We will introduce you to the history of this medieval city, which is more than 3000 years old. We will walk through its most picturesque streets, such as the Royal Mile, Chambers Street or Victoria Street. Learn about the alleys where people lived in the 17th century. We will tell you how they died during the Black Death and about the beaked doctors who tried to cure them. Exciting stories await you!


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Edinburgh

Best Tours in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Walking Tours

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Edinburgh Christmas Walking Tour

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Scotch Whisky tasting - Scotland's True Spirit

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Edinburgh Free Tour

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Mysteries, witchery and murders

Edinburgh Ghost Walking Tour: Mysteries, Legends and Murders

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Outlander and Jacobites

Edinburgh: Outlander and Jacobites Walking Tour

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Walking Tours in Edinburgh

Private Walking Tours in Edinburgh

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

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Edinburgh Castle Tour

Private Edinburgh Castle Tour

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Mysteries, Witchery and Murders 

Private Mysteries, Witchery and Murders Tour

**Glasgow** is currently one of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom and not many decades ago it was one of the most important cities of the Industrial Revolution, although today only remnants of that past remain.


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Glasgow

Guide tours and free tours in Glasgow

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Glasgow Free Walking Tour

## 1. King's Knot

The King's Knot is a geometric, stepped octagonal earthwork in the ancient royal gardens, where jousting tournaments, hunting and falconry used to take place.

In 2011, archaeologists from the **University of Glasgow**, in collaboration with the Stirling History Society and the Stirling Archaeological and Countryside Society, carried out a survey. Their findings showed that there exists a round feature on the site that predates the visible earthworks.

This discovery has been linked to **the legend of King Arthur**, as it is not the first time it has been said that **King Arthur**'s table could be found in [**Stirling**](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/things-to-see-and-do-in-stirling). Around 1375, the Scottish poet John Barbour said that 'the roundtable' was to the south of Stirling Castle; in 1478 the English chronicler William of Worcester told how 'King Arthur kept the roundtable in Stirling Castle'; and Sir David Lindsay, a 16th century Scottish writer, added to the legend in 1529 when he said that Stirling Castle was home to the royal chapel and the Round Table.

Perhaps King Arthur is less of a myth than we assumed...

![Kings Knot.jpg](/uploads/Kings_Knot_7956923267.jpg)

## 2. John Damian

John Damian was an Italian cleric who promised **King James IV** immeasurable amounts of money which he would produce by means of secret alchemical processes learned in Italy.

Damian directed the construction of alchemical furnaces at **Stirling Castle**, receiving aqua vitae (i.e. wine spirits), mercury, ammonium salt, alum, litharge, orpiment, saltpetre, silver, sugar, sulphur, tin, verdigris, vinegar and white lead for this purpose in his laboratories. These are all standard alchemical substances of the **medieval period**.

Damian never succeeded as an alchemist and to save his name he had to fall back on other ideas. In December 1507, the alchemist declared to the king that he could "fly to France" from **Stirling Castle** using a pair of artificial wings.

On the day of take-off, Damian arrived bearing huge wings. The entire court attended the event. Damian climbed the wall and jumped off like Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movie - and the rest is history. Damian fell, plummeting down, but the good news is that he survived the fall and only broke his leg.

![Bird Man.jpg](/uploads/Bird_Man_5e7d1fc678.jpg)

## 3. Douglas Garden

Named after **William Douglas**, because King James II threw him out of a window of the old King's building and Douglas was buried here.

In 1452, **King James II** invited the Earl of Douglas to dinner at the castle in order to iron out their differences. A few years earlier two of Douglas' nephews had been murdered in **Edinburgh Castle** in a somewhat cruel manner in the presence of the king (an episode known as the Black Dinner of Edinburgh Castle). The dinner with William Douglas was to be a dinner of death, music, entertainment and the finest delicacies; the king wanted the two of them to abandon the rivalry between their houses. When the king saw that William would not listen to reason, he flew into a rage and threw William out of the window. The window can be seen from the courtyard and from inside the building.

## 4. The christening feast of the future king of Scotland

On 30 August 1594 the christening feast of Prince Henry Stuart, son of James Stuart, was held. This banquet was held in the Great Hall of the castle, where of course the best dishes of **Scottish gastronomy** would have been served; but the highlight of the event was the presentation of a wooden boat measuring 5.5 metres long by 12 metres high and floating on an artificial sea, from which fish and seafood were served. It also sported 36 cannons on its sides for firing blanks.

![Great Hall Stirling.jpg](/uploads/Great_Hall_Stirling_a008c46908.jpg)

## 5. Stirling heads

These are a series of carved wooden cartouches, decorated with the heads of queens and courtiers also known as **'Stirling Heads'**. Described as 'among the **finest examples of Scottish Renaissance wood carving** now in existence', the cartouches in the King's apartments are replicas of the Stirling Heads, which were removed after a roof collapse in 1777. Of the estimated 56 original heads, 38 survive. The original 38 are on display in the upper floor of the palace, in a gallery accessed from the inner courtyard.

![Stirling heads.jpg](/uploads/Stirling_heads_3139801422.jpg)

## 6. The hunt for the unicorn

In the tapestry room we find "**The hunt for the unicorn**". These tapestries were commissioned by Historic Scotland and were woven in the castle itself, in the area where the stables used to be. The originals used as a model date from the 16th century and can currently be found in the **Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York**. The creation of the replicas is the work of 11 years (2002 - 2013) and more than 16,000 hours of work.

The set of 7 tapestries is the story of the hunt for the unicorn's horn, which possessed magical powers of purification. The scenes are instructive with rich Christian iconography: the unicorn is an image of Christ, and the maiden represents the Virgin Mary. The climax is reached with the death and rebirth of the unicorn as a representation of the Passion and Resurrection.

![Sala tapices Unicornio.jpg](/uploads/Sala_tapices_Unicornio_940230c61b.jpg)

## 7. Wars of Independence

During the **Wars of Independence**, 1296-1357, the castle played a very important role, changing hands several times due to its strategic location. In 1296, the first year of these wars, **Edward I** took the castle without any opposition, as only one soldier was found to be in charge of opening the entrance gates. Just 8 years later, in 1304, Edward I wanted to besiege the castle, which was again in Scottish hands; the Scots surrendered before the planned siege, using 17 engines of war, took place. But as Edward had had a **siege weapon** built for the occasion, which he had christened the ‘Warwolf’, he ordered a number of Scottish soldiers to be brought inside the castle so he could test his weapon.

## 8. The world's oldest football

In 1981, a football made of pig's bladder dating back to the 16th century, was found during renovation work. It is known from records that football was already being played at that time and was becoming a popular sport, but the truth is that it was disliked as it was dangerous and led to many injuries. Today the football is housed in the **Smith Art Gallery in Stirling**.

![Primer Balon.jpg](/uploads/Primer_Balon_157b6f91fe.jpg)
_<center>Photo taken at Stirling Museum, Smith Art Gallery.</center>_

## 9. Coronation of Mary Stuart

Mary was crowned "**Queen of Scots**" on 9 September 1543 in the Chapel Royal at **Stirling Castle** when she was only 9 months old, with crown, sceptre and sword – imagine a baby with all that on her! The ceremony was officiated by Cardinal David Beaton, Archbishop of St Andrews Cathedral.

There are no remains of the chapel, but if you visit **Stirling Castle,** you can see marks on the floor in the inner courtyard which indicate where it once stood.

## 10. The castle rock

The rock on which **Stirling Castle** stands was formed over 350 million years ago after the eruption of a volcano. During the second ice age, the melting ice sculpted the rock which you can see today, making the castle an **impregnable fortress** from the north and west, as the rock is almost vertical.

The crag has been lived on for 3,000 years and has been inhabited by people from the Romans to **Queen Elizabeth II** herself, although she probably welcomed the Romans.

## 11. The Lady in Green

Lady in Blue, Lady in Pink, Lady in White. Stirling Castle is full of **female ghosts**, but the best known is the Lady in Green.

The Lady in Green is said to have been a servant of **Mary Stuart**. She was a girl from the **Scottish Highlands** and had a premonition that if her queen slept in the old fortress one day, she would not live to tell the tale.

On the night of 13 September 1561 Mary was staying at Stirling Castle. The servant decided to spend the night near her queen to protect her, but the night was very long, and the servant fell asleep in such an unlucky position that she brushed against one of the candles next to the queen's bed, and the whole thing went up in flames. Mary was able to save her own life, but the maid died in the fire, thus becoming the **ghost called Green Lady**.

![Green Lady.jpg](/uploads/Green_Lady_37faff6bc5.jpg)

## 12. Castle Ghost known as Highland Ghost

The most active ghost at **Stirling Castle** is the **Highland Ghost**. On more than one occasion staff and visitors have seen him appear, in full traditional costume. Mistaken for a tour guide on many occasions, visitors are surprised when they approach him and he simply turns and walks away, **disappearing before their very eyes**.

In 1935, this **mysterious ghost** was apparently captured by the camera of an architect who was conducting some surveys for upcoming construction work. If you encounter it, don't panic, it won't harm you.

![Highland Ghost.jpg](/uploads/Highland_Ghost_1d77e6b380.jpg)

Football, boats, unicorns, ghosts... this castle is full of life and the occasional lost soul. I hope this guide can help you on your **visit to Stirling Castle**, a magnificent fortress with a fascinating history.


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12 Fun Facts about Stirling Castle

## 1\. For its history and industrial past

The **River Clyde** has been the raison d'être of this city since ancient times, as it was the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. The area is believed to have been settled since the Bronze Age, thanks to the natural space it offered for fishing and hunting.

Although **[Glasgow](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/things-to-do-and-see-in-glasgow)** was founded in the 6th century, it was not named a Royal Burgh until 1611. Its commercial port was of little importance until the 18th century, and the arrival of trade with the Americas in sugar, tobacco, cotton, linen and other important commodities of the time.

The Scottish Enlightenment produced great minds, but it was none other than **James Watt** whose improvement of the steam engine sparked the **Industrial Revolution**. It was the basis of the locomotive and, therefore, of the railway and the consequent development of communications that led to a spiral of progress in which we still seem to be involved today.

![Glasgow city.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow_city_feab1f20d7.jpg)
_The River Clyde. Photography: Adam Marikar_

## 2\. For its museums

Glasgow offers a wide range of culture, with **more than 20 museums** and galleries of all kinds; **you won't get bored in 2 days**. From the classic museum to a motoring museum on the banks of the River Clyde, to one of the most important modern art galleries in Scotland.

Between all its museums there are more than 1.5 million objects on display, some by artists as important as Van Gogh, Monet or Degas. On second thoughts, you might need more than 2 days to see them all.

![Glasgow Museums.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow_Museums_47296d0bd8.jpg)
_Kelvingrove Museum_



## 3\. Because it's a UNESCO City of Music

From festivals to small concerts, **Glasgow** has an impressive music culture. You'll find concerts every day of the year: bagpipes, jazz, funk, electronica and a whole host of other musical styles - it's a city that makes a lot of noise.

The **SSE HYDRO** is one of the largest concert venues in the world, and has hosted performances from **Paul McCartney, Backstreet Boys, Bruno Mars, Arctic Monkeys, Prince, Ed Sheeran, to Elton John and Madonna**.

![Glasgow HyDRo.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow_Hy_D_Ro_314dc1da30.jpg)
_<center>The SSE Hydro</center>_


**Glasgow** is also the birthplace of bands such as Travis and Franz Ferdinand. Before you visit Glasgow, I recommend you check this website to see if there are any concerts or festivals that you like.

|Tours| 
|---|
|Book now [Glasgow Free Walking Tour](https://scotlandcitytours.com/tours-glasgow/glasgow-free-tour)|


## 4\. For its green spaces

With **more than 90 parks**, Glaswegians can boast about their green spaces, where you can play golf, or attend concerts and festivals.

**One of the largest is Glasgow Green**, a 55-hectare park relatively close to the historic centre. Also quite large is the 34-hectare Kelvingrove, next to which you can find the museum of the same name and the University of Glasgow. And another one I would like to highlight is the Botanic Garden, which is a bit more secluded, but if you visit the city outside the winter months it is a recommended visit.

![Glasgow Green.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow_Green_99392d6a3d.jpg)
_Glasgow Green_


## 5\. For its shops

With just **over 1,500 shops spread across the city,** **Glasgow** is a shopper's paradise, second only to London in this respect. You'll find the most exclusive brands as well as those that are not quite as exclusive.

The main street for clothes shopping is Buchanan Street and it is a favourite shopping street not only for locals, but also for people from the surrounding towns and even Edinburghers. I hope you don't get lost in the fitting rooms and have time to visit the city.

![Buchanan Street Glasgow.jpg](/uploads/Buchanan_Street_Glasgow_565b5750d2.jpg)
_Buchanan Street_

## 6\. For the football

Although England invented football, **the first professional football player was Scottish and born in Glasgow**, by the name of Fergus Suter. Netflix recently released a miniseries telling his story: "The English game".

Glasgow has a great football culture with its two big football clubs and bitter rivals: **Celtic, a Catholic team**, and **Rangers, a Protestant team**. If you get the chance to visit the city on match day, I recommend you try to get a ticket to see it at the stadium, the fans are a pure spectacle, especially at Celtic's grounds.

![Glasgow Futbol.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow_Futbol_630f1b931f.jpg)
_<center>Football logos. Celtic and Rangers FC</center>_



**Football, museums, parks, shops, history... I think these are more than enough reasons to give this great city a chance. The city with the friendliest people in the UK, but a horrible Scottish accent.**

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6 reasons to visit Glasgow

**Top 10 places to eat in Stirling**

Enjoy the Scottish cuisine

One of the things you can't neglect, even when you're on holiday, is eating. It takes a lot of energy to do all the tours we want to do, doesn't it? And I'm sure most of you have already been scouring the internet to find out what you can find to fill your stomach in this cold country.

Most people who have typed "**Scottish food**" into the Google search engine have probably already read about **Scotland**'s most famous dish: **[haggis](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/what-is-haggis)**. But for those of you who are a little less well prepared, haggis is all those parts of a sheep that you don’t really want to eat, but much less waste: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and so on. All these scraps are ground up and mixed with onions, oats and spices, and cooked in the animal's own stomach. Fortunately, nowadays it is usually wrapped in other, more hygienic materials and comes in two forms: meat-based and vegetarian. It's a pretty heavy meal, but it's definitely one of those things you have to try. Wherever you go...

**Haggis** is usually eaten with mashed potatoes and turnip mash (you'll see it as neeps & tatties on restaurant menus) and a whisky sauce. You can also find haggis in the full **Scottish breakfast**, not to be confused with the **English breakfast**, which is only served south of Dumfries.

But it's not just haggis that Scottish people live for. Another quite typical thing around here is soup or, as we would call it, a kind of chunky mash. It's usually made of various vegetables and lentils, with quite a strong flavour and, as I said, tends to be a bit thick. It's ideal for warming the stomach during the winter months and one of the most typical soups is **Cullen Skink**, a soup made from onion, potato and haddock (a fish that can be found off the coast of Scotland).

The last thing you can't leave without trying is the tablet, and no, I don't mean the one you used on the plane to watch Netflix or play Candy Crush, I recommend you don't sink your teeth into this one for your own good. The typical Scottish tablet is a sweet made from condensed milk, sugar and butter, usually flavoured vanilla or ginger. For me, it's definitely a must-try if you have as much of a sweet tooth as I do.

And now that we've finished our brief overview of Scottish cuisine, let's get down to what really matters to you: where can I eat in Stirling? Well, here are the 10 best places we could find to recommend:

## 1\. The Bannockburn Coffee House

Located next to the famous **Bannockburn** Esplanade (the one where William Wallace's battle was fought), here you can still taste the regional gastronomy at a very good price. It also has vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and homemade cakes that you can feast your eyes on.

[**41 Main Street, Bannockburn, Stirling FK7 8LX**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Bannockburn+Coffee+House/@56.089917,-3.915009,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x2fd82548090483da!8m2!3d56.0908214!4d-3.9147324?hl=es)

## 2\. The Bluebell Tea Room

Tea rooms are a very British thing where people go, effectively, for tea. This one, located in the centre of **Stirling**, is an ideal example of what you would expect from such a place. They offer **breakfast, brunch and lunch**, and a wide variety of teas and sweets.

## 3\. The Allan Park Pub & Restaurant

Holding the title of best restaurant in **Stirling**, this is a pub offering traditional food located in the city centre. From breakfast to dinner, it has a varied menu (with alternative options of course), **great quality** and an unbeatable atmosphere, a place that is definitely worth a visit.

[**20 Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QG, United Kingdom**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Allan+Park+-+Pub,+Restaurant+%26+Coffee+House+(w%2F+rooms)/@56.115987,-3.940077,13z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0x0:0x53e0373a2173d204!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d56.1160019!4d-3.9401374?hl=es)

## 4\. Portcullis

Located near the castle, the name refers to those huge metal grates that could be raised and lowered to cut off access to the castle. **Considered the second-best pub in the city**, it offers a very local atmosphere and good food.

[**Castle Wynd, Stirling FK8 1EG, UK**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Portcullis/@56.121986,-3.944444,16z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0x0:0xba05e15b8386f870!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d56.1219813!4d-3.9444207?hl=es)

## 5\. No 2 Baker Street

Could this be a reference to the famous private investigator Sherlock Holmes? Maybe. What is clear is that this is a great place to eat and drink, with an extensive menu in both respects. Elementary, my dear Watson.

[**No 2 Baker Street**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/No+2+Baker+Street/@56.1189262,-3.9385338,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x60e843be760cb53b?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwib98SY-v_1AhWGLMAKHRRGA-0Q_BJ6BAgmEAU)

## 6\. The Allan Water Cafe

Great cafe and restaurant in the centre of Stirling with a good number of years and a family history behind it. It has a wide variety of food on offer, the chippy or fish & chips being one of the most popular with locals, another must try.

[**15 Henderson St, Bridge of Allan, Stirling FK9 4HN**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Allanwater+Cafe/@56.155629,-3.949886,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x230d85c334db4d5c!8m2!3d56.1556289!4d-3.9498861?hl=es)

## 7\. Brae

For quality Scottish food, using fresh, local ingredients. This restaurant has won several awards for its dishes in recent years.

[**5 Baker St, Stirling FK8 1BJ**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/5+Baker+St,+Stirling+FK8+1BJ/@56.1188004,-3.9409972,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4888629527d5f11b:0x5c2022a65c9c8d87!8m2!3d56.1188004!4d-3.9388085)

## 8\. Monterey Jack's

Can boast some of the best burgers in **Scotland**!!! Located in the Old Town, next to the Athenaeum.

Especially the cheeseburger is excellent.

[**1 Corn Exchange Rd, Stirling FK8 2HX, UK**](https://www.google.com/maps?ll=56.118274,-3.938715&z=16&t=m&hl=es&gl=ES&mapclient=embed&cid=10364910612201347664)

## 9\. Nicky-Tams

One of the oldest pubs in Stirling. It offers a wide variety of beers, and you can also eat here. Located in the **Old Town**.

[**29 Baker St, Stirling FK8 1BJ, UK**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nicky-Tams+Bar+%26+Bothy/@56.119113,-3.939453,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x689fb1cd12a5d9f6!8m2!3d56.1191302!4d-3.9394278?hl=es)

## 10\. Hermanns

Very elegant place, with Scottish and Austrian cuisine using local produce. Very **close to the castle**.

[**Mar Place House, 58 Broad St, Stirling FK8 1EF, UK**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hermanns/@56.121152,-3.943731,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb8831a01a34b1635!8m2!3d56.121167!4d-3.9437219?hl=es)

Of course, these are just a few of what (in our humble opinion) are the best places to eat in the city, but if you find any other hidden gems, don't hesitate to recommend them - we always like to discover new things. And watch out for the **Haggis**, it is very filling.

| Best Tours in Other Cities |
| ---------------------------- | 
| [Tours in Edinburgh](https://scotlandcitytours.com/tours-edinburgh) | 
| [Tours in Glasgow](https://scotlandcitytours.com/tours-glasgow) |


the ** HAGGIS ** is a typical Scottish dish? This preparation is served on BURNS day to the sound of bagpipes. Made with liver, heart and lungs of sheep, fat, oat flakes and mutton or beef,

7-mejores-sitio-para-comer-en-Stirling.jpeg

10 best restaurants in Stirling

The best or the worst **whisky** are born the same way, although there are many factors that affect the final product, such as water, grain, temperature, time in the cask, type of cask, type of yeast, **distillery** or stills. All these variables mean that a whisky can either win the world's best whisky award or you’ll find it on the supermarket shelf for around 10 euros.

It is also one of the most elaborate distilled beverages in existence, and the reason for this is that **by law in Scotland** whisky has to be aged in an oak cask **for at least 3 years**, otherwise you can't call it **whisky**. But do you know how it is made and what the ingredients are? There are three main ingredients: **water**, **grain** and **yeast**.

![Cata de whisky.jpg](/uploads/Cata_de_whisky_a90793bae9.jpg)

**Water**

In **Scotland** there is a mythical saying that goes "**today's rain is tomorrow's whisky**"; and how true it is. In these cold northern lands, water is plentiful, which is why many distilleries are located near lochs or rivers, as this is where they get their water supply. Although I can tell you that the tap water in Scotland is so good that some distilleries take it directly from there.

The most important question is that of the hardness of the local water, as the final result of the **whisky** will depend on it. Whether the water is hard or not depends on the amount of dissolved minerals it contains, such as calcium, zinc, magnesium and iron; the more minerals it contains, the harder it is. In Scotland, the water is generally soft.

![Killin, Tierras Altas de Escocia.jpg](/uploads/Killin_Tierras_Altas_de_Escocia_9b33289e0d.jpg)
_<center>Killin, Tierras Altas de Escocia</center>_

**Grain**

Wheat, rye, barley or corn are the grains commonly used in the **whisky-making process**. Each gives a different flavour to the distillate. Barley is usually the only grain used to make **Scotch whisky**.

One of the things we need to make alcohol is sugar (starch). The grain itself contains starch, and to free as much starch as possible it has to be malted. You have probably seen bottles that says "**malt whisky**" but this has nothing to do with the Mediterranean country Malta. For a whisky to be called malt whisky, the grain must first be malted, which is simply the process of germinating the grain. This releases enzymes that help to release a higher starch content.

However, there are also whiskies that are made from unmalted grain; these would be "**single grain**" or "**blended grain**" whiskies.

![cebada.jpg](/uploads/cebada_361a1b10ee.jpg)

**Yeast**

It is the **only organism** permitted in the production of this spirit. In order to produce alcohol, the fermentation process must take place, and yeast is responsible for this. The sugar extracted from the grain is converted into alcohol by the yeast. There are countless varieties of these **micro-organisms,** and each one gives a totally different flavour to the whisky than another.

Different types of grain contain **wild yeast**, and high-yielding cultured yeast is often added to start the fermentation process.

![fermentacion.jpg](/uploads/fermentacion_58abb25b1d.jpg)
_<center>Levadura en fermentación</center>_

**The whisky-making process**

The first thing we need is **the best quality malt** in order to make the best **Scotch whisky**. The grain has to be ground in a mill to facilitate the extraction of the sugars in the mashing process.

The mashing process consists of mixing the grain with water in a tank at a certain temperature, which can range from 60ºC to 80ºC depending on the **distillery**. In this way the sugars are extracted from the grain. The resulting liquid **is called “wort”** and is very sweet due to the extracted sugars.

The next step would be fermentation, but first, the wort has to be cooled, because at a high temperature the yeast would be stressed, it would die and without it, **fermentation** would be impossible. This process is usually carried out in wooden or stainless-steel vats, with a capacity of between 20,000 and 250,000 litres. It normally lasts between 2 and 3 days.

![Cuba de fermentación.jpg](/uploads/Cuba_de_fermentacion_1337741215.jpg)
_<center>Fermentation vat at the [ **Abhainn Dearg**](https://abhainndeargdistillery.co.uk/), distillery on the Isle of Harris.</center>_

After several days, the micro-organisms have done their job and have transformed the sugar into alcohol; now all that remains is to distil it and to do so, the **fermented wort** has to be brought to a boil.

Alcohol reaches its boiling point at a lower temperature than water, at 78.4 ºC, when it turns into vapour, which is collected and cooled, thereby becoming an **alcoholic liquid**. This process is completed in copper stills, resulting in a clear liquid that will spend at least 3 years in an oak cask in a warehouse in the **Highlands** or Lowlands of this wonderful country.

![Alambiques de de la destilería Glengoyne.jpg](/uploads/Alambiques_de_de_la_destileria_Glengoyne_74d4eb2bfb.jpg)
_<center>[**Glengoyne** ](https://www.glengoyne.com/) Distillery Stills</center>_



The **oak cask** will have a major influence on the final product. Nowadays, virgin casks are not typically used, instead second-hand casks are used that have previously held Bourbon or wine.

![Barricas llenas de whisky.jpg](/uploads/Barricas_llenas_de_whisky_e6905c6f31.jpg)
_<center>Casks filled with whisky at the **Abhainn Dearg** distillery.</center>_ 



In short, depending on which water, which grain, which yeast or even which cask is used **to make the whisky**, you will get one flavour or another. The smallest detail in the production process can make a big difference, but it is because of this that Scotch whisky is exquisite, it is the best, but what best describes it: it is **Liquid Gold**.

If you want to know about the history of **Scotch whisky**, the different regions where it is distilled and the different types, [this article](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/whisky-history-and-more) tells you all about it. Plus, I'll help you choose whisky!

Some of the information in this article was taken from the [Illustrated Atlas of Whisky](https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/846771607X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=carlospaz-21&camp=3638&creative=24630&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=846771607X&linkId=38f7d70d520dcee3e822e33e24bdf038). For more books about whisky and Scottish history in general, check out my article [Books About Scotland](https://somosescocia.com/blog/14-libros-sobre-escocia).


Como se hace el whisky.jpg

How is whisky made?

![Glasgow lloviend.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow\_lloviend\_7903cd3cb3.jpg)

_<center>A beautiful spring day</center>_

I should also add that Glasgow is a windy city, so bringing an umbrella is not the best way to protect yourself against the rain; I always recommend bringing [**waterproof clothing**](https://www.amazon.es/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?k=ropa+waterproof&__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=VSGZ1ZPPQ5OF&sprefix=ropa+water,apparel,205&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_10&linkCode=ll2&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=73374aa15fd34e5c34d97d1bf3b2b620&language=es_ES)!

## What's the weather like in Glasgow?

The **temperature** here is actually one of the "warmest" in all of **Scotland**, classified as an **oceanic climate**, due to the currents that travel over from the **Gulf of Mexico**. For this reason, **the average temperature in winter is 5ºC**; although that doesn’t mean the thermometers won’t dip below 0ºC some days! In summer the average temperature is around 20ºC, but it can occasionally reach 27ºC.

Also, most days are cloudy in this city, so a sunny day is indeed a gift. If this happens, don’t waste it! Do all the outdoor activities or tours you can, since it will surely rain the following day.

The coldest months are December and January, with very humid days and few hours of daylight. I don't want to discourage anyone from [​​visiting **Glasgow**](https://somosescocia.com/blog/que-ver-en-glasgow), but I have to tell the truth even if it hurts! However, the beautiful thing about visiting in December is getting to see the Christmas market in **George Square** (although it didn’t happen in 2020 due to **COVID-19**).

The warmest months are July and August, although the days can still vary a lot in temperature. One day it could be 25ºC with incredible sun and the next it will be 15ºC, cloudy and raining... seriously, always bring your waterproof clothing!

![Glasgow tiempo.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow\_tiempo\_531cecd8c9.jpg)

_<center>Glasgow, Renfrew Street</center>_

|Tours|
|---|
|Book our [Glasgow Free Walking Tour](https://scotlandcitytours.com/tours-glasgow/glasgow-free-tour)|

## Seasonal weather in Glasgow

### Winter

Depending on the month, temperatures can range from **-14ºC to 17ºC**. It’s not always that dramatic of course, so you should always check the weather forecast before visiting **Glasgow**.

### Spring

During this season, if you visit around April you can expect anything **between -4ºC to 24ºC**. These are the historical minimum and maximum temperatures seen in April, but the usual average is around 9ºC.

In May it rises to an average of 11ºC, and in June to an average of 14ºC.

### Summer

Don't let the season fool you, you will see cold and rainy weather on many days during these months. Even in July, the hottest month, **the average temperature is only around 16ºC**. **For me, who's been in the UK** for 11 years, this is a day for wearing shorts and a T-shirt; depending on which country you come from, this could feel pretty cold!

![Glasgow city.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow\_city\_1cf8474824.jpg)

_<center>Clyde river</center>_

### Autumn

This is one of my favourite seasons of the year, with those coppery and ochre colours that flood the parks and streets of **Glasgow**, as the leaves fall from the trees.

Here, humorously, we start saying **"Winter is coming"** from August onwards since the temperatures begin to drop again in September. October and November continue to get colder, with average temperatures ranging from 6ºC to 9ºC.

In December 1995, the country’s historical lowest temperature was registered at -19.9ºC; the historical highest was registered in June 2018 at 31.9ºC. However, as I say, these are very extreme temperatures and it is not usual for this to happen!

![Glasgow kelvingrove.jpg](/uploads/Glasgow\_kelvingrove\_dbcfa3c465.jpg)

_<center>Kelvingrove museum</center>_

So, I think after all of that, you are now ready to [visit **Glasgow**](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/things-to-do-and-see-in-glasgow), whether in the cold winter or the less cold summer, with your waterproof clothing and comfortable, waterproof walking shoes.


Glasgow city.jpg

Weather in Glasgow

## History

The **origin** of this spirit is lost in antiquity. It is known that the Celtic people of Ireland brought distilling to **Ireland** in the 5th century. The first distillers, wherever they were based, made spirits that were too strong to drink, so honey was added to sweeten them, as well as spices and other ingredients, making the first whiskies more like liqueurs.

The origin of **the word whisky** itself is also unclear. In the 17th century it was called strong water (English), usquebaugh or uisge beatha (Gaelic) or aqua vitae (Latin), the latter being popular with whisky lovers as it means **'water of life'**. Whatever the origin, the word whisky did not gain official recognition until 1755 with its entry in the dictionary.

For centuries, whisky was a local drink. In the **Highlands** it was made in small stills and in the **Lowlands** large quantities were produced, mainly for export to England. Although the English would spoil it by re-distilling it with a vegetable product to make Gin – they will do anything to avoid accepting that **Scotch whisky** is good.

Between the 18th and 19th century, **whisky** was "legalised", i.e. an attempt was made to have fiscal control over the distilleries, which led to the birth of underground distilleries. In the end, the state legalised the use of small stills, thus ushering in the modern **Scotch** **whisky** industry.

In addition, in the 19th century, the popularity of whisky grew due to the invention of **Coffey stills**, or **continuous distillation**, which made whisky smoother and less intense. But the biggest uptick in its popularity was experienced thanks to phylloxera, an aphid that destroyed grape harvests in France, which reduced wine and cognac production and left people with no choice but to drink whisky.

And in the 20th century, oak casks that had previously held **Sherry** or **Bourbon** began to be used to mature the distillate, giving these spirits aroma, colour, flavour and character, but also thanks to the use of only water, barley and yeast, this **Liquid Gold** came to life.

Although **Scotch whisky** is the most popular whisky in the world (wherever I go and whenever I travel, I always find a piece of **Scotland** in the bars of the world), it cannot be said to be the best. For several decades now, different countries around the world have been specialising in the **distillation** of this drink, but it is the Japanese who take the lead in the **[World Whisky Awards](https://www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/)**. Japanese whiskies have been sweeping the board in recent years, although Canada, New Zealand, the United States and even India are achieving great quality in their distillates. In 2019, whiskies from these cold lands did not win in any category, but let's hope they receive more in the coming years, as I wouldn't trade Scotch whisky for that of any other country.

## Whisky Regions

Whisky distilling **regions**: **Islay**, **Lowlands**, **Highlands** and **Campbeltown**. These are the generic ones, as within the Highlands we have **Speyside** and Islands. The regions just help us to label the whisky, as nowadays a typical **smoky whisky** from the Islay region can also be made in the Highlands, for example.

![Regiones del whisky.jpg](/uploads/Regiones_del_whisky_2a3b4981cc.jpg)

## Types of whisky

Within the regions, there are also different types of whisky. I will summarise very briefly what they are:

### Single Malt

This is **single malt whisky**. “Malt” refers to the process of the germination of the grain: malting. "Single" refers to the origin of the whisky, a single distillery. The grain used for this whisky is barley, no other grain can be used. This whisky can be blended with another malt, either of the same or a different age, but they must be from the same distillery. It is the **most popular whisky** in Scotland. My favourites are the smoky ones.

### Single Grain

This would be whisky from **a single grain**. This can be barley, rye, corn or wheat, or unmalted grain. It is not very well known and is usually used to make blended whisky. I have never tried it, although I have a bottle of this type, a Clan Denny 21-year-old, which I hope to open soon.

![Clan Denny 21.jpg](/uploads/Clan_Denny_21_be727538a2.jpg)

### Blends

This is **blended whisky**. It is obtained by blending different whiskies, it must have at least one Single Grain and one Single Malt, but it can have many more. It is usually a very popular whisky. They are the most typical, as whiskies such as **[Ballantines](https://amzn.to/3ycUbZG)** or **[Johnnie Walker](https://amzn.to/3gIQ4Jd)** are of this type.

#### Blended Grain

This is one of the **rarest whiskies on the market**. To produce this type of whisky, you have to combine two or more Single Grains. I can say from my personal experience that the most famous Blended Grain whisky. [Compass Box Hedonism](https://amzn.to/3WoGLnN), does not disappoint, and is very good value for money.

#### Blended Malt

Another **rare** whisky. These whiskies are produced by blending two or more Single Malts from different distilleries. The most popular is **[Monkey Shoulder](https://amzn.to/3ycUbZG)**, but there are also lesser-known whiskies such as Glencoe MacDonald's 8-year-old with Cask Strength 58%. You can find them, as well as all other Blended Grains, at a good price.

![Glencoe MacDonald - 8 year old Whisky.jpg](/uploads/Glencoe_Mac_Donald_8_year_old_Whisky_fc16b59c64.jpg)

I would like to clarify one thing: **BOURBON IS NOT WHISKY**. What a pleasure it is to get that off my chest. Distillation was brought to the United States in the 18th century by Scottish and Irish settlers. Although the **origin of Bourbon** is not well documented, it is known that it began to be distilled in the same century that distillation arrived.

Experts have always included this drink in different types of whiskies, because the process to distil this spirit is the same as any other whisky, but (of course there is a but) the grain used has to be at least 51% corn, sometimes up to 70% or 80%, the rest being made up of different cereals. **Bourbon** also has no minimum ageing period, so products that have been matured as short as three months can be sold as Bourbon (any Bourbon aged less than 4 years has to be indicated on the label). In addition, this beverage has to be produced in the **United States**.

This is only a general overview of this drink, as there can be many variants of it. The most famous ones are **[Jim Beam](https://amzn.to/34W4yCy)**, **[Wild Turkey](https://amzn.to/3gL7JA0)** or **[Jack Daniels](https://amzn.to/3LrPiya)**.

If you want to immerse yourself more in the wonderful **world of whisky**, I recommend the book “**[Illustrated Atlas of Whisky](https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/846771607X?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=52610289cfc25c9d163a7749d9c2a590&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**”, by Michael Jackson (not the singer). It costs about 15€ and contains a lot of information to help you understand this drink and its origins.

Now comes the best part; it's time to decide what to order in the pub! And with more than 3,000 varieties, whisky is probably the most complicated drink to choose. Anywhere you go you can ask for "a dram of whisky, please", to which the bartender will reply "Which one, pal? So here are a few recommendations to make your choice easier:

## Lowlands

**[Glenkinchie 12](https://amzn.to/34W4yCy)**. Sweet and smooth, the whisky of Edinburgh.

**[Auchentoshan Heartwood](https://www.amazon.es/Auchentoshan-Whisky-Three-Wood-700/dp/B001LLUPIY?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=PSAM256Z5419&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lx0eozZtS5R2Y4ykIhpwt0FAODszH5uI0CsfjpOZhdxvwDDg4wZAzJvqJ8PmNNtRN2njyQUhTHaa_lbjeCbawCdsQ3VX-M7knd4FfgvPzFCZDa9YBKq4v5VctT4llylgBwyumwLpgxJ47hySJhjWmSdI35LmLYV9wqf1FG08hYUSJLyS4dYT9sYZZBS57d-IH7Gl0aUjk9VpVdDUy7PLVcalG-_IhtTyH4LT80B27iQsL4qNVlbqWgooOgSu8i0UmHNqiv0q5NhrRzikG172lcco9R2yJL7nQ8CyyjGy2UA.0V6NlJGwogyRCc6QdrSl8MK6Kx0g4gMFQA_n4-T0_UE&dib_tag=se&keywords=Auchentoshan+Heartwood+whisky&qid=1714676433&sprefix=auchentoshan+heartwood+whisky%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=3afbbcd028c478c078a76f95c5a7e15c&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. Matured in bourbon and sherry casks.

## Highlands

**[Glengoyne 12](https://www.amazon.es/GLENGOYNE-24152-Glengoyne-12-A%C3%B1os/dp/B00IXL9MGG?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2A95RVKRKAPXP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k0rQ_I9tUvkI4-VJcv1dXo4txcS5FlV49NbtvySow5YFUjFVwiouWyaUkV4jtCIJB8F44KVlwbzqAlsRgAobGmNeHY3JO8yi8XZPJ7hD_hy9mEnkzvmN78_mBGTxM1aBdTkPI3fWMvLiIEwD_T4RPL4LOf1xQi3Q7ar_a-udDTT87ZUK68Xgj2ChV6vts5lF6Mk0QtqBUt8kC5MGXXTC8hhY7a2_GcT3F3PGSqGdQi_hNxspF2UZaABM112YO3v6Eb0DdF6H8x_8M9MhP9Ok-kXtajPC5wl87CVoG5vPb_s.JutCa_bFzhUkiLUXzswpFXaHM5rScVifDdRAiwQOw34&dib_tag=se&keywords=Glengoyne+12&qid=1714676525&s=grocery&sprefix=glengoyne+12%2Cgrocery%2C129&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=698916cf2eeccdfb48f3e273f1f80cd1&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. Whisky that is very good value for money.

**[Ardmore](https://www.amazon.es/Ardmore-Legacy-70-L/dp/B00OGMTNT2?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=39GGVYXTXOS93&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dBaX_Ik3tBqbsA-JC2gUbtKRrg2DSdVc8Jl1dmsFiBxUXTwa9UPTxlY7RJjULj18P3roiZoUY3g2aXF8iT9BmFcDBgZ93wKYVoSG3qvpHYy8OXPL4YBuF4P5PLJEBXtQ1h2OIPwhxJCYqTII-MrHtw.vlkXo8hLoC2JSu5N5aU5lkI5tk5GARFyQrtb5cPsRrY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Ardmore&qid=1714676551&s=grocery&sprefix=ardmore%2Cgrocery%2C87&sr=1-2&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=772f0fd25fcf8f8550286c3838b60e2a&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. From the region of Aberdeenshire comes this whisky, and it does not disappoint.

**[Highland Park 12](https://www.amazon.es/Highland-Park-Whisky-escoc%C3%A9s-paquete/dp/B01BP5O0JU?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1GI4MOUJII5CE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.K2osXIy5pEni53CFzbsKk58BcK5fw3QcfvLZO-mVBUnMNfnrp0ireh2vHH0LBs7JS2DggiaEwl44Qrt9d5jEUsTpdpsrQ7KMs1SufhEkagzXgOSJG3kZfK7go4mDJ0BVA6S4Tuk9Ht4kEHbCTF_MSd7vF6hddLAbnJzOJKZ_EBQjsP5LR2C_O5-zPEiJwE0yWhITd_1QVsTvbBOQoTN2yltBj_JIJuD4bKnPfeXPOZhGMQm2Ob0lEwHI8-2owr7Oo0v5biEW5DXtQyOtSSsirIHD1QS7LIe7HBboxvFpfTs.Y01qxH-wOZofuzODgBEqGmuU8IzsOd0X1ColSTkdbno&dib_tag=se&keywords=Highland+Park+12&qid=1714676595&s=grocery&sprefix=highland+park+12%2Cgrocery%2C88&sr=1-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=e18014ccb397d262032d990d79fa6f51&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. From the remote Orkney Islands, a favourite of the Scottish people.

**[Old Pulteney 12](https://www.amazon.es/Ardmore-Legacy-70-L/dp/B00OGMTNT2?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=39GGVYXTXOS93&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dBaX_Ik3tBqbsA-JC2gUbtKRrg2DSdVc8Jl1dmsFiBxUXTwa9UPTxlY7RJjULj18P3roiZoUY3g2aXF8iT9BmFcDBgZ93wKYVoSG3qvpHYy8OXPL4YBuF4P5PLJEBXtQ1h2OIPwhxJCYqTII-MrHtw.vlkXo8hLoC2JSu5N5aU5lkI5tk5GARFyQrtb5cPsRrY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Ardmore&qid=1714676551&s=grocery&sprefix=ardmore%2Cgrocery%2C87&sr=1-2&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=772f0fd25fcf8f8550286c3838b60e2a&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. Possibly one of the finest whiskies in the Highlands.

**[BenRomach 10](https://www.amazon.es/Highland-Park-Whisky-escoc%C3%A9s-paquete/dp/B01BP5O0JU?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1GI4MOUJII5CE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.K2osXIy5pEni53CFzbsKk58BcK5fw3QcfvLZO-mVBUnMNfnrp0ireh2vHH0LBs7JS2DggiaEwl44Qrt9d5jEUsTpdpsrQ7KMs1SufhEkagzXgOSJG3kZfK7go4mDJ0BVA6S4Tuk9Ht4kEHbCTF_MSd7vF6hddLAbnJzOJKZ_EBQjsP5LR2C_O5-zPEiJwE0yWhITd_1QVsTvbBOQoTN2yltBj_JIJuD4bKnPfeXPOZhGMQm2Ob0lEwHI8-2owr7Oo0v5biEW5DXtQyOtSSsirIHD1QS7LIe7HBboxvFpfTs.Y01qxH-wOZofuzODgBEqGmuU8IzsOd0X1ColSTkdbno&dib_tag=se&keywords=Highland+Park+12&qid=1714676595&s=grocery&sprefix=highland+park+12%2Cgrocery%2C88&sr=1-3&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=e18014ccb397d262032d990d79fa6f51&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. One of the best whiskies of recent years at an affordable price.

## Campbeltown

**Springbank 10**. A quality whisky, and somewhat rare to find.

## Islay

**[Laphroaig 10](https://www.amazon.es/Laphroaig-Whisky-Islay-Single-Malt/dp/B001GLG7C2?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=30T7DCCTIHRYB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z6viJphi2Doat9X4mUu-S2WA-IZWgvSGNh6omv2ui4fDhzN0gzQKq1MSJ2Mx0K-BITb_o4q8hJMeb9HmRe8hA5NycGcMrW27Bhnz6RTQKypMOWitvq2pPlOeKpYruS9fW3pMsgxTPkhavGbXDyATwo3KXkyHV2koIcjmY9IzoDfGQINyrGCZmJT9ziF-Yp0_OuPIh0UeofdQJgusvGZqxsHQvn1-lMj_-7FJM8R5uNCv4z5qfYBZuCTG79B9WeE7qxZGi1e4O8V4TNoW_qVs0HYUNfYYHl9MTU12jXiYaEI.sgDCqHOOoCug84e3Y0qmzCqQFlq4UuHlbjfJgHv25iM&dib_tag=se&keywords=Laphroaig+10&qid=1714676687&s=grocery&sprefix=laphroaig+10%2Cgrocery%2C101&sr=1-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=054810932e507eab24e27a5bfd51706b&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. Once described as "a hospital on fire". Smoky whisky. If you like it, you'll fall in love with it. For the brave.

**[Kilchoman](https://www.amazon.es/Laphroaig-Whisky-Islay-Single-Malt/dp/B001GLG7C2?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=30T7DCCTIHRYB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z6viJphi2Doat9X4mUu-S2WA-IZWgvSGNh6omv2ui4fDhzN0gzQKq1MSJ2Mx0K-BITb_o4q8hJMeb9HmRe8hA5NycGcMrW27Bhnz6RTQKypMOWitvq2pPlOeKpYruS9fW3pMsgxTPkhavGbXDyATwo3KXkyHV2koIcjmY9IzoDfGQINyrGCZmJT9ziF-Yp0_OuPIh0UeofdQJgusvGZqxsHQvn1-lMj_-7FJM8R5uNCv4z5qfYBZuCTG79B9WeE7qxZGi1e4O8V4TNoW_qVs0HYUNfYYHl9MTU12jXiYaEI.sgDCqHOOoCug84e3Y0qmzCqQFlq4UuHlbjfJgHv25iM&dib_tag=se&keywords=Laphroaig+10&qid=1714676687&s=grocery&sprefix=laphroaig+10%2Cgrocery%2C101&sr=1-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=054810932e507eab24e27a5bfd51706b&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. I always have a bottle at home. Islay's only independent distillery.

**[Caol Ila 12](https://www.amazon.es/Whisky-Kilchoman-Machir-Bay-70/dp/B07HTPVZKK?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=EXX5ZNKV66CY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IR6YhqpTOlwnS4J4Mfr0zEiQuWgbMqbIxcEBydxGN1LR70Wdsh6J6Xd7YeduMSHNaYMzvlMnyHN8qoftnW6M_HwSo9SJ5PFomuN-1od2PCg.AHFTS6BGpGC3TKYkfztyyY0OYF5uUecCWCdTrCMrf_Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=Kilchoman&qid=1714676708&s=grocery&sprefix=kilchoman%2Cgrocery%2C92&sr=1-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=carlospaz-21&linkId=6f1f07fa28553c72339cc411cff5ac38&language=es_ES&ref_=as_li_ss_tl)**. This was the beginning of my relationship with smoky whiskies and has been my favourite ever since.

## Blended

**Great King Street Artist's Edition**. One of my favourites, a quality gift for someone who likes whisky. Easy to drink, and with a scandalously cheap price. For UK residents, here is a link where you can find whisky at a good price.

**To buy** If you have check-in luggage, I recommend **[Royal Mile Whiskies](https://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/)** (379 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1PW, opposite St. Giles Church, [maps](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Royal+Mile+Whiskies/@55.9497157,-3.193923,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c79aad37fbcb:0x25b6f3ddbcfc4f8e!8m2!3d55.9497157!4d-3.1917343)). Best prices in Edinburgh. If you can't take it with you, the Duty free at the airport also offers a wide range of whiskies.

![Royal Mile Whisky.jpg](/uploads/Royal_Mile_Whisky_05656ec782.jpg)

Another shop I recommend is **[Cadenhead's Whisky Shop](https://www.cadenhead.scot/)** (172 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DF [maps](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cadenhead's+Whisky+Shop/@55.9511587,-3.1825471,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c7887b21b6c9:0xc231ba8da2628e06!8m2!3d55.9511587!4d-3.1803584)), "**Scotland's oldest independent bottler**" is over a century old and experienced in selling "the water of life". They buy casks from distilleries which they bottle themselves, so you will find unique whiskies at a very reasonable price.

![Cadenheads.jpg](/uploads/Cadenheads_123a8af381.jpg)

I think that with this small article (and I say small because **the world of whisky** is much more extensive) you are now ready to survive in the pubs of **Edinburgh, Stirling** or any other city in Scotland. Cheers! or as they would say in **Scotland** "Slainte mhath" (slan-ye-var).


whisky.jpeg

Whisky, Liquid Gold


**The Isle of Skye can be found in Scotland's northwest coast**, and it is the largest island comprising the archipelago of the Inner Hebrides. With barely ten thousand inhabitants, it is one of the most visited spots in the country for very good reason.

The history of Skye straddles the Medieval kingdom of Dalriada and the Viking raids which took over it, integrating it into a warmongering culture halfway between the Celtic and the Norse: **The Lordship of the Isles, whose main representatives in Skye were the MacDonald and MacLeod clans**. 

![Skye-1.jpg](/uploads/Skye_1_fdd50adb0b.jpg)

Some tourist attractions in Skye include the **impressive geological formations** in the Trotternish peninsula, the **mountainous landscapes of the Cuillin Hills, the cliffs at Neist Point, Dunvegan Castle, and, of course, its picturesque capital, Portree.**

## How to reach the Isle of Skye
------------------------------

Skye's transportation choices are fundamentally three: **by car, by bus or train and, indeed, by ferry**. The **easiest way to reach Skye is by car**, through Skye Bridge and the A87 road. You can reach Portree in around five hours from Glasgow or Edinburgh.

One of **the most scenic (but longer) ways to reach Skye is a combination of a train** ride up to Mallaig and, from there, taking a **ferry to Armadale**, in the south of the island...over the sea to Skye!

Should you prefer it, **you can also take a train to Kyle of Lochals**, and the entrance to the island, **and then cross the bridge by bus**. You can also reach Skye via bus run by Citylink from Glasgow or Inverness.

![Skye-Bridge.jpg](/uploads/Skye_Bridge_9e0bb11e35.jpg)

## What to see in the Isle of Skye
-------------------------------

### Old Man of Storr

The Trotternish peninsula is the greatest natural feature in the Isle of Skye and, amidst its locations, **the Old Man of Storr stands out**, an enormous stone pinnacle looming high above Staffin Bay. The hiking trail to the Storr and back takes two hours and has a four-hundred-meter slope. **The views from up high are breathtaking**. Go early because the parking lot fills up in the blink of an eye!

Other interesting locations in Trotternish include the Kilt Rock waterfall, its landscape. The Quiraing, the Duntulm lookout, Fairy Glen and the [Museum of Island Life](http://www.skyemuseum.co.uk/), where you will be able to visit the burial place of hero Flora MacDonald.

![The-Storr.jpg](/uploads/The_Storr_f75fa18bb7.jpg)

### Fairy Pools

T**he Fairy Pools are a series of lovely natural springs in Skye, on the foothills of the Cuillins**. The Fairy Pools hiking trail meanders through the Glen Brittle creek amongst waterfalls, spellbinding landscapes and pools which, on sunny days, glisten with turquoise hues. The walk there and back takes less than an hour but, should you crave more, you can extend it and take the two-hour circular trail to the foot of the mountains. Make sure to have proper footwear and a raincoat!

![Fairy-Pools.jpg](/uploads/Fairy_Pools_643a6bf591.jpg)

### Dunvegan Castle

**Dunvegan Castle is the most visited monument in Skye**. Located in the northwest of the island, Dunvegan's history is intertwined with its dwellers, the rulers of the MacLeod clan. Even though the original building dates from the 1200s, very little remains of it, since it was almost completely rebuilt during the mid-1800s.

Besides a visit to the indoors of the castle, its grounds and the boat trip to get to know the local seal community are well worth it. Dunvegan Castle is open every day from April to October, from 10:00 to 17:00. Check out further information [here, on the castle's website](https://www.dunvegancastle.com/visitor-information/)!

![Castillo-de-Dunvegan.jpg](/uploads/Castillo_de_Dunvegan_a577cc1a72.jpg)

### Neist Point

The Neist Point cliffs are one of **the most beautiful and unspoiled spots in the Isle of Skye**. The road leading up to them is a poorly maintained single track, so be extra cautious during your drive.

Once there, the views on Neist Point from the parking lot will baffle you. If you wish to reach the lighthouse or the main ravine, you only have to walk down the stairs and follow the marked trail. **It is a wonder to watch the sun set there on clear days!**

![Skye-1.jpg](/uploads/Skye_1_fdd50adb0b.jpg)

### Portree

**Portree is Skye's tiny capital**, and, despite its size, it teems with life and bustle, especially during summertime. In this village you will find souvenir stores, a supermarket, delightful cafés such as the Birch Café and Café Arriba, pubs like The Isles and plentiful lodging options. Don't miss out on the harbor promenade and the views of its colorful houses across it!

Some of the best restaurants in Portree include the Scorrybreac, Sea Breezes or Caberfeidh Restaurant. Should you prefer some pizza to take away, the ones at Pizza in the Skye are mouthwatering.

![Portree-Isle-of-Skye.jpg](/uploads/Portree_Isle_of_Skye_8b054151f6.jpg)

## Activities in the Isle of Skye
------------------------------

-   **Hiking and nature**

Enjoying hiking in Skye, as well as its wildlife and greenery, is as simple as strolling around any spot on the island. Everywhere you look there will be astonishing landscapes, mist-capped mountains, cliffs, waterfalls and millions of sheep. **The best locations to go on a hiking trail are**, nevertheless, **the Cuillin Hills**, in the south of the island, and the geological landscape of **The Quiraing in the north**.

-   **Cultural and foodie visits**

Even though the greatest appeal of the island is its nature, Skye is by no means without cultural and foodie allure. **If you are a whisky buff**, under no circumstances should you miss out on a visit to [Talisker](https://www.malts.com/en-row/distilleries/talisker) distillery and, if you are a gastronomy connoisseur, drop by high-cuisine **restaurants such as Skye Monkstadt 1745, The Three Chimneys, Loch Bay or vegetarian Chidakasha Skye**.

## Tips to visit the Isle of Skye
------------------------------

-   Best season to visit

The best season to visit Skye is **between April and September**, when light hours are longer and the weather in the island is milder. Still, try to avoid the high season in Skye during the months of July and August, since it gets crowded and accommodation prices go through the roof. **May, June or September are your best picks!**

-   Accommodation recommendations 

Accommodation in Skye is often a reason for concern, given how the choices are not extensive, run out easily and may be pricey if not planned carefully. Here are some suggestions of hotels, B&Bs and hostels on the island. Book your accommodation in Skye as early as possible!

* [Scorrybreac B&B](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/scorrybreac-b-amp-b.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2) -- a lovely, traditional B&B in the village of Broadford.

* [Cuillin Hills Hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/cuillin-hills.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2) -- one of the classiest hotels in Portree.

* [House of Juniper](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/spa-classic-room-mckinlay.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2) -- a luxurious hotel placed in Broadford.

* [Portree Youth Hostel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/portree-youth-hostel-syha-hostelling-scotland.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2) -- a hostel in downtown Portree.

Should you prefer to stay in a camping site, take a look at **Camping Skye, as well as Skye Pods in Broadford and Grebrittle Campsite** in the south of the island.

How long does it take to visit the Isle of Skye? 
-------------------------------------------------

Concerning how many days in Skye are enough to explore the island, there is no easy answer. However, **one thing is certain for sure: the longer you stay, the better, since the isle offers activities and beauty galore**. 
Here follows some suggested routes in Skye!

If you are only spending a **single day** in the island, focus on its capital, Portree, and the Trotternish peninsula: it's the most accessible area and it has the highest number of trails and activities. 

Should you be staying for **two days**, add a visit to Dunvegan Castle and an evening at the Neist Point cliffs. 

And should you be lucky enough to stay for longer, make sure to explore the Fairy Pools, Glen Brittle, Sligachan, Elgol, Loch Coruisk, Saint Columba's riverside graveyard, Armadale Castle or Coral Beach.

Be that as it may, and wherever you go, you will be smitten by Skye!

![The-Fairy-Glen.jpg](/uploads/The_Fairy_Glen_3963eb5269.jpg)

## Frequently Asked Questions
--------------------------

-   Do I need a car to explore the Isle of Skye? 

Even though it is not a must to have a car in Skye, it is the best way to explore the island, since public transport in Skye does not reach some of its landmarks.

-   Which are the best spots for taking pictures?

Shooting pictures in Skye is one of the best reasons to visit the island. Some of the best photographic spots in Skye include Neist Point, The Quiraing, The Old Man of Storr, the Cuillin Ridge or the colorful houses in Portree.

-   What to do in Skye on a rainy day? 

Should rain take you by surprise in Skye (which is highly likely) you can visit locations such as Talisker distillery, the Museum of Island Life or the dinosaur displays at Staffin.

Skye-2.jpg

The Isle of Skye: Complete Guide

Inverness, the **capital city of Scotland’s Highlands**, is one of the most visited cities in the country. With fifty thousand inhabitants, it is a popular hub for lodging, cuisine, and departing guided tours for travelers visiting the Highlands. Tourism in Inverness is not without allure, since it boasts monuments, museums, traditional stores and walks which deserve spending a full day of your trip.

Stay tuned and read this complete Inverness guide!

## History and culture of Inverness

The history of Inverness **dives deep into Scottish Prehistoric times**, given how its location **was already inhabited during the Late Mesolithic period (approx. 6500 BC)**. Inverness would remain continuously inhabited throughout Protohistory to become one of the capitals of the Picts. **Famous Saint Columba would attend its site during the 500s in a bid to convert local settlers to Christianity**, a visit of which Medieval sources are kept and archaeological remnants deem it, at the very least, as feasible.

**Upon the advent of the Middle Ages, Inverness would find itself in a strategic position**, being a hotspot for conflict and rivalry both between clans and also between Scottish noblemen and kings. **During this era, the city suffered plenty of raids from the Kingdom of the Isles and the MacDonalds, their ruling warlords.**

Already in the **Modern Era**, Inverness **would play a vital role during the Jacobite uprisings taking place during the late 1600s and the early 1700s**, particularly during the latest one, the well-known uprising of 1745 which **ended with the tragic defeat of the Battle of Culloden in the outskirts of the city.**

![inverness siglo XVIII.jpg](/uploads/inverness_siglo_XVIII_9564d80ed1.jpg)

Present-day Inverness is a small, pleasant town where traditional Scottish culture, music and cuisine can be enjoyed.

## What to see in Inverness

Here follows a breakdown featuring what to see in Inverness and the main landmarks in this city.

### Downtown Inverness

Downtown Inverness revolves around Academy Street, Church Street and riverside Bank Street. Across the river, King Street and the Ness Walk complete the layout of the old town. The visitor will find most of the lodging and restaurants here, as well as all kinds of stores and eventful landmarks.

### Inverness Castle
Present-day Inverness Castle dates back to 1836, and it was built upon the site of several Medieval fortresses, the last of which already laid in ruins during the middle 1600s. The 19th-century castle would serve as a prison and courthouse up until 2020.

Nowadays, the building is under restoration and [it is expected to be fully open for visitors by 2025](https://invernesscastle.scot/), including the brand-new lookout. Nevertheless, visitors can walk up to the entrance to take in the views and the statue of Jacobite hero Flora MacDonald.

![Castillo-de-Inverness--2.jpg](/uploads/Castillo_de_Inverness_2_de1c1d3e07.jpg)

### Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
The [Inverness Museum and Art Gallery](https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-museum-and-art-gallery/) is an ideal place to learn about the bountiful history, heritage and culture of the city. Its exhibitions feature geology, natural history, Pictish archaeology, ancient weapons and old Jacobite souvenirs, as well as temporary displays of local art.

Inverness Museum is open from April to November, from Tuesday to Saturday, and there is **no admission fee**.

### Victorian Market
Should you be looking for a shopping spot in Inverness, you can’t miss out on its [Victorian Market](https://thevictorianmarket.co.uk/). Placed in the city’s heart, these 1890 arcades host over thirty local stores of all sorts, such as jewelry and fashion shops, gifts, dime stores, bakeries and restaurants. It is open every day!

### Inverness Cathedral
[Inverness Cathedral](https://invernesscathedral.org/), also known as Saint Andrew’s, built in Neo Gothic style, stands across the banks of river Ness and dates back to 1860, being the seat of the Episcopalian Church in the bishopric of Moray, Ross and Caithness. It is open every day during spring and summertime, and it can be visited free of charge.

![Inverness-Cathedral,-dedicated-to-St-Andrew-Inverness.jpg](/uploads/Inverness_Cathedral_dedicated_to_St_Andrew_Inverness_034fb359ea.jpg)

### Old High Church
The Old High Church, of Presbyterian faith, is the oldest church in Inverness since, even though its main building dates from the 1700s, the base of its tower was built in the 1300s. Its graveyard witnessed the harrowing executions of Jacobite soldiers following their defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and remnants of this event can still be found in the southeastern area of the cemetery.

## Trips from Inverness
Here follows some interesting trips from Inverness, such as Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield or Chanonry Point!

### Trip to Loch Ness
Should you be interested in visiting Loch Ness from Inverness, it can be very easily reached by bus in just over half an hour. Once there, besides trying to get a glimpse of Nessie in its dark waters, don’t miss out on a visit to the ruins of Urquhart Castle. You can also reach Fort Augustus by bus and admire the loch from there.

![Lago-Ness-Inverness.jpg](/uploads/Lago_Ness_Inverness_3c06c2f582.jpg)

### Culloden Battlefield

In just a twenty-minute bus ride from Inverness, you can visit Culloden Battlefield, an invaluable piece of Scotland’s history.
Both in the battlefield itself, which is admission-free to visit, and in its [visitor center](https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden), you will be able to discover all details about the battle which took place there in 1746, the last one to be fought in British territory. Do not miss out on a walk to the memorial honoring fallen Jacobites and admire the cairns marking the clans’ mass graves.

![invernes-culloden-escocia.jpg](/uploads/invernes_culloden_escocia_db191e542f.jpg)

### Clava Cairns and dolphin sighting at Chanonry Point

Lastly, we propose two different trips in the outskirts of Inverness!

Firstly, the Clava Cairns Megalithic burials, free to visit with no admission fee, where you will behold four-thousand-year-old, Bronze-Age graves.

Finally, if you are a wildlife buff, make sure to go dolphin sighting at Chanonry Point. If the tides are rising when you arrive there, you will be able to spot several families of local dolphins on the hunt.

## Activities and experiences in Inverness
Should you crave even more to do in Inverness, stay tuned and discover a charming bookstore and an incredible pub where you will enjoy your nighttime in the capital of the Highlands.

- Leaky’s Bookstore
Under no circumstances should you miss out on a visit to Leaky’s Bookstore in Inverness. It is **a second-hand bookstore lodged in an old church**. It is a delight to wander its aisles and rooms on the lookout for bibliographic bargains!

- Hootananny Pub
Hootanany Pub is **the perfect place to enjoy live music in Inverness**. It is open every day, serving suppers in a traditional backdrop and offering live concerts featuring the best Scottish folk artists. Book a table on their website if you don’t want to miss all the fun!

## Useful tips for tourists in Inverness
### Where to stay in Inverness
There are different lodging options in Inverness according to your personal tastes and needs. Here follows a choice of some recommended B&Bs and hotels in Inverness close to the city center, plus another exceptional one in the outskirts.

- [Ardentorrie Guest House](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/ardentorrie-house.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&room1=A%2CA) – a traditional lodge in front of Inverness Castle.
- [Hootananny](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/hootananny.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&room1=A%2CA) – a lovely hotel above the famous pub featuring traditional Scottish music.
- [Bunchrew House Hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/bunchrew-house.en.html?aid=1433459&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&room1=A%2CA) – a historical manor from the 1600s in the outskirts of Inverness.

### Where to eat in Inverness
There are countless pub and restaurant choices to enjoy the best food in Inverness. Take a look at these four options!
- River House – the seafood mecca in Inverness, try its oysters and mussels!
- Rocpool Restaurant – gourmet avant-garde food in an exclusive location.
- Fig & Thistle – a restaurant featuring Scottish and International cuisine with delicious salmon dishes.
- The Mustard Seed – traditional Scottish cuisine in an old church by the river.

### Moving around in Inverness
Getting to **Inverness from Edinburgh or Glasgow will take you about three hours**, and your best picks are direct bus lines run by Megabus and Citylink, or ScotRail trains. Once in the capital of the Highlands, you will have no trouble finding your way around the city center on foot. Should you want to reach further places such as Culloden or Loch Ness, there are regular buses which will take you there easily.

## Frequently Asked Questions about Inverness
- **How many days do I need to visit Inverness?**
You can visit Inverness in a single day, but if you have a great interest in the city and its surroundings as a visitor, it is best to spend two days to get to know it better. You can find so many ideas in this travel guide!
- **What to do in a single day in Inverness?**
If you are spending a single day in Inverness, you can stroll the center and the banks of river Ness, admire the castle lookout, discover its museum and snoop around traditional stores.
- **How can I reach Inverness from Edinburgh or Glasgow?**
You can comfortably reach Inverness from Edinburgh or Glasgow by train with Scotrail. You can also opt for the bus, which will take you around three hours.
- **Which is the best season to visit Inverness?**
The best season to visit Inverness is between the months of April and September, when light hours are longer, and the monuments are open. Avoid August because of the crowds.
- **Is Inverness a pedestrian-friendly city?**
Inverness is a very pedestrian-friendly city. All promenades, monuments, and stores are within a twenty-minute walk.



>Visiting **Inverness is a must in Scotland**, especially if you are going to **explore the Highlands**, or if you are interested in the fascinating **history of the Jacobites**.

Hurry up and discover the pretty capital of the Highlands!


inverness-1.jpg

Inverness: A Full Guide to Your Visit

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This project was born from work, humility and experience in order to make people who visit Scotland feel part of its history and its legends.

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After braving the many slopes you have to walk up and down in the [Scottish capital](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/things-to-do-and-see-in-edinburgh), you will surely work up an appetite! Although there is a common stereotype that **Scotland** eats badly, I’d like to debunk this myth a bit. In my article about the best places to eat in Stirling, I described some classic Scottish dishes, like haggis, so this time I’ll introduce some other products, from the land and sea.

The centre of Edinburgh has two restaurants specialising in mussels. But the kitchens of Scottish restaurants are not only filled with mussels: oysters, salmon, crab, scallops and much more can also be found here. While you can enjoy this fresh, local produce in almost any corner of Scotland, the VisitScotland team has compiled their picks for the [12 best seafood sthacks in the country](https://www.visitscotland.com/blog/food-drink/best-seafood-scotland/).

**Scotch pie**, a type of meat pie, is another of the delicacies that can be tried in Scotland. This is usually a stew of beef, lamb or another meat, protected by a hot water  pastry. I say “protected” because originally the pastry was only used as a case for baking the meat in, but eventually, people realised that the pastry was worth eating too! Pies aren’t just made with meat, but can also be filled with many other ingredients - even macaroni! With so many options, in order to find the best in the world, the Scots created "[The World Championship Scotch Pie Awards](https://worldchampionshipscotchpieawards.org/)" in 1999, which chooses the best pies across 11 different categories. Dare to try some of these Scotch pies in the city's restaurants!

After this master class on **Scottish gastronomy**, it's time to taste them for yourself, sampling the flavours and smells of these dishes, to verify that the Scots do indeed eat well!

## 1. [Howies Restaurant](https://www.howies.uk.com/venues/)
If you want to eat quality **Scottish food** at a good price, this is the place to go. This family-run restaurant has earned a great reputation for its **traditional Scottish cuisine** and its high-quality ingredients. In addition, all the produce it uses comes from the country, whether the sea or the land. It currently has two stores in **Edinburgh** and one in Aberdeen. For me, this is without a doubt one of the places you can't miss on your visit to Edinburgh, serving the best **traditional Scottish food** in the Old Town.

Address: [10-14 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2HG](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Howies+Restaurant/@55.9487979,-3.1956155,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c79ac01c9fbd:0x87c219cc3647bbee!8m2!3d55.9487979!4d-3.1934268)

Address: [29 Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Howies+Restaurant/@55.9541116,-3.1878579,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c78ecfa93c4f:0xf2c647c0324d74ef!8m2!3d55.9541116!4d-3.1856692)

Address: [50 Chapel St, Aberdeen AB10 1SN](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Howies+Restaurant/@57.144932,-2.1121587,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48840e26b0781a39:0x6fb24abc5c03af95!8m2!3d57.144932!4d-2.10997)

![Howies Victoria Street.jpg](/uploads/Howies_Victoria_Street_a4dc2b5421.jpg)

## 2. [Royal Mile Tavern](https://www.royalmiletavern.com/)
This is a **traditional Scottish pub** steeped in history where you can taste some of the country's most iconic dishes, including **haggis**. This pub is centrally located on the Royal Mile, with the kitchen open until 9.00 pm, followed by live music every day from 10.00 pm. I also recommend their **Scottish breakfast**! One of the best pubs on **The Royal Mile**.

Address: [127 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SG](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Royal+Mile+Tavern/@55.9504275,-3.1889688,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c7858a13da65:0x50eb255e793d7aa1!8m2!3d55.9503875!4d-3.1867053)

![Royal Mile Tabern Edinburgh.jpg](/uploads/Royal_Mile_Tabern_Edinburgh_781a8d5f58.jpg)

## 3. [The Mitre Bar](https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/themitrebarroyalmileedinburgh#0)
Attached to the Royal Mile Tavern, this is another traditional, **historic pub on the Royal Mile**, which opened at the beginning of the 19th century. If you do choose to go in, you will be instantly hooked, thanks to its excellent selection of **craft beers**, **whisky** and **gin**; as well as being a restaurant with an **extensive menu of traditional food**, from Scottish breakfasts to the classic Scotch pies. This is a place I always like to take visitors to the city.

Address: [131-133 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SG](https://www.google.com/maps/place/131-133+High+St,+Edinburgh+EH1+1SG/@55.9504135,-3.1890397,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c78f61e6814f:0x49094522fa0d2427!8m2!3d55.9504135!4d-3.186851) 


## 4. [The Dome](https://www.thedomeedinburgh.com/)
If you want to surprise a loved one, don’t hesitate to take them to this place. It’s one of the **most spectacular bars and restaurants in Edinburgh’s New Town**, where the only thing missing from the atmosphere is **James Bond** himself entering to order a martini (shaken, not stirred). You can have almost anything, from infusions in the coffee room, to drinks and dinner (I recommend booking for the latter). And although it sounds strange at first, you simply must visit its luxurious bathrooms on the far right, next to the dining area.

Address: [14 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PF](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Dome/@55.9536492,-3.1978448,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c79107371c41:0x96d88c71cb27891a!8m2!3d55.9536492!4d-3.1956561)

![The Dome Edimburgo.jpg](/uploads/The_Dome_Edimburgo_fe8de4147b.jpg)

## 5. [Mussel Inn Seafood Restaurant](https://www.mussel-inn.com/)
This is one of the **best restaurants in Edinburgh to taste seafood**, especially mussels and seafood chowder, which is a cream of potatoes, fish and seafood that won’t disappoint. 75% of its mussels come from **Scotland**, and the remaining 25% from nearby Ireland and England. And if you like oysters they have quite affordable prices for them too! Accompany these dishes with any of the wines from their extensive menu. Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants to visit in the Old Town.

Address: [61-65 Rose St, Edinburgh EH2 2NH](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Mussel+Inn+Seafood+Restaurant/@55.9535617,-3.1978135,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x4887c79107371c41:0x96d88c71cb27891a!2sThe+Dome!8m2!3d55.9535617!4d-3.1956248!3m4!1s0x0:0x47a9d7abaa8f28de!8m2!3d55.9525398!4d-3.1990626)

![Mussel Inn Edinburgh.jpg](/uploads/Mussel_Inn_Edinburgh_029e128cac.jpg)

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## 6. [The Mussel and Steak Bar](https://www.musselandsteakbar.com/)
This restaurant, **specialising in seafood**, opened in 2005, and thanks to the quality of its dishes, it has become famous both among visitors and locals alike. It has a very affordable lunch menu, served from Monday to Thursday, between 11:30 am and 3:00 pm, and Friday to Sunday from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. This is one of the most popular choices in the Old Town.

Address: [110 Grassmarket, W Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Mussel+and+Steak+Bar/@55.9481655,-3.1941702,18.66z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc769b66769e53635!8m2!3d55.9480186!4d-3.1942018)

## 7. [Grain Store](https://www.grainstore-restaurant.co.uk/)
One of the most **romantic restaurants in Edinburgh**, this is a great place to invite that special person. It’s unlike anywhere else in the city and has views of one of the most iconic streets of Edinburgh, **Victoria Street**. To dine in this quality restaurant, which uses local, Scottish produce, reservations are highly recommended.

Address: [30 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JW](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Grain+Store+Restaurant/@55.9486012,-3.1964957,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c79aeda9f581:0x8236754989042a53!8m2!3d55.9485982!4d-3.194307)

![Grain Store.jpg](/uploads/Grain_Store_977e4f0cab.jpg)
![Grain Store Edimburgo 2.jpg](/uploads/Grain_Store_Edimburgo_2_65059f27be.jpg)

## 8. [Oink](https://www.oinkhogroast.co.uk/about/)
I’ll never get tired of saying it, but one of the most important inventions in Scotland, after whisky and kilts, is Oink where you’ll find the “**best pulled pork sandwich you'll ever try**”. Alan Marshall and Sandy Pate are two farmers from the south of Scotland (the Borders region), where they raise pigs and sheep, feeding them exclusively with natural products. It was in 2001 that they came up with the brilliant idea of ​​bringing their products to the **capital of Scotland**, Edinburgh. In the window display of each of its three venues, you will see the roast pig of the day, used for the pulled pork sandwiches, which are simply poetry for the palate. **You can't leave Edinburgh without trying it!**

Address: [34 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JW](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oink+Victoria+Street/@55.9504132,-3.1956058,15z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1soink!3m4!1s0x4887c79af26d55b9:0x73de4541632ac44f!8m2!3d55.948607!4d-3.1942404)

Address: [38 Hanover St, Edinburgh EH2 2DR](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oink+Hog+Roast+Hanover+Street/@55.9599748,-3.2367616,14z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1soink!3m4!1s0x4887c7911e0955b7:0x2cac12c6392a8f2b!8m2!3d55.9530549!4d-3.1972664)

Address: [82 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BZ](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oink+Scottish+Hog+Roast/@55.9504119,-3.1956058,15z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1soink!3m4!1s0x4887b877e79211cb:0x537410a6df80cce0!8m2!3d55.9519902!4d-3.1768995)

![Oink Edimburgo 2.jpg](/uploads/Oink_Edimburgo_2_3bb1e0dc3d.jpg)
![Oink Edimburgo.jpg](/uploads/Oink_Edimburgo_38820a2167.jpg)

## 9. [Hula Juice Bar and Cafe](https://www.hulajuicebar.co.uk/)
With a menu full of **vegetarian and vegan options**, this small restaurant **specialises in healthy and organic food**. It’s great value for money, and among the best of the best establishments in the Old Town, located on Victoria Street not far from Oink (ideal for vegetarians travelling in the company of meat-eaters!). Their natural juices will enchant you, and it’s a great option for breakfast or lunch (it closes at 6:00 pm).

Address: [103-105 W Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JP](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hula+Juice+Bar+%26+Cafe/@55.9481152,-3.1968777,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887c795859797a3:0x6baa2a5928477df5!8m2!3d55.9481152!4d-3.1946891)

Address: [94A Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QA](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hula+Juice+Bar+%26+Healthy+Eatery/@55.9481149,-3.2034438,15z/data=!4m9!1m2!2m1!1shula!3m5!1s0x4887c7c6e138f667:0x520f54f5da56f755!8m2!3d55.9436138!4d-3.2079388!15sCgRodWxhWgYiBGh1bGGSARFicnVuY2hfcmVzdGF1cmFudA)

![Hula Edimburgo.jpg](/uploads/Hula_Edimburgo_73f8a6e742.jpg)

## 10. [Clarinda's Tearoom](https://www.instagram.com/clarindas.tearoom/?hl=en)
This is the **perfect place to have a classic afternoon tea**, with pastries or their irresistible carrot cake, served by their charming staff in a setting straight out of a novel.

Address: [69 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BS](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Clarinda's+Tearoom/@55.9521432,-3.1795085,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4887b877ddd7a887:0x6999994dbf724985!8m2!3d55.9521402!4d-3.1773198)

Comer en Edimburgo.jpg

10 best restaurants in Edinburgh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of the forefront figures in the history of Scottish architecture and design. Not only his work proved fundamental to the development of the renowned Glasgow Style, but it also influenced European artistic movements as important as Symbolism and Modernism, leading British Art Nouveau alongside his wife, Margaret MacDonald.

![Charles Rennie Mackintosh 1.jpg](/uploads/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh_1_37d07a3bc1.jpg)

## Biografía temprana

Son of Margaret MacIntosh (maiden name Rennie) and William MacIntosh, a local police superintendent, Charles Rennie Mackintosh **was born in Glasgow on June 7, 1868**, within an extensive family. His early education took place in public schools and institutions in the city. At some point during his youth, without knowing exactly why, **the spelling of his surname changed from MacIntosh to Mackintosh**.

**In 1884**, Charles **started working as an architect’s apprentice, and thus began his higher education at the Glasgow School of Art**, where he always stood out among his peers. Only six years later, he was already an associate of one the best architecture bureaus in the city, the same one where he had carried out his design and delineation internship.

His inspiration would always be rooted in Glasgow itself, as the city where he spent most of his life, and where he would become infused with Modernist and industrial ideas, as well as a new Asian style called Japonisme, since Japan held a close relation with the Clyde dockyards at the time. **Mackintosh loved the simplicity, pragmatism and use of natural materials** that such style boasted, being so **similar to Modernism** regarding its purity of lines and rejection of the pompous and the intricate.

![Charles Rennie Mackintosh 3.jpg](/uploads/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh_3_4514bdf8a3.jpg)

## Glasgow Style

**As a combination of Japonisme, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and the influence that his vibrant hometown always exerted on him**, Charles Rennie Mackintosh gave birth to a new, original form of architecture and design: **the Glasgow Style**. Marked by its strong, **right angles and a liking for floral motifs**, Mackintosh would stand by it throughout his entire career.

But **no genius works alone**, and Charles was fortunate enough to closely surround himself with other brilliant personalities from contemporary arts and architecture. **Such is the case of Herbert MacNair, a peer from the Glasgow School of Art** and his subsequent internships, and an **inseparable friend of Mackintosh’s**. Both were fatefully introduced by the art school **dean to the sisters Margaret and Frances Macdonald**, whose artistic styles were strikingly similar to theirs, therefore, not only **they got married**, but they also collaborated throughout their whole lives by means of a **well-known group called The Four**. 

![Charles Rennie Mackintosh 6 rosa.jpg](/uploads/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh_6_rosa_0edd8af83d.jpg)

## Main works by Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s designs were highly popular in Scotland and, to a certain extent, also abroad in the early 1900s, at the height of his career.

Some of his main architectural works include:
- **the new Glasgow School of Art (1897-1909)**, which cemented his reputation internationally, and which sadly caught fire several times.
- **The Willow Tearooms (1903)**, an elegant tearoom that Mackintosh designed for the reputable entrepreneur Catherine Cranston. 
- The offices for the Glasgow Herald (1895), known nowadays as **The Lighthouse**.
- and **Hill House (1902-1904)**, which he erected for Scottish publisher Walter Blackie.

In almost all of his projects, **the creative mastermind in charge of the wondrous decoration would be his wife, Margaret MacDonald,** as both gave birth to designs as well-liked as the so-called “Mackintosh Rose”.  
    
    
![Charles Rennie Mackintosh 4 Hill House.jpg](/uploads/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh_4_Hill_House_6cf326ed46.jpg)

## Personal life of Charles Rennie Mackintosh

As mentioned before, Charles Rennie Mackintosh **married a brilliant artist called Margaret Macdonald in 1900**. **The Mackintosh couple** would be one of the greatest, **most successful art tandems of their generation**, as both influenced each other’s styles, and their projects became their legacy and offspring. Charles himself would claim that his wife’s work always comprised three quarters of his architectural projects, and that he only had a dash of talent, but Margaret was a genius.

Even though the works of Margaret MacDonald were at that time, alongside her sister Frances’, as famous as her husband’s, nowadays she has somewhat fallen into worldwide anonymity, and only Art Nouveau and Scottish painting connoisseurs know and appreciate paintings as wonderful as **The May Queen or White Rose and Red Rose**.

![Margaret MacDonald.jpg](/uploads/Margaret_Mac_Donald_ea8c6b0ba1.jpg)

## Legacy and recognition

The legacy of Mackintosh and his colleagues exerted a far-reaching influence on Europe’s contemporary, Modernist architecture, and it poses one of the most relevant examples of Scottish architecture and design in history. His fame would grow ever larger after his passing in 1928, and **it experienced a remarkable revival in the 1990**s.  

Indeed, between November 1996 and February 1997, the **New York Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted a monographic exhibition to him**, accompanied by a series of symposiums and conferences convened by Scottish scholars such as Pamela Robertson. 

**Mackintosh’s face has also appeared on Scottish £100 notes**, and it has also been **immortalized in a dazzling piece of urban art in Glasgow by graffiti artist Rogue One**. If you wish to discover this painting and more incredible urban art, as well as some jaw-dropping Mackintosh buildings in the city, join one of our [Glasgow free tours!](https://scotlandcitytours.com/tours-glasgow/glasgow-free-tour)

If you are also going to visit Edinburgh, you should know that a branch of **The Willow Tearooms inspired by Mackintosh's architecture and design has recently opened its doors**. Stop by to have something and then take a walk with our free tours through the capital of Scotland!
    
![Charles Rennie Mackintosh 2.jpg](/uploads/Charles_Rennie_Mackintosh_2_87a292d691.jpg)

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

* Who was Charles Rennie Mackintosh and why is he important?

Mackintosh was one of the most remarkable architects and designers in Scottish history, and one of the leaders of British Art Nouveau.

* Which are some of Mackintosh’s most famous works?

His most renowned works include the Glasgow School of Art, The Willow Tearooms, The Lighthouse and Hill House.

* How did Mackintosh’s style influence modern design?

Mackintosh designs influenced artistic trends such as Modernism and Symbolism, infusing modern architecture with his elegant, straight lines.

* Did Mackintosh take part in any notable collaborations throughout his career?

During his career, Mackintosh always collaborated with his wife, Margaret MacDonald, and frequently, with his sister-in-law Frances and her husband, Herbert MacNair, in a group known as The Four. 

* Where can I see Mackintosh’s works in the present?

Some buildings designed by Mackintosh can currently be visited in Glasgow and its surroundings, such as The Lighthouse, The Willow Tearooms, Hill House or the posthumous House for an Art Lover. 



Charles Rennie Mackintosh 1.jpg

Charles Rennie Mackintosh: The architect who revolutionised Art Nouveau

Robert Burns, also known as **Rabbie Burns or The Ayrshire Bard**, is probably the most famous and influential poet in all Scottish history. Scottish culture, as well as some of its traditions, are tinged with the spirit and works of this brilliant author. **Pioneer of Romanticism**, **defender of the Scots language** and an advocate of Liberalism and even early-stage Socialism, Robert Burns is a fundamental character to understand Scotland.

![Robert Burns 3 retrato de Alexander_Nasmyth.jpg](/uploads/Robert_Burns_3_retrato_de_Alexander_Nasmyth_6559c6d26a.jpg)

## Robert Burns’ early life: birth and education
Robert Burns **was born in the village of Alloway**, in the outskirts of Ayr, southwest Scotland, **on January 25th, 1759**. He was the eldest of seven siblings in a family of farmers, hence his childhood was beset with hardships and strenuous work, which would eventually take a toll on his fragile health. Educated by his own father and a young local teacher, his talent seemed to be doomed to never flourish when, in 1779, at the age of twenty, **he founded Tarbolton’s Bachelor’s Club** alongside his brother Gilbert, **a place of meeting, debate and leisure**.

A few years later, encouraged by his friends, Roberts Burns took his first steps in his career as a poet while he kept working in his family farm and engaged in sultry affairs with several local ladies. Finally, in 1788, he married Jean Armour, the “Belle of Mauchline”, with whom **he had nine children** (which didn’t stop him from having **three more with other women**).

After a convoluted, tragically brief life filled with strain, hardships, struggling, romance, poetry and politics, **Robert Burns passed away on July 21st, 1796** at the age of thirty-seven, most likely owing to an aggravated rheumatic cardiopathy.

![Robert Burns 2 cottage Alloway.jpg](/uploads/Robert_Burns_2_cottage_Alloway_737f88b6ba.jpg)

## Robert Burns’ main works
Robert Burns graced Scottish poetry with works as relevant as the romantic “Ae fond kiss”, devoted to his beloved Clarinda, or “A red, red rose”, inspired by folk rhyme that he heard a townswoman sing; the delightful ode **“To a mouse”**; the fantastic and folklore-packed poem **“Tam O’Shanter”**; and, of course, the song which made him literally worldwide famous, **“Auld Lang Syne”**, an ode to nostalgia and friendship which is usually sang as a group during New Year’s Eve, arms intertwined.

**To a Mouse - BY ROBERT BURNS**
_On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785._

Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
          Wi’ bickerin brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee
          Wi’ murd’ring pattle!

I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion
Has broken Nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion,
          Which makes thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
          An’ fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen-icker in a thrave
          ’S a sma’ request:
I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,
          An’ never miss ’t!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin!
An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,
          O’ foggage green!
An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin,
          Baith snell an’ keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
An’ weary Winter comin fast,
An’ cozie here, beneath the blast,
          Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
          Out thro’ thy cell.

That wee-bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble,
          But house or hald,
To thole the Winter’s sleety dribble,
          An’ cranreuch cauld!

But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
          Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
          For promis’d joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e’e,
          On prospects drear!
An’ forward tho’ I canna see,
          I guess an’ fear!


## Robert Burns and Scottish culture
Thanks to his straightforward prose, honest and direct, **heir to the Makar tradition heralded by bards and troubadours in Renaissance Scotland**, Robert Burns’ lyrical works soon became highly appreciated both by his closest environment and also by a humbler audience. In addition to this, **his liberal political ideas** and the fact that **he favored the use of Scots in his works**, a traditional Scottish language which was sternly frowned upon by the elites back then, Rabbie eventually **became the most beloved poet by the folk**, being almost revered.


## Celebrating “Burns Night” and its meaning

Precisely due to the fact that both the humble folk and his friends enormously valued his works as well as himself, **when Robert Burns passed away his loved ones started meeting every January 25th, the poet’s birthday, to cherish his memory with a very special dinner brimming with Scottish traditions.**
Nowadays, this **“Burns Night” or “Burns Supper”** is still celebrated yearly on this very same date, and, in fact, it is not only one of Scotland’s most cherished and traditional festivities, but it is also celebrated wherever Scots have emigrated, bringing Scottish culture together across the world.
Burns Night consists of a dinner in which guests, welcomed by a bagpiper and special speech, have a first course of soup, and a main course of [haggis](https://scotlandcitytours.com/blog/what-is-haggis), which is presented in the dining room with the highest honors, **reciting the poem by Robert Burns “Address to a Haggis”**. The meal goes on with loads of whisky, bagpipe tunes, Scottish poetry, songs, toasts to the bard and the comical “Toast to the Lassies”, followed by its correspondent “Reply from the Lassies”, a rhetoric gender fight on a humorous note. At last, the heartfelt “Auld Lang Syne” is sung.

![Robert Burns 5 Supper.jpg](/uploads/Robert_Burns_5_Supper_ec77e9cc5a.jpg)

## Places related to Burns in Scotland

The traveler wishing to visit sites in Scotland related to Robert Burns should undoubtedly head to Alloway, the Ayrshire village that witnessed the poet’s early years. Both his birthplace and also a wonderful museum entirely devoted to him can be explored, besides a lengthy walk encompassing some of the places described in “Tam O’ Shanter”, in Alloway’s old church and the Rozelle House pictorial gallery, all of which are renowned landmarks of tourism in Scotland.
Not far away from there, in Tarbolton, the notable **Bachelor’s Club** founded by a young Robert Burns can also be visited and, further south, in Dumfries, there is also **The Globe Inn**, frequently trodden by the Scottish poet, where travelers can eat and embark on themed tours.
Should your trip be limited to the city of Edinburgh, fret not! Drop by the marvelous **Writers’ Museum** and indulge in endless trivia about Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Stevenson, to whom the venue is entirely devoted. If you wish to complete your experience, you can take a _free tour throughout the Old Town_!

![the-globe-inn-robert-burns-.jpg](/uploads/the_globe_inn_robert_burns_475515ae63.jpg)

## Robert Burns’ present-day legacy
Robert Burns’ legacy reaches far beyond his uncontested literary value, and it exceeds Scotland’s borders. His defense of the Scots language and folk traditions, his innovative political orientation and even his extraordinary charisma have made him today as beloved as he was in life, **which can be attested by the countless statues in his honor dotting the world**. Thanks to his works and the legacy that his loved ones preserved and spread,** events such as Burns Night or songs like “Auld Lang Syne”** bring the descendants of Scottish emigrants far and wide together to this day, connecting them again to the nation from which they all once departed.
His legacy is so influential that you don’t even have to be Scottish to be touched while singing “Auld Lang Syne” as the new year approaches!

![Robert Burns 4 estuatua en Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA.jpg](/uploads/Robert_Burns_4_estuatua_en_Milwaukee_Wisconsin_USA_f1335437ad.jpg)

## How to explore the world of Robert Burns
To know more, you can read some of the best poems by Robert Burns here: scotland. org/events/burns-night/the-poetry-of-robert-burns 
And delve deeper into his life and works here: poetryfoundation. org/poets/robert-burns 
Or you can also check out this veritable encyclopedia of Robert Burns: robertburns. org


Robert Burns 1.jpg

Robert Burns: Scotland’s legendary poet and his cultural impact

## Wild Haggis

The **haggis is an animal native to the Scottish Highlands** that lives on the slopes of the mountains. It is relatively small, with four legs, rough skin and quite a lot of hair. But having to live in such mountainous areas means that this animal has had to adapt to the very steep terrain. So, it has evolved to have two legs on one side longer than the other. This means there are two species: those that travel clockwise because their right legs are shorter than their left; and those whose right legs are longer and travel anticlockwise. Both species coexist peacefully and can climb the steep mountains without difficulty.

Hunting them is relatively simple since a wild haggis is a timid creature, so you just have to scare it, and it will run away. Since it only runs in one direction, you can wait for it to go around the mountain and catch it easily - but be careful, they bite!

To cook your haggis, put it in brine for a couple of days to make it tender. According to several records, people on the **Isle of Lewis and Harris** once used the skin to craft their sporran (the bag worn as part of the traditional Scottish dress). Today, the skin is simply discarded.

Did you believe the story? A third of Americans visiting **Scotland** believe that the wild haggis exists!

![Hag Haggiswild.jpg](/uploads/Hag_Haggiswild_487c125537.jpg)
_Wild haggis, Kelvingrove museum Glasgow_

## History of Haggis

Haggis, the **national dish of Scotland**, is a somewhat complex recipe made from sheep entrails: the heart, liver and lungs are usually part of the standard dish, mixed with oatmeal, onions and other spices. Everything is chopped into pieces and cooked inside the sheep’s stomach. Finally, it is served with mashed potatoes, mashed turnip and whisky sauce.

Scotland is a country with grand romanticism: so much so that this delicious dish even has a romantic poem dedicated to it, written in the 18th century by the **famous Scottish poet Robert Burns**.

However, in reality, the origins of haggis point in many directions - even to England! Catherine Brown, a Scottish food historian, believes that haggis was invented in England, having found a cookbook from 1615 with a recipe for a pudding called "haggas" that is very similar to haggis. But did Shakespeare write a poem to **haggis**? 

Other sources suggest that it was brought to Britain by the Romans in the 1st century AD, although there is little evidence to confirm this theory.

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![Haggis.jpg](/uploads/Haggis_85cd0b1a2f.jpg)
haggis

It has also been associated with Scandinavia, specifically the **Vikings**, who settled in Scotland between the 8th and 13th centuries. The etymologist Walter William Steak said that the word “haggis” derives from the Old Norse word “haggw”, meaning to cut into pieces or chunks.
Haggis has even been attributed to France due to their **old alliance with Scotland**, and they may have introduced in the late 13th century.
However, the earliest written reference to a haggis-like sausage comes from the Greek playwright Aristophanes, who mentioned it in 423 BC.
 
### How did haggis become Scotland's national dish?

Curiously, the **first mention** of haggis comes from the English.

At the end of the 17th century, the English diet changed due to the **Agricultural Revolution**. There was a wider variety of better quality foods, so people no longer needed to eat these less appealing sheep parts. Dishes like haggis went out of style in England and were only associated with the poorest working classes. Yet the opposite happened in Scotland! A severe economic recession in the 17th century led to 7 years of extreme famine, which made dishes like haggis more popular.

The English began to mock the poverty of Scottish food, attempting to humiliate them. The famous English writer Samuel Johnson said, “a grain, which in England is normally fed to horses, in Scotland feeds its people”.

So while England rejected haggis as a food, the Scots, with their wounded pride and constant struggle to differentiate themselves from the English, claimed haggis as their own.

However, the love story between **Scotland and haggis** didn’t begin until 1786, when Robert Burns wrote his famous “**Address to the Haggis**”. Although, the association was not consolidated until the 19th century.

King George IV's visit to Scotland in 1822 served to close the ancient wounds between the two nations. **Sir Walter Scott** hosted the event, presenting the monarch with a romantic image of Scotland. Scott asked everyone to dress in tartan for the royal banquet and selected dishes that reflected Scottish identity, haggis being his main course. As you can imagine, he created a new tradition in the process!
Haggis became more fashionable than ever, Scotland was a romanticised notion, and the **William Wallace Monument** was erected. And **Scottish patriotism was reborn**.

Although haggis is traditionally made with meat, a vegetarian version was invented in 1984, and you can also find everything **haggis-flavoured**, from **crisps** to ice cream!

![Hag Veg pat.jpg](/uploads/Hag_Veg_pat_d2fcae52df.jpg)

**Scotland is a country of traditions and customs**, so the haggis tradition survives, now deeply rooted in its culture, alongside bagpipes and tartan. Every year on the 25th of January, Burns Night is celebrated on the poet's birthday. Friends and family gather around their tables to enjoy the most Scottish night of the year, paying homage to **Robert Burns, whisky and, of course, haggis**!

![Robert Burn, poeta nacional de Escocia.jpg](/uploads/Robert_Burn_poeta_nacional_de_Escocia_4299f080dd.jpg)
Robert Burns Portrait

#### Address to the Haggis

_Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,_

_Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!_

_Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,_

_Painch, tripe, or thairm:_

_Weel are ye wordy of a grace_

_As lang ‘s my arm._

-

_The groaning trencher there ye fill,_

_Your hurdies like a distant hill,_

_Your pin wad help to mend a mill_

_In time o’ need,_

_While thro’ your pores the dews distil_

_Like amber bead._
 
 -
 
_His knife see Rustic-labour dight,_

_An’ cut ye up wi’ ready slight,_

_Trenching your gushing entrails bright,_

_Like onie ditch;_

_And then, O what a glorious sight,_

_Warm-reekin, rich!_

-
 
_Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:_

_Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,_

_Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve_

_Are bent like drums;_

_Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,_

_Bethankit hums._

 -
 
_Is there that owre his French ragout,_

_Or olio that wad staw a sow,_

_Or fricassee wad mak her spew_

_Wi’ perfect sconner,_

_Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view_

_On sic a dinner?_
 
 -
 
_Poor devil! see him owre his trash,_

_As feckless as a wither’d rash,_

_His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,_

_His nieve a nit;_

_Thro’ bluidy flood or field to dash,_

_O how unfit!_

-
 
_But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,_

_The trembling earth resounds his tread,_

_Clap in his walie nieve a blade,_

_He’ll make it whissle;_

_An’ legs, an’ arms, an’ heads will sned,_

_Like taps o’ thrissle._

-
 
_Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,_

_And dish them out their bill o’ fare,_

_Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware_

_That jaups in luggies;_

_But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,_

_Gie her a Haggis!_

![Plato de haggis.jpg](/uploads/Plato_de_haggis_dde5f294e8.jpg)
Haggis, neeps & tatties

So whether it was English, French, Roman, Viking or ancient Greek, who cares who created the original recipe? In the end, it was the Scots who dedicated a poem to the haggis and welcomed it as their national dish.




Haggis.jpg

The history of haggis, Scotland's national dish

**Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse** is the imposing official residence of the British Crown in Scotland. Placed at the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, **it has hosted kings and queens since the 1500s** and it is one of the most interesting sites to be visited in town.

If you are intrigued by the history of Holyrood Palace and how to visit it, stay tuned and read this complete guide. Should you want even more, feel free to [join one of our free tours](https://scotlandcitytours.com/tours-edinburgh) and we will tell you everything about Edinburgh!

![palacio de Holyrood 6.jpg](/uploads/palacio_de_Holyrood_6_296c25c643.jpg)

## History of Holyrood Palace

The history of Holyrood Palace goes deep into the ruins of the namesake adjoining abbey **founded in 1128** as an Augustinian house by command of the Scottish king David I. Owing to its location close to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Abbey soon became a hub of enormous administrative importance **where the Parliament met and even the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton was signed in 1328, thus officially recognizing Scotland’s independence.**

**The building works** of Holyrood Palace would get underway **between 1501 and 1505** with the construction of a Gothic palace beside the abbey by command of James IV. **During the Renaissance, the palace would expand its premises and grounds and it would host countless feasts and jaw-dropping jousts.**

Holyrood Palace would thereupon be **the preferred residence of Scotland’s queens and kings** who would choose it instead of the old Edinburgh Castle. Behind its modern luxurious walls, **monarchs such as James V, Mary Stuart, and James VI would dwell and rule**. After the latter moved to London following **the Union of the Crowns in 1603, Holyrood Palace would be stripped of its status** as a permanent residence for the Crown and it would also lose most of its importance.

**Having been ravaged by Oliver Cromwell’s army, Holyrood Palace would be rebuilt by King Charles II**, but the 1707 Acts of Union between England and Scotland would usher its final fall into oblivion. **Not until 1822 under the reign of George IV would its premises again host the visit of a British king**. This and other subsequent rulers would luckily arrange for its repair and preservation, and today visitors can enjoy an indoor visit to many of its historical rooms.

![palacio de Holyrood 5 en 1789.jpg](/uploads/palacio_de_Holyrood_5_en_1789_aff7570153.jpg)

## Forefront historical figures

Many of the most relevant historical figures who have dropped by Holyrood Palace are Scottish kings and queens such as the famous **Mary Stuart, George IV, or Elisabeth II herself, as well as her son, incumbent king Charles III**.

The building has also lodged other personalities within its walls **including Bonnie Prince Charlie, the “young pretender”** who established an alternative royal court in the palace during the Jacobite uprising of 1745.

Some characters in recent history have also stayed in Holyrood Palace featuring **Mikhail Gorbachev, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, Justin Trudeau, or Pope Benedict XVI**.

![palacio de Holyrood 4 David Rizzio.jpg](/uploads/palacio_de_Holyrood_4_David_Rizzio_eedae2a0bf.jpg)

## Palace Architecture and Design

Holyrood Palace architecture as we see it today (with the exception of one of its towers which is older) is the work of architect **Sir William Bruce who rebuilt the Renaissance landmark by command of Charles II between 1671 and 1678**.

The palace design, **in Neoclassical style**, revolves around a square cloister-inspired three-storied yard, also featuring an attic and a main entrance framed by huge **Doric columns.**

The indoors of Holyrood Palace are distributed in two hundred and eighty-nine rooms, of which seventeen are open to the public. The private chambers of the incumbent royals are located on the second floor and they are off-limits.

## Gardens and grounds

The Holyrood Palace **grounds straddle around four hectares within the extensive nature area that is Holyrood Park**. In them, many places of interest can be found such as the so-called “bathing house” of Mary Queen of Scots, a sundial from the 1600s, and an ornate 1800s fountain based upon the design of its Renaissance-era predecessor which is located in Linlithgow Palace. The grounds of Holyrood Palace are highly interesting and boast lovely views, do not miss out on them!

![palacio de Holyrood 8.jpg](/uploads/palacio_de_Holyrood_8_64e07bc0dc.jpg)

## What to see in Holyrood Palace

You have all necessary information to plan your visit to Holyrood Palace [here at the official website](https://www.royal.uk/royal-residences-palace-holyroodhouse). The monument opens its doors to tourists all year round, but please bear in mind that you may find it closed to the public should the king stay there, so please check your dates on the website beforehand.

### Royal abodes and stately furniture

**The royal abodes are the most attractive area in Holyrood Palace**. Therein you will be able to discover not only the breathtaking chambers where kings throughout the last two hundred years have carried out their receptions and feasts but also the genuine rooms where queen Mary Stuart lived, including furniture from her times and the place where her secretary David Rizzio was murdered.

![palacio de Holyrood 4 David Rizzio.jpg](/uploads/palacio_de_Holyrood_4_David_Rizzio_eedae2a0bf.jpg)

### The Great Gallery and Royal Portraits

In the Great Gallery, **the largest chamber in Holyrood Palace**, you will be able to admire almost one hundred portraits of Scottish rulers spanning throughout all history. A most curious place!

### Holyrood Abbey

The ruins of Holyrood Abbey pose the oldest, most romantic element in Holyrood Palace. 

Make sure to explore them and admire their imposing Gothic architecture!

![palacio de Holyrood 3.jpg](/uploads/palacio_de_Holyrood_3_709a103c81.jpg)

### Events and Exhibitions

Besides permanent collections, **you can also enjoy events and exhibitions in Holyrood Palace**. [Here at the website](https://www.rct.uk/whatson), you can see what will be available during your trip dates.

Coming up in summer 2024 you will be able to enjoy private or themed tours with a guide, conferences, workshops for all ages, and photography and pictorial exhibitions.

## Holyrood Palace and the Royal Family

**Holyrood Palace is still an official residence of the British Royal Family**. As the royal residence in Scotland, not only it has occasionally hosted British kings and queens themselves, but it has also been **the stage of some of the most important royal events throughout the last few decades, such as the funeral for queen Elisabeth II in Scotland**.

## Useful information for your visit

### Opening hours and admission fees

The opening hours at Holyrood Palace range from 09:30 to 18:00 during high season and until 16:30 in winter. **The admission fee for an adult is £20** as long as it is booked online beforehand since purchasing it at the box office would cost you £22. This includes audio guides in different languages.

### How to go and location

If you are wondering how to go to Holyrood Palace, **it is as simple as reaching the end of the Royal Mile**, the main hub in Edinburgh’s Old Town. There is no missing the location of Holyrood Palace!

## Frequently Asked Questions

- **What is Holyrood Palace and where can it be found?**  
Holyrood Palace is located at the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in the Old Town.

- **What is the history of Holyrood Palace?**  
The history of Holyrood Palace goes deep into the ruins of the neighboring Augustinian abbey from the 1100s. The building of the palace would get underway later in the early 1500s.

- **Which important historical figures have lived in Holyrood Palace?**  
Some of the historical figures in Holyrood Palace include King James V, Mary Queen of Scots, and her son James VI, and the Jacobite contender to the throne Bonnie Prince Charlie.

- **What is Holyrood Palace architecture and design like?**  
The original architecture of Holyrood Palace dates back to the Renaissance era, but it was largely redesigned in Neoclassical style during the late 1600s.

- **What is there to see and do in Holyrood Palace?**  
The best features of Holyrood Palace include its royal abodes, the Great Gallery, and the abbey ruins.

- **Is Holyrood Palace still used by Britain’s royal family?**  
Indeed, the current use of Holyrood Palace includes the occasional presence of British royals within its premises, signaled by the hoisting of the Royal Banner.

- **How long does it take to visit Holyrood Palace?**  
The duration of a visit to Holyrood Palace is around two hours.

- **Can you take pictures indoors in the Palace?**  
No pictures can be taken inside Holyrood Palace, only in its grounds and in the abbey ruins.


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