June 13, 2026

 Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Edinburgh, Scotland

We had a leisurely breakfast at 7:00 a.m. because it was wheels up at 8:00 for a full day of sightseeing of Edinburgh.

Our first stop was a private tour of Palace of Holyroodhouse. The palace is magnificent and steeped in centuries of history. It serves as the official Scottish residence of King Charles III. Since the King is not currently in residence, we were fortunate to be allowed to tour his home. He is expected to arrive later this month for Royal Week.

No photographs were permitted inside the palace. Tauk gave us a souvenir tour book so I have included some pictures. 

The dining room was set for fourteen guests with beautiful green china designed to complement the wall color. We walked through the actual sitting room where members of the Royal Family receive guests before dinner. The room was enormous—approximately 50 by 30 feet—and the baby grand piano looked tiny in the corner. We also visited the Great Gallery, where state dinners for up to 130 guests are held. The walls were lined with one hundred portraits commissioned by a king to represent his royal lineage.

Next, we toured Edinburgh on our way to Edinburgh Castle. Our bus dropped us off at the bottom of the hill, and we walked up to the castle along the Royal Mile. There were buskers everywhere playing bagpipes and other instruments, and one woman was even posing with an owl.

As we explored the castle grounds, our guide shared many fascinating facts. The castle has been attacked twenty-six times and is considered one of the most besieged fortresses in Great Britain. It is also home to the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish Crown Jewels.

We were lucky enough to be there during the celebration of the King’s official birthday. Although his actual birthday is in November, a 21-gun salute was fired at noon from the castle ramparts. Unlike in America, where seven guns are often fired three times, each shot here was fired individually. Smoke and the smell of gunpowder filled the air.

We also witnessed the changing of the guard, where every movement was carried out with precise military discipline.

In August, Edinburgh hosts the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Workers had already begun setting up the grandstands for the event. The Tattoo brings performers from around the world together for a spectacular display of military bands, massed pipes and drums, Highland dancers, precision marching teams, music, light shows, and fireworks before an audience of approximately 8,000 people each night.

            A typical crowd at the Tatoo in August

Due to the steep inclines around the castle, the roads are paved with smooth cobblestones along the edges and rougher stones in the center. The rough stones provided horses with better traction while pulling wagons up the hill. Seeing the terrain made it easy to imagine how difficult life must have been for those who lived and served at the castle, always preparing for the possibility of battle.

After our castle visit, we enjoyed lunch at Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips. Timing is everything! We were seated immediately and enjoyed an excellent fish-and-chips lunch.

We then walked back to the hotel through an open-air craft market and food festival. One of the most popular attractions was a paella stand with four enormous pans cooking at once. The line stretched around the block. Along the way, we stopped at Mary’s Milk Bar and sampled lavender and lemon gelato. The combination was surprisingly delicious.

While we were regrouping back at the hotel, Jeff set off on his own adventure to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. He took a cab there and thoroughly enjoyed his visit. The gallery features a wonderful collection of artwork depicting notable people from Scotland’s history. Jeff said the exhibits were both beautiful and fascinating.

At 5:45 PM, we met the bus and headed to The Scotch Whisky Experience just outside the gates of The Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile for a tasting and dinner. After the bus dropped us off, we walked a few blocks to the venue. Michelle directed us to the second floor, where our private room was waiting.

This painting, when you looked at it, the man moved! He would cough, wave his finger, or straighten out his jacket sleeves!

The evening featured an interactive whisky tasting paired with dinner. We sampled three different Scotch whiskies, each carefully selected to accompany a course of the meal—soup and appetizer, the main course, and dessert. It was a wonderful experience, and we learned a great deal about Scotland’s national drink while enjoying a delicious meal.

After dinner, we returned to the hotel to finish packing and prepare for tomorrow’s journey. We said goodbye to Edinburgh, a city rich in history, beauty, and charm. Tomorrow we leave Scotland behind and begin the next chapter of our adventure as we travel to Wales.

Another wonderful day in Scotland!