Edinburgh café

Red shopfront sign of The Elephant House café on an Edinburgh street, seen from below

Tall Gothic church spire rising against a deep blue sky in Edinburgh

Woman posing with a furry white monster costume performer on the castle esplanade

Street performer in a shaggy white monster costume pulling a scary face near Edinburgh Castle

Woman walking across the esplanade towards Edinburgh Castle on a sunny day

Gatehouse of Edinburgh Castle with statues and a crown-topped lamp post

Stone statue in a niche on the wall of the Edinburgh Castle gatehouse

Bridge walkway leading towards the city skyline and Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

Statue on a tall stone plinth beneath bare trees and blue sky, Edinburgh

Gothic spires of an Edinburgh church looming over old Royal Mile buildings

Hanging flower baskets and a shop sign on a sunlit Old Town street, Edinburgh

Black-and-white view down an empty street towards a grand domed building, Edinburgh

St Giles' Cathedral crown spire beside a bronze sculpted face on the Royal Mile

Black-and-white view of St Giles' Cathedral beside a bronze sculpted face, Edinburgh

Statue on a carved plinth in front of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh

Ornate Gothic stonework and towers seen from below in Edinburgh's Old Town

Market stall packed with leather satchels and notebooks, its stallholder peeking out

Leather satchels and colourful notebooks on a market stall with a rocksbyrockman sign

Smiling stallholder surrounded by leather bags and journals at an Edinburgh market stall

Street signs for Mary King's Close and a tattoo office on a stone wall, Edinburgh

Black-and-white close-up of a miniature model of old Edinburgh rooftops

Historic oil painting of Edinburgh Castle on its rock beneath a dramatic sky

Dark narrow close lit by a single blue light, Edinburgh Old Town

Narrow stone alleyway between tall buildings leading to a bridge, Edinburgh

Black-and-white narrow close with graffiti on the walls, Edinburgh

Red-painted traditional pub front with hanging baskets beside a stone stairway

Waverley Station's glass roof with the Balmoral Hotel beyond under blue sky, Edinburgh

Scott Monument seen through bare trees in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

Kilted bagpiper playing on Princes Street with the Scott Monument behind

Balmoral Hotel clock tower framed by Victorian buildings and a lamp post, Edinburgh

Dugald Stewart Monument on Calton Hill among bare trees and gorse

Nelson Monument tower on Calton Hill seen from below through branches

View across Edinburgh rooftops to Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags

Arthur's Seat beyond yellow gorse and city houses, seen from Calton Hill

National Monument columns on Calton Hill beside a large bare tree at sunset

Black-and-white view of the Dugald Stewart Monument overlooking Edinburgh

Dugald Stewart Monument reflected in a rain puddle on Calton Hill

Afternoon tea with a glass teapot and smoking dry-ice cups on a wooden board

Glass teacups, a teapot and a strawberry dessert on a wooden serving board

Woman standing by a window in a hotel room hung with large framed paintings

Edinburgh Castle above Princes Street Gardens with blossom trees in spring

Royal Scots Greys equestrian statue framed by blurred railing spikes, Princes Street

Edinburgh Castle on its rock at dusk, framed by bare branches

Black-and-white view of the Ross Fountain framed through an iron arch, Edinburgh

Aerial view of Edinburgh Castle and the city stretching to the horizon

Black-and-white shot of a woman descending steep stone steps to a basement entrance

Woman in a hat smiling at the doorway of Edinburgh Gin beside a tours sign

Copper gin still glowing under green light inside the Edinburgh Gin distillery

Close-up of copper distilling equipment and gauges at Edinburgh Gin

Vaulted cellar bar with red leather booths and pink lighting

Edinburgh Gin sign in a blue-lit vaulted bar lined with bottles

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman in a hat beside a sugar-skull mural

Bartender in a red T-shirt flipping a bottle behind a neon-lit bar

Black-and-white shot of a bartender mid-flair with a cocktail shaker

Friends standing outside The Spice Pavilion restaurant entrance in Edinburgh

Loupedeck photo editing console on a dark background

Double-exposure silhouette of a couple holding hands at sunset, Wokefield Park, UK

Bride and groom laughing as guests shower them with confetti at Liopetro, Kouklia

Couple framed in a doorway under the Milky Way, surrounded by glowing bokeh lights, Liopetro

Charlene and Ben twirling on a country lane between dry grass at Liopetro, Kouklia

Bride beside a white vintage convertible as the groom leans on it at sunset, Liopetro

Jade and Ian beneath the floodlit entrance of Hedsor House at night, UK

Jade and Peter walking hand in hand along a white vaulted corridor at Anassa, Cyprus

Emily and Chris silhouetted against a blue and orange sunset sky, bouquet raised, at Minthis, Paphos

Bride and groom silhouetted against a fiery sunset, her long veil flowing, at Alassos