Scotland, single malts, and my birthday
Apr 4, 2011, 6:02 pm
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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Scotland, single malts, and my birthday
Hi guys,
At last...I'm fulfilling a long time dream. Will be sipping my favorite single malt sitting at its source, The Macallan on my birthday (first week in May). Have contemplated surviving on nothing but single malts and Walker's Shortbread, but more responsible thoughts prevail.
So....amm looking for suggestions about what to see, where to eat, etc. Here's the full trip schedule:
Edinburgh (four days)
Staying: Sheraton Grand (Festival Square, west of Edinburgh Castle)
Transportation: Ummmm....taxis and by foot?
Train from Edinburgh (Haymarket) to Aberdeen
Pick up rental car at Aberdeen airport
Craigellachie / Aberlour (three days)
Staying: The Dowans
Other than the Precious Tour at The Macallan, my dance card is wide open
Flying out of Aberdeen at the end, sniffling on the plane.
Since I'll have wheels during my days near the Spey, covering a fair amount of territory won't be a problem. Reserved an automatic transmission to be safe (I shudder at the thought of shifting with my left hand).
Fire away, folks. Am wide open to suggestions for both places. Cheers!
(P.S. Yes, I'm missing the Spey Festival by a couple of days, but that's okay. Had trouble getting a hotel room that would garner points if the trip flipped to Aberlour first, Edinburgh last. This way, no crowds, which I'm fine with.)
At last...I'm fulfilling a long time dream. Will be sipping my favorite single malt sitting at its source, The Macallan on my birthday (first week in May). Have contemplated surviving on nothing but single malts and Walker's Shortbread, but more responsible thoughts prevail.
So....amm looking for suggestions about what to see, where to eat, etc. Here's the full trip schedule:
Edinburgh (four days)
Staying: Sheraton Grand (Festival Square, west of Edinburgh Castle)
Transportation: Ummmm....taxis and by foot?
Train from Edinburgh (Haymarket) to Aberdeen
Pick up rental car at Aberdeen airport
Craigellachie / Aberlour (three days)
Staying: The Dowans
Other than the Precious Tour at The Macallan, my dance card is wide open
Flying out of Aberdeen at the end, sniffling on the plane.
Since I'll have wheels during my days near the Spey, covering a fair amount of territory won't be a problem. Reserved an automatic transmission to be safe (I shudder at the thought of shifting with my left hand).
Fire away, folks. Am wide open to suggestions for both places. Cheers!
(P.S. Yes, I'm missing the Spey Festival by a couple of days, but that's okay. Had trouble getting a hotel room that would garner points if the trip flipped to Aberlour first, Edinburgh last. This way, no crowds, which I'm fine with.)
Apr 4, 2011, 6:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Phila, PA
Posts: 891
I always stop here. A bit of 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed here. That was my first impetus to go, after that it's the food!
The Cafe Royal Oyster Bar
19 W Register St Edinburgh EH2 2AA, United Kingdom
0131 556 1884 http://www.caferoyal.org.uk/therestaurant.htm
The Cafe Royal Oyster Bar
19 W Register St Edinburgh EH2 2AA, United Kingdom
0131 556 1884 http://www.caferoyal.org.uk/therestaurant.htm
Last edited by JanePond; Apr 4, 2011 at 6:56 pm Reason: Addendum
Apr 5, 2011, 2:53 am
#3
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At the start of your Edinburgh stay if it's your first trip, do the city bus tour. Good for trying to get your bearings in what can be a slightly disconcerting city.
Apr 5, 2011, 4:48 am
#4
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I do maintain a thread of restaurant reviews which may give you some ideas of where to go eat - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-i...t-reviews.html
There are a number of pubs in Edinburgh which pride themselves on their malt selection. Teuchters Landing down in Leith is one of them - I'll see if I can dig out the leaflet I picked up recently on the others.
The Aberlour area is beautiful - you're in a great part of the country, full of hidden wooden glens and river valleys. There obviously are other distilleries you can go visit in that area. I would also recommend taking a run down to Cairngorm, and the funicular railway up onto the Cairngorm plateau (note, you will not be able to leave the funicular station at the stop, to protect the fragile ecology of the site during the breeding season. But the views - chose a clear day with high cloud base - are spectacular).
The method you've missed out for transport around Edinburgh is bus - Edinburgh has a very good bus network. Fares are fixed fee (1.30 if bought on board, cheaper if you use a ticket machine in advance), or you can buy a day ticket (Ł3.20) which lets you hop on and hop off as you like - great if you feel like you cannot face another slog along Princes St
). More information, routes at www.lothianbuses.com Unlike some cities, everyone uses buses in Edinburgh, so although you get a few weirdos, you'll find a good cross section of the general public on them. Lots of tourists, and the locals are generally happy to help tourists sort out buses as well - there's also a guide here http://lothianbuses.com/component/co...s-buses-g.html
There are a number of pubs in Edinburgh which pride themselves on their malt selection. Teuchters Landing down in Leith is one of them - I'll see if I can dig out the leaflet I picked up recently on the others.
The Aberlour area is beautiful - you're in a great part of the country, full of hidden wooden glens and river valleys. There obviously are other distilleries you can go visit in that area. I would also recommend taking a run down to Cairngorm, and the funicular railway up onto the Cairngorm plateau (note, you will not be able to leave the funicular station at the stop, to protect the fragile ecology of the site during the breeding season. But the views - chose a clear day with high cloud base - are spectacular).
The method you've missed out for transport around Edinburgh is bus - Edinburgh has a very good bus network. Fares are fixed fee (1.30 if bought on board, cheaper if you use a ticket machine in advance), or you can buy a day ticket (Ł3.20) which lets you hop on and hop off as you like - great if you feel like you cannot face another slog along Princes St
). More information, routes at www.lothianbuses.com Unlike some cities, everyone uses buses in Edinburgh, so although you get a few weirdos, you'll find a good cross section of the general public on them. Lots of tourists, and the locals are generally happy to help tourists sort out buses as well - there's also a guide here http://lothianbuses.com/component/co...s-buses-g.html
Last edited by Jenbel; Apr 5, 2011 at 5:03 am
Apr 5, 2011, 4:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Glasgow, UK
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The Canny Man's in Morningside has a fantastic selection of whisky, though the staff can be a little fearsome for some tastes.
Apr 15, 2011, 2:54 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Apr 17, 2011, 9:35 am
#8
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Or St. Andrews. I happened to be there yesterday for the annual Kate Kennedy Procession (this was totally unplanned on my part), but it would have been a nice day trip even without something like that going on.
Apr 17, 2011, 10:05 am
#9
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Great suggestions, everyone--thank you!
@mtkeller, we're on the same page. Am thinking the same thing, depending on whether or not the bank holiday trips me up in Edinburgh. Since planning the trip, I've begun researching our family's Scottish roots--would be great to spend a little time in the Archives, but something tells me they'll be closed three of the four days I'm there. Might help me decide pretty quickly.
@jenbell: I'm impressed by the info about busses. Sounds like a good fit. Thanks, too, for the funicular pointer.
I'm getting SO excited about this....less than two weeks to go....
@mtkeller, we're on the same page. Am thinking the same thing, depending on whether or not the bank holiday trips me up in Edinburgh. Since planning the trip, I've begun researching our family's Scottish roots--would be great to spend a little time in the Archives, but something tells me they'll be closed three of the four days I'm there. Might help me decide pretty quickly.
@jenbell: I'm impressed by the info about busses. Sounds like a good fit. Thanks, too, for the funicular pointer.
I'm getting SO excited about this....less than two weeks to go....
Apr 19, 2011, 6:31 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Here, there and everywhere
Posts: 72
If you are interested in family history and have time in Aberdeen there is the Aberdeen and North East Family History Society http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/ They are an amateur organisation but can do some research in advance if you contact them.
A bit of a diversion on your drive to/from Aberdeen is Balmoral Castle http://www.balmoralcastle.com which is the summer home of the Queen. There are lots of other castles in the area that have better access to the rooms inside and more history but without the present day Royal connection.
Lots of great walks in the area but remember to dress appropriately and carry a map/GPS even if the weather looks OK. It can change very quickly up there!
A bit of a diversion on your drive to/from Aberdeen is Balmoral Castle http://www.balmoralcastle.com which is the summer home of the Queen. There are lots of other castles in the area that have better access to the rooms inside and more history but without the present day Royal connection.
Lots of great walks in the area but remember to dress appropriately and carry a map/GPS even if the weather looks OK. It can change very quickly up there!
Apr 19, 2011, 3:43 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
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If you are interested in family history and have time in Aberdeen there is the Aberdeen and North East Family History Society http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/ They are an amateur organisation but can do some research in advance if you contact them.
Apr 22, 2011, 1:33 pm
#12
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You might have found that a lot of the Scottish records are available online - www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk but to view the records attract charges which soon mount up.
There are basically two places in Edinburgh for records - the General Register Office, which holds the national records (births, deaths, marriages, parish records), and the National Archives of Scotland, which, despite the name, holds more local records.
The Scottish Geneology Society is based in Victoria Terrace, and is an Edinburgh based amateur organisation - that said, I haven't used them, because so far, I'm still working through the official records on my research.
There are basically two places in Edinburgh for records - the General Register Office, which holds the national records (births, deaths, marriages, parish records), and the National Archives of Scotland, which, despite the name, holds more local records.
The Scottish Geneology Society is based in Victoria Terrace, and is an Edinburgh based amateur organisation - that said, I haven't used them, because so far, I'm still working through the official records on my research.
Apr 22, 2011, 3:56 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Tundra Land (MSP)
Programs: DL Plat, DL SkyClub, SPG Plat, HH Diamond, National Emerald Exec
Posts: 269
You might have found that a lot of the Scottish records are available online - www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk but to view the records attract charges which soon mount up.
There are basically two places in Edinburgh for records - the General Register Office, which holds the national records (births, deaths, marriages, parish records), and the National Archives of Scotland, which, despite the name, holds more local records.
The Scottish Geneology Society is based in Victoria Terrace, and is an Edinburgh based amateur organisation - that said, I haven't used them, because so far, I'm still working through the official records on my research.
The Scottish Geneology Society is based in Victoria Terrace, and is an Edinburgh based amateur organisation - that said, I haven't used them, because so far, I'm still working through the official records on my research.
One week to go, and I can hardly wait.
Apr 26, 2011, 11:33 am
#14
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Don't miss the distillery tour at Aberlour, there is a fee and you should reserve, but I felt it was the best distillery tour in all of Scotland (and I've done quite a few of them). As a bonus you can fill and label your own bottle of Cask Strength, Single Cask, Single Malt.