LOCAL & EDINBURGH
The perfect base for exploring Edinburgh and many of Scotland’s treasures, Glenlockhart Cottage is just 2.5 miles from Edinburgh Castle and the city centre
Stay local and take a walk to Morningside, one of Edinburgh’s lively urban villages, where you’ll find a Waitrose, M&S Food, the independent Dominion Cinema (the most comfortable seats in town), a wide selection of cafes, bistros and restaurants, specialist food shops (including cheesemonger, artisan bakers, and a delicatessen), boutiques and several pubs offering food - including one of Edinburgh’s most historic and best-known, the Canny Man’s. You’ll find details of all our favourites in the cottage
Enjoy the gym, tennis courts or golf course nearby, or pamper yourself with a spa treatment. Within five minutes’ drive you can enjoy horse riding - from pony rides for the little ones to scenic rides in the hills with views of Edinburgh - and year-round skiing or snowboarding on Europe’s longest dry ski slope
Do as the locals do and avoid Edinburgh’s notorious parking charges (and stress!) by hopping on the bus into town. There’s a bus stop just two minutes’ walk from the cottage and an excellent bus service running every 10 minutes to the city centre
From family days out to cultural pursuits, Edinburgh has a wealth of top attractions to satisfy all tastes. Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh’s Christmas & Markets, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Six Nations Rugby, Edinburgh International Science Festival, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo, and Edinburgh Zoo (especially the giant pandas!) draw visitors from all over the world
From pandas to pop-art and dinosaurs to Dolly the Sheep, Edinburgh boasts art galleries, museums, parks and much more, all within easy reach in the UK’s most walkable city. Take an early morning walk on the beach, explore the cobbled streets, enjoy a dram (or two) at the Scotch Whisky Experience, peruse world-class art in our National Galleries and, of course, visit Edinburgh Castle and watch the One O’clock Gun being fired. Despite its timeless setting, Edinburgh is a city that never stands still
Glenlockhart Cottage is perfectly positioned for short drives to explore the surrounding areas - places such as Rosslyn Chapel, the Forth Bridges and Queensferry (take a cruise on the Forth and watch the seals), Bo’ness Steam Railway, Stirling Castle, the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, the villages of Culross and Falkland in Fife, pretty Peebles in the Scottish borders, and the seaside town of North Berwick where you can enjoy freshly caught lobsters at the harbour shack or take a boat trip and see the puffins. Visit historic houses such as Traquair, Hopetoun, Abbotsford, and Blackness Castle
Come and stay in Glenlockhart Cottage for a magical Christmas or New Year! The cottage is warm and welcoming with festive decorations and Christmas tree, the city is spectacular in winter, and if we’re lucky enough to have snow, young and old can have fun sledging on the hill beside the cottage – sledges provided!
ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS
Enjoy walking…
There’s a nature reserve and duck pond within 10 minutes’ walk, and leafy walks all around. You’ll find books in the cottage library on ‘Hidden Edinburgh’ walks and other walks in the countryside around Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat to Linlithgow and Dunbar taking in the Pentland, Moorfoot and Lammermuir Hills. Munro-bagging adventurers will find 11 of Scotland’s Munros within two hours’ drive, and Glenlockhart Cottage is a cosy and comfortable haven after a day in the hills
Enjoy golf…
Glenlockhart Cottage is a great central base for a Scottish golfing holiday - the Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Course is on our doorstep (literally!) and welcomes visitors. Within 30 minutes’ drive along the lovely East Lothian coastline you will be spoiled for choice of courses to play - Craigielaw, Gullane, Archerfield, Muirfield, Dunbar, North Berwick, to name but a few. We are only 1.5 hour’s drive from St Andrews Old Course and King’s Barns, as well as the ‘East Neuk’ Fife courses such as Lundin Links. We are an hour from Gleneagles, 1.5 hours from Carnoustie, and two hours from the Ayrshire coast for Troon Old Course
Enjoy whisky…
Whisky enthusiasts, from newbies to connoisseurs, can combine a luxurious and relaxing stay in Glenlockhart Cottage with a visit to a local distillery or with a tasting tour on the Whisky Trail. There are six distilleries within easy driving distance, including Glenkinchie, The Famous Grouse, Dewar’s and Blair Athol. Even closer to the cottage you will find the new Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street, and the Scottish Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile where you can learn about the history of whisky, how it’s made and the skill of blending. View the world's largest collection of Scotch whisky and learn about Highland, Lowland, Islay and Speyside distilleries. Tours include whisky tasting and tasting notes, and audio guides in many languages
Enjoy fishing…
Glenlockhart Cottage is a perfect base for a fishing holiday in Scotland, with the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders to Loch Awe in Argyll all within easy reach. Scotland is one of the world's top destinations for freshwater and sea angling, with world-class fishing available throughout the year. From beautiful rivers to secluded lochs, there are excellent salmon, trout and coarse fishing opportunities in some of the finest Scottish landscapes. For anyone keen to catch wild fish in spectacular surroundings, from beginners to accomplished anglers, our friendly guide is a professional fly-fishing guide, a contributor to Trout & Salmon magazine, and has extensive knowledge of Scotland's rivers, lochs and more remote locations
Enjoy books…
Visit the Writers’ Museum or join a guided walking tour visiting the sites and haunts of Edinburgh’s literary legends: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, J.M. Barrie, Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Rankin and J.K. Rowling. Or discover them yourself with a guide book from the cottage library
Enjoy film & tv…
Immerse yourself in the mystical Outlander world of Claire and Jamie; many of the locations used in the series are within easy reach of Glenlockhart Cottage - from ancient and mysterious standing stones to dramatic castles, magnificent stately homes and breathtaking landscapes. As one of the Location Managers on the series, please ask in advance and I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction of those you’d like to see
Edinburgh has played a starring role as a superb film location for some of the UK’s best-loved productions, from blockbusters such as Avengers: Infinity War to Trainspotting, Inspector Rebus and Sunshine on Leith
Harry Potter fans can visit the places where JK Rowling sourced much of her inspiration for the locations and names in the series. Tours are available, muggles welcome!
Enjoy cycling…
Edinburgh has many safe and interesting cycle routes which can be enjoyed by all ages. From off-street paths, canal towpaths, former railway lines and sea view esplanades, there’s a cycle route to suit most abilities
The network of exhilarating world-class trails in our hills and forests have put Scotland on the mountain biking map. You’ll find 56 trails in the Pentland Hills alone, just 10 minutes’ drive from Glenlockhart Cottage, and Glentress Forest (less than an hour away) is a 7stanes mountain biking centre with a great café and bike hire on site
The cottage has its own secure Asgard cycle store for up to four adult bikes
Enjoy photography…
Edinburgh offers endless opportunities for photo enthusiasts, from beginners to experienced photographers. Climb Arthur’s Seat, Salisbury Crags or Calton Hill for unbeatable views, or indulge your passion by exploring the medieval Old Town with its courtyards and closes (alleyways), the cobbled crescents of the Georgian New Town or historic spots such as the Dean Village or the shore in Leith
Researching your roots…
Does your family history include Scottish monarchy, brave warriors or villainous rogues? Looking to learn about the background of your grandparents, or discover living relatives? Glenlockhart Cottage is the perfect vacation rental as Scotland’s main record office, here in Edinburgh, is a wonderful archive to begin your genealogy journey. With a copy of a birth or marriage certificate, or even just names and dates of a family member, you can uncover information about your own family history, including occupations and addresses. You may be able to discover your family tartan and which clan you belong to. If your ancestors were evicted from their land during the Highland Clearances, you could find out more about how and when they set sail for the US or Canada. Bring your Scottish ancestry to life by building a picture of your Scottish family tree, a memorable gift to pass on to future generations
We are happy to provide more information on any of the above, please ask prior to arrival
FURTHER AFIELD
Enjoy the splendour of Scotland…
You’ll find that many of Scotland’s most dramatic and best-loved landscapes are within easy reach of Glenlockhart Cottage. A trip in the car will take you to Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Balquhidder (Rob Roy country), Doune Castle and Stirling Castle – all in a single day
Or take a day to explore beautiful Royal Deeside and the grounds and gardens of Balmoral Castle, the Scottish summer home of the Queen and Royal Family. Braemar and the pretty Victorian village of Ballater with its many colourful Royal Warrants above the doorways of the local shops, and delicious eateries, make this a wonderful place for lunch
Spend a day in the Borders, where England and Scotland meet, with its historical estates, villages and ruined castles, market towns, rolling hills and majestic coastlines. From Sir Walter Scott’s historic country mansion, Abbotsford House, and the magnificent Cistercian ruin at Melrose Abbey, to romantic Dryburgh Abbey and Scotland’s oldest inhabited house at Traquair, the area is rich in history. Travel further back in time and visit Roman ruins and Hadrian’s Wall
If you don’t drive, or don’t have a car, we can point you in the direction of some of Edinburgh’s highly-rated tour companies that organise day or half-day tours – either bespoke or as part of a small group
Enjoy a Scottish safari…
Take a Land Rover safari with a kilted safari ranger and indulge your passion for nature, culture, history and breathtaking scenery. Armed with binoculars, climb aboard and journey to the high tops through a land sculpted by the elements. You may be lucky enough to see majestic red deer, the famous grouse, an elusive mountain hare or soaring golden eagles as you travel through forests, mountains and moors on private hill tracks. Just over 1.5 hours’ drive from Glenlockhart Cottage, it’s a great day out for all ages. You’ll be inspired with an insight into this magnificent natural wilderness and your memories will last a lifetime
Enjoy touring further around Scotland…
Follow the Jacobite trail and visit Glenfinnan and the battlefield of Culloden, walk in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots as she travelled around Scotland, see the unique and dramatic landscapes of Skye, the beaches of the Hebrides, drive the North Coast 500 route or simply explore the highlands and islands at your own pace - the landscapes are spectacular at any time of year
Fly into Edinburgh at the start of a touring holiday around Scotland and enjoy a city break in Edinburgh at Glenlockhart Cottage before travelling onwards. As a film and television Location Manager with many years’ experience in seeking out the best of Scotland, I would be happy to offer suggestions for the most scenic and interesting routes
