I flew into/ out of EDI - I took the airport bus #100 to/from the airport – it’s easy to find the pick up location when you exit the airport. Tapped my credit card to buy a return ticket. The terminal stop is across from the Scott monument, in front of the T.J Maxx store. It takes about 30 minutes.
On my last day I travelled back to EDI in the morning - I decided to stay at a downtown hotel and had an early morning departure to the airport.
I took the commuter train to Glasgow Queen station to/ from Glasgow – about 5 stops between the cities and takes 55 minutes – you need to scan your ticket to get on the platform and when you leave station. They scan your tickets during the train journey. The train has shelving above the seats for your suitcase. There is free ScotRail wi-fi.
What I did in EDI
My flight arrived early at about 6 am, Sunday. By the time I got into EDI it was about 7:30am. I found my hotel in the New Town and left my luggage there. Then I walked across the bridge to the Royal Mile and walked down and up the lower half of the Royal Mile. I stopped at the TI to get a map and asked about which bus to take to Dean Village (#77). When I got to the Dean area, I missed the turn to find the path and did a lot of back tracking. There is a simple sign that says Dean Path on one of the side streets – I assumed that was the name of the street - I was very, very jetlagged – I didn’t sleep at all on my overnight flight.
The path along the Dean is very picturesque and when you get to the village there are many quaint, beautiful buildings to look at. I’m sure the people that live in those houses must be tired of the gawking tourists taking photos. I would have liked to walk more in the area but I was so tired I was stumbling. I took the bus back to the town centre, checked into my hotel and had to sleep for a few hours.
On Monday I walked around the New Town and the rest of the Royal Mile. I loved walking up and down the many wynds/ closes along the Royal Mile. My favourite is Pirrie’s Close – the lane way is decorated with iron work grilles in many different designs. I booked an online ticket to see St. Giles and was expecting that there would be a guided tour to go along with it but it isn’t the case or did I misunderstand? – it seems to be another way to encourage a donation. At Edinburgh Castle I had pre-booked a 3 pm entrance ticket and bought an audio guide on entrance – it was worthwhile and is narrated by several Scots. It’s a huge place and still busy at that time – there was a long but moving line-up to see the Scottish crown jewels. That afternoon was the sunniest day while I was there.
The third day (Tuesday) I took a Rabbie’s tour- St. Andrews and the Fishing Villages of Fife. It was nice to rest my legs. The bus station is a 3 minute walk from the hotel. There are two brief stops in Elsnie (?) and Anstruther before it arrives in St Andrews. On Tuesdays the fisheries museum in Anstruther is closed. You get about three hours in St. Andrew’s – the bus drops you off near the West Sands Beach/ St Andrews’s golf course. The tide was very low when we arrived so I walked along the beach for about 20 minutes and then walked to centre of town to get lunch. I had haddock and chips at Cromar’s. It was delicious and the fish so tender and tasty - too hot to eat when it was brought to my table. Afterwards I walked to the ruins of St Andrew’s cathedral. I was disappointed- I’ve seen the ruins of Tintern Abbey and Fountains Abbey in England and St Andrews doesn’t have the dramatic view of first seeing them as you walk down into the valley. Also, most of the ruins that are tall walls/ towers are fenced off due to safety concerns. Many church tombstones are fenced off too as there is the risk of them toppling over. When I walked back I looked at the quadrangle of St. Andrews University (St Salvador’s). I misunderstood when we needed to be back at the bus and short changed myself by 30 minutes.