While London had us intrigued to its spectacular self, we somehow managed to get ourselves a Castle getaway to the Scenic Scotland. We flew from Heathrow to Glasgow where we stayed in the heart of Downtown at Blythswood Square Hotel which is just a few blocks away from the famous Buchanan Street known as the shopping hub of Glasgow.
Since we landed in Glasgow in the afternoon, we decided to explore Glasgow’s streets and go for a Shopping Spree while we were at it 😉 . The historical & dazzling streets of Glasgow are perfect for an evening stroll. George square looked absolutely beautiful in the glaring sun & the flock of birds flying by this surreal site added to its glow. Buchanan street was buzzing like any other shopping street in Europe, can’t compare it to Oxford Street in London but its historical views gave me a whole new shopping experience.
After spending an evening shopping and hopping around, we decided to relax at the hotel for rest the day to prepare for our next day Castle trip to Edinburgh. We took the ScotRail from Glasgow Queen Street station (One of the biggest stations and nearest to our Hotel) to Edinburgh Waverley station which is closest to the Castle. Queen Street station has the fastest and frequent trains to Edinburgh and another Station that folks sometimes use is Glasgow Central which has trains with longer routes. Visit ScotRail official website here: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/ to get the latest fares and if you are looking for cheaper options, you should try “Off-Peak” hours commute.
As soon as we got off the train in Edinburgh, we were welcomed by mesmerizing monumental views of this beautiful town. The walk to castle is alluring but its an uphill, so keep that in mind. There are plenty of Taxis outside the Train Station that will take you up to a certain point if you want to avoid the walk.
The Castle has its own charm and will take your breath away! We booked our tickets in advance online as we knew exact dates of our visit but you can buy them at the Castle too. Here is the website to book them in advance online: https://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/visit/tickets-prices and also be sure to check out the timings before you plan your visit.
We loved walking around the Castle, plenty of Photo spots and awe-inspiring views once you reach the top of the Castle. It was a cold & windy day for us as you can tell from how the people are dressed in background in jackets and coats but I was a true Minnesotan and flared around in my Dress which by the way, did make a few strangers ask me how I wasn’t cold 😛
There are restaurants inside the Castle if you want to grab a quick bite and I found a one that was just perfect for me that day, see for yourself below 😉
After our Castle expedition, we explored the streets of Edinburgh which are always bustling with Live music, Street shows and food!
After spending the day in panaromic sites of Edinburgh, we returned back to Glasgow in the evening as we wanted to have our Dinner at the Ashton Lane in Glasgow which is famous for its restaurants. We picked Ubiquitous Chip which is famous for its British/Scottish Cuisine. It is also listed in Michelin Guide & the Michelin Guide inspectors describe the restaurant as below- “An iconic establishment on a cobbled street. The restaurant – with its ponds, fountains and greenery – offers modern classics which showcase local ingredients, while the mezzanine-level brasserie serves tasty Scottish favorites.”
We Dined in the Brasserie section and started with Scotch flight, after all we were in Scotland 😉. The Menu Highlights for for my Vegetarian Hubby were the Chip’s own vegetarian Haggis, Neeps & Tatties and the scrumptious dessert Highland Crowdie Cheesecake with Bramble Sorbet and Honeyed Oats. We were very impressed by the food, ambience and the location of this restaurant!
Our stay in Scotland was only for 2 days but we made the most out of it. The only disappointment was the Glasgow night life which I had heard a lot about but didn’t quite see it at that level, may be because I had spent 4 nights prior to that in London 😛. All in all, it was time well spent. I am glad we visited and made memories in this beautiful country!
