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The Royal Mile, Edinburgh .. Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh .. Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh .. Edinburgh at sunset .. Princes street at night, Edinburgh ..

Edinburgh

Things to do in Edinburgh

When you visit Scotland, make sure you set aside at least a day to visit Edinburgh, our capital city. There are so many amazing things to do in Edinburgh that a trip here should certainly be in your itinerary. The distance from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond is around 70 miles, meaning it only takes about an hour and a half to drive there from your luxury lodge.

Morning in Edinburgh

If you set off nice and early, you can enjoy a morning coffee in Edinburgh’s Old Town. This is the oldest part of the city, with many ancient buildings. Including Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace at either end of the Royal Mile. Take it all in and buy yourself a coffee from one of the many vendors in the city. Then enjoy a seat in Princes Street Gardens. Here you can catch a wonderful view of the castle, as well as be moments away from Edinburgh’s main shopping area. 

In Edinburgh, you can shop in the likes of John Lewis, Jenners and Harvey Nichols. Edinburgh also has plenty of small, quirky independent shops worth a visit too. These include ANTA for Scottish apparel,  I.J Mellis Cheesemonger for outstanding artisan cheese, and Mr. Woods Fossils for a step back in time and own some dinosaur pre-history. Once your shopping is done, be sure to visit Mary’s Milk Bar for exquisite ice cream!

Afternoon Adventures

It’s impossible to pack everything to do in Edinburgh into one day. But here are some ideas that you might love.

Explore the hidden depths of the city and travel back in time with the Real Mary King’s Close. This is a well-preserved 400-year-old street underneath Edinburgh that was built over to create the city we know today. It’s definitely worth a visit.

The Camera Obscura and World of Illusions sits next door to the castle, and is a wonderful place to spend time. It’s great for kids and adults alike who enjoy science and, well, cool stuff. The best part if the great view at the top and you get to use the camera obscura itself. 

If you are looking to get an overview of Edinburgh – and some healthy exercise to work off the ice cream – take a stroll up Arthur’s Seat. This is the extinct volcano in the middle of the city which Is easy for people of good mobility and health to climb. At the top, you get amazing views over the city, towards Fife and East Lothian. You could even continue over to Duddingston and visit the oldest pub in Scotland, the Sheep Heid Inn. King James VI of Scotland and his mum, Mary Queen of Scots, both visited here!

Evening Sessions

When evening sets in, no matter the time of year, Edinburgh is a wonderful place to relax. If you’d like a glass of something nice in your hand, there are plenty of pubs along Rose Street. This runs just behind Princes Street. Or, why not take in a performance? Edinburgh has plenty of theatres to choose from, including the Playhouse and the Festival Theatre. 

This still leaves plenty of time for the drive back to Loch Lomond from Edinburgh where you can put your feet up in our lovely lodges and relax after a busy but fun day! There are so many other things to do in Edinburgh, you might have to visit again soon!

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  • A magical getaway

    'It is not at all a surprise that you are fully booked.  If there is one place in the world we would like to be this summer, that place is Loch Lomond Waterfront Lodges, and I’m sure the only people who don’t share this passion are those, who simply have never been there. What a magical getaway and a retreat you have created! Thank you for that.'

  • Such a beautiful setting

    'Myself and my partner recently stayed in Drummond Lodge (from 21-24 Feb) and we just wanted to say thank you so much for a lovely stay. We loved our lodge, it was like a home from home, and we really didn’t want to leave! It was spotlessly clean and in such a beautiful setting. All the staff we met were really friendly. We also loved Balmaha, what a wonderful village. So thank you very much! We are the couple that took Flynn for a walk and we took this photo of him... we thought you’d appreciate a copy. Thanks once again...

  • 40th celebration

    'My husband and I came here to celebrate my 40th birthday and we truly had a magnificent time. There was everything that you needed in your accommodation even washing liquid and conditioner for the washing machine. The hot tub and steam room were a real highlight as well as the living log fire.'

  • Outstanding

    'Chef in a lodge was outstanding. The food was excellent as was the service. Superb evening.'

  • Our own private beach

    'Just walking along the West Highland way path past some of the crowded beaches made us realise the value of having your own private waterfront onto the loch.  I can still picture walking down to the lochside on our first evening and watching an osprey dive for a fish!'

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