Edinburgh - Whiskey and Wine

Our second day in Edinburgh started with a nice sleep in to take advantage of no flatties! After a extensive breakfast in the hotel we went to the information centre and purchased a Royal Edinburgh ticket which covers 48 hours of travel on the 4 hop-on hop-off buses plus entry to the Castle, Holyrood Palace and The Royal Britannia.

We started from Waverly Station with the Edinburgh Tour bus on a 1 hour circuit of the city with live commentary. Our guide, Kay, was a very knowledgeable if slightly crazy Scotswoman. We stayed on the bus for part of a second circuit to get to Edinburgh Castle.

The Castle is awesome with panoramic views over the city. The weather was so clear we could see out past the city to the Firth of Fourth. The oldest surviving part of the castle is from the twelfth century with lots of additions over the years like new walls and cannon batteries. We spent around 2 hours wandering around the castle taking in the Scottish Crown Jewels (The Honours) , the Great Hall and going deep into the castle to the old prisons.

Our bodies have by this time eased into a pattern of eating just breakfast and dinner with an afternoon pot of tea. So we stopped for nice hot tea, which is served in the UK in litre sized mugs, and lemon shortbread. After this we headed off to The Scotch Whiskey Experience.

It was pretty cheesy but started well with a free dram of whiskey in a souvenir glass. The Experience ends with a ride that traces the history of whiskey and then it's time to hit the whiskey bar! We told the barman that we were Bourbon drinkers so were recommended 3 whiskeys to try - Monkey Shoulder (a 3 malt blend), Cameron Brig ( a single grain) and The Balvene (a single malt matured in port barrels).

After heading home for a change of clothes we decided to treat ourselves to a traditional Scottish meal at Dubh Prais (pronounced 'Doo Prash'), a lovely romantic restaurant in a cellar off the Royal Mile. The food was really fantastic, you'd be proud of me Mum as I had the haggis! It was served fried in oatmeal with a whiskey and leek sauce and I was surprised to find it was absolutely delicious. Jonathan had the potato and leek soup. For our mains Amelia had chicken and Jonathan had Angus beef. The food was so good, and encouraged by a bottle of Spanish wine, we went into the kitchen to thank the chef who seemed genuinely delighted.

We staggered home in the cold across the North Bridge, half pissed but feeling warm and content inside.