The summer holiday gets all the attention, but really there is something so charming about a wintery escape. As a warm-blooded Australian, come-November my default inclination inclination is to hibernate indoors for weeks on end until, before I know it, December has been and gone. But a wintery mini-break really is the most wonderful excuse to leave one’s cosy cocoon and explore an entirely new place through the glittering lens of the Christmas period.
Besides, I firmly believe that some places – particularly the grand old European cities – are best suited to the grey skies and moody nights of winter. And Edinburgh is just such a place. Despite the Clever Boyfriend and I both having a strong Scottish heritage (dancing a mean highland fling is even one of my secret talents), neither of us had ever set foot in the regal land, so last December we hopped on a plane for an impromptu festive weekend in the Scottish capital.
And truthfully, it couldn’t have felt more perfectly wintery and wonderful. We set off early one Friday morning, had landed and checked in to our chic, nautical suite at the Mailmaison beside the harbour (giant marshmallow beds and whitewashed walls) before lunchtime, and then spent the afternoon exploring the docklands, the teeny-tiny boutiques and the cosy Scottish pubs (nothing like the smell of whisky and the sound of barely-decipherable Scottish accents to make us feel like we were in Edinburgh) before tucking ourselves in for a feast in the hotel’s restaurant (marvellous traditional fare, such as local game and Guinness and treacle tart).
The next day, we relocated to the old town and checked into the Hotel du Vin (think tartan, dim lights and classic highland chic) for a day spent meandering along winding, cobbled streets, popping in and out of cosy little sweet shops and bookstores and tea houses, buying Scotch fudge and tartan scarves as souvenirs along the way. As night fell, we made our way to the wonderful German markets that appear each year for hot apple cider, bratwurst, ice skating and ferris wheel rides to the soundtrack of bagpipes in the distance somewhere. It couldn’t have felt more like Christmas!
Given the eerie grandeur of the old town, we could resist signing up for a midnight ghost tour, so, after supper at the hotel, we set off at the witching hour for a moonlight adventure into the vaults that crisscross deep beneath the city, into ancient cemeteries and down haunted alleyways as the sounds of church bells echoed across the still, dark night.
On Sunday, we climbed up to Edinburgh castle for ancient histories and crown jewels and the most magnificent sweeping views across the whole city, took a trip to the museum, walked the length of the grand Royal Mile, dashed back to the airport and still made it back home in time for bed. What a wonderful, wintery weekend in Scotland it was!
I’d love to hear your recommendations for marvellous wintery weekends away!
Love, Miss B xx
Mailmaison is located at 1 Tower Place, Edinburgh EH6 7BZ and Hotel du Vin is located at 11 Bristo Place, Edinburgh EH1 1EZ. Briony was a happy guest of both hotels.
oh my god really white christmas! my dream place! 🙂
Irene Wibowo
This place looks wonderful!! I love these old towns around christmas. They always look so magical. 🙂
xo Andrea
Wonderful and Marvelous
How beautiful. The hotel looks awesome as well. Oh I think next year it will be finally time for a white Christmas.
Like always your pictures are so beautiful ! May be i’m ciming after december ! see you and thanks again for this post xx
Edinburgh’s fantastic at this time of year. I really love Paris at Christmas too. x
Your pictures are soooooo beautiful! I wish to go there now 🙂 Thank you for the lovely journey through your eyes 🙂
gorgeous photos. looks like a magical place to spend the holiday!
Edinburgh looks magical this time of the year, beautiful pictures! X
ooh the pics are so pretty! My bestie lives in the middle of the city and I can never seem to get enough when I go and visit! Glad you had a good time 🙂 xo
Oh, I absolutely love this post! I spent a semester studying at Edinburgh Uni and I grew quite fond of the city. I wish I could’ve seen it at Christmastime!
And how I long to return.
Beautiful snaps as usual! 🙂
Wow! Great photos! It looks so beautiful there! Definitely need to visit!
xx
Giovanna
http://www.HeyLoveBlog.com
Just started reading your blog and I’m loving it, so optimistic, so cute, so girly and indulgent. I was staying in Cambridge during a glorious summer and it was one of the best times of my life.
Beautiful photos! Sounds like a great trip! 🙂
Thank you so much! It was definitely a fun little escape
B xx
Looks cold but definitely festive and very Christmas-sy 😉
Have a wonderful holiday and best wishes for the New Year!!
XOXO
Thank you! And to you!
B xx
Ah, you’re making me crave a winter escape!! Love these photos of Edinburgh. Erica just went there to visit a girlfriend this past fall and loved Edinburgh. I want to go now!
PS: Hoping to come back to London this spring, I will let you know!
xx
Alicia
I *highly* recommend a quick trip to Edinburgh if you can squeeze it in on your next trip to England! And can’t WAIT to see you here again!
B xx
It’s so beautiful! Edinburgh is a wounderful place every time of the year. I’m happy you enjoyed it. But the way, have you ever been in Wien on Christmas? The atmosphere there is stunning.
PS: Best wishes for the new year 🙂