Until this year, I’d never been to a Michelin starred restaurant before (I’m a budget travel gal remember). So, imagine my delight when my friend booked us into a vegan menu sitting at The Kitchin, Edinburgh’s famous Michelin restaurant on Leith waterfront. Despite their wonderful vegan offering, I couldn’t find a menu example on their website, so I wanted to write a post (with photos) to show everyone what they served us on the day. Spoiler Alert: It was DELICIOUS! The Kitchin Restaurant by Tom Kitchin Before I begin, I’d like to mention that a photo of the full vegan menu we were given on the day is included at…
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Darnley’s Spiced Gin: Easy festive gin cocktail recipe
Have you tried Darnley’s Spiced Gin? With travel on hold, I’ve been keeping closer to home, exploring the nooks and crannies of Edinburgh and sampling a lot more of Scotland’s home-grown products. This is exactly how I discovered Darnley’s and their new Hot Gin Punch. Darnley’s Gin distillery in Scotland The Darnley’s name was inspired by Mary Queen of Scot’s first introduction to Lord Darnley at Wemyss Castle. The elderflower growing wild around the castle was what influenced the first Darnley’s Gin recipe. The Wemyss family opted to build their Scottish gin distillery in the village of Kingsbarn, Fife, transforming a derelict farm cottage into their current visitor centre. Using…
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Plant Bae Edinburgh | Vegan and vegetarian cafe
Plant Bae is a vegan and vegetarian cafe in the West End of Edinburgh, a mere stones throw away from the center’s smaller Haymarket train station. It’s an impressive pint-sized addition to Edinburgh’s growing list of vegan-friendly cafes; a trendy little spot to enjoy a weekend brunch or a casual coffee. You can find even more inspiration in my vegan breakfast in Edinburgh post. Pretty cafes in Edinburgh With its little pastel coloured booths and neat rows of bar-stooled benches, Plant Bae reminds me of the small (but fashionable) fast-food vegan cafes you might find hidden amongst the streets Berlin or Milan. Plant Bae Edinburgh menu In a somewhat inconvenient…
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How to climb Fyrish Monument on the NC500
Fyrish Monument is an unusual stone structure that can be reached by a 2 hour climb via Jubilee Path. The walk begins from a free car park surrounded by pine forest.
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How to get to Wailing Widow Falls, Loch na Gainmhich
The Wailing Widow Falls is a spectacular waterfall in the Scottish Highlands that can be viewed from both above and below. The 50ft falls spill out over the cliff from Loch na Gainmhich, crashing into a narrow canyon at the bottom. The Wailing Widow Waterfall was one of my ‘must see’ spots on our NC500 tour (check out my 4-day itinerary here). I came across it by chance whilst scrolling through Scottish Instagram feeds and chatting to photographers who’d already done the popular road trip. Big Waterfalls in Scotland There are loads of big waterfalls in Scotland, the highest waterfall in Scotland (and the UK) is actually located just a short…
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NC500 Scotland 4 Day Itinerary
Whilst planning our NC500 Scotland 4 day itinerary, it was proving difficult to find a post that listed accommodation and the best things to see all in one place. There’s so much about the famous Scottish Highlands road trip to cover, and most websites involved a lot of scrolling and jumping from page to page. In this post, I’ve tried to break our NC 500 route down into days, whilst including the accommodation we used along the way. NC500 Scotland Route Planner So, the big question first, “Which way to go?” Although most people go West to East, we went East to West (starting in Inverness and working our way…
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Sustainable Travel on the Isle of Arran
The Isle of Arran is the ideal place to take a break (regardless of whether you’re a Scottish local or new visitor to the country). Being one of Scotland’s larger islands, there’s plenty of things to do in Arran; with its proximity to the mainland meaning those short on time can visit most of the main attractions without feeling rushed. As the conversation around climate change increases, we see more and more Eco-conscious explorers looking for ways to minimise their carbon footprint. With that thought, here’s my top recommendations for a several days in Arran; including how to get around, what to do and where to eat … How to…
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The Field House Airbnb Scottish Highlands Cottage
Did you spot the cool little Airbnb Scottish Highlands cottage over on my Instagram? I’m forever trawling Airbnb Scotland for hidden gems; cool and unusual Scottish accommodation that you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere else. I love finding rustic little sheds, abandoned trains, traveller caravans, etc. that have been lovingly restored into quirky small-scale places to lay your head for the night. And Scotland has loads of them! Our cottage style Airbnb in Fort Augustus Scotland For our trip to Loch Ness, famous for both its monster (I’ve never seen it) and its sheer size, we decided to check out Airbnb in Fort Augustus. The tiny little village sits…
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Unusual Edinburgh accommodation: Sleep in a jail with CODE Pod Hostel
CODE Pod Hostel opened its door for the first time in Edinburgh’s old town at the start of August 2019. A refurbished former court house and jail on the famous Edinburgh Royal Mile, it promises to bring the capital city of Scotland up to speed with the boutique hostel market. Flash-packing in Edinburgh never felt so good! Want cool free things to do in Edinburgh? Take a look at my post: 100 Free Things to do in Edinburgh The Court by CODE Pod Hostels Location With its cobblestone roads and towering tight closes, Edinburgh’s old town is one of the most desirable accommodation spots for tourists. CODE Pod Hostel is…
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The Secret Scottish Pyramid in Cairngorms National Park
Tourists flock to Scotland for its famous crumbling castles, challenging mountain ranges and glorious green landscapes. But something you wouldn’t expect to see hiding amongst the forests of this little Northern European country is a triangular shrine dedicated to the loved one of Queen Victoria; a secret Scottish pyramid! I first heard about the pyramid in Scotland whilst digging around for some off-the-beaten-track style places to hit up on my next trip North. This large monument is actually one of eleven Scottish cairns (man-made pile of stones) commemorating members of the British royal family. Prince Albert’s cairn (the largest) was built after his death in 1861 and now stands proudly…
