Royal Highland Show 2015

Here at The Dunstane Hotel we get very excited at this time of year. Well, to be fair we're always excited about something going on in Edinburgh, but the Royal Highland Show (18th-21st June 2015) gives the city a special buzz! Our luxurious rooms are booked up by exhibitors and visitors alike, all needing a peaceful place to relax and a good dinner in our Skerries restaurant after a busy day. With over 5,000 livestock being exhibited and around 180,000 visitors at the show the show is almost unrecognisable from its humble beginnings in the Canongate area of Edinburgh.

First held in December 1822 and it showcased just 60-75 cattle, 8 sheep and according to The Scotsman at the time, "two beautiful pigs"! The Royal family have had a keen interest in the show since the early 1900's and Queen Victoria started a long line of Royal patrons of the show. George VI, father of current patron, Her Majesty The Queen, bestowed the title of Royal to the show in 1948. For 130 years the show moved between Edinburgh, Glasgow

and Perth until it found a permanent home at Ingliston in 1960. This year is the 175th Royal Highland Show and it already looks like it will be an especially busy year for both Royal Highland Show and The Dunstane!

The Highland Show really does have something for everyone. You definitely need at least a full day to get round everything, even if you're not in the agriculture business you can't help but appreciate the quality of the livestock from the gentle giants of the equine world to champion dairy cows. Of course, the Highlands are not complete without Scotland's most famous livestock the - Highland "Coo"! If after all that livestock is still not impressing, well the Royal Highland Show exhibitors have a lot more to throw at you!

If you fancy a laugh be sure to catch the terrier racing or for something with more of a'wow factor' there are incredible falconry displays or catch the Show Jumping to see the bond between horse and rider at it's best. There's plenty for the kids to get involved with too, getting up close to some of the animals, take a ride on a tractor or get creative and put those little hands to good use in the craft tent. There is a whole shopping area and of course no event like this would be complete without the Food Hall!


So we need to stop now, if we tell you everything that's happening not only would we run out of space to type, but it would spoil the surprise! Rooms book up fast at The Dunstane so give us a call soon and we'd love to see your pictures and hear about your experiences at the Royal Highland Show 2015, get in touch on our facebook page www.facebook.com/dunstanehotels or on twitter @The Dunstane 



For details and tickets for the Highland Show visit http://royalhighlandshow.org/

Five Things To Do When You Visit Edinburgh

At The Dunstane, we love to entertain our guests in the best ways possible, and that includes offering them all the best local advice about things to see when they are here. Edinburgh is renowned for its beauty as a city, and there are so many things to see and do during your visit. We have compiled our own list of favourites for you.

1 – Edinburgh Castle

The ultimate token of Edinburgh, most people who come to Edinburgh do so with the intention of seeing Edinburgh castle. The castle is placed in the centre of the city which means you can see it from many different parts of town. There are tours around the grounds of the castle daily and the views are iconic. There are also featured historic events and activities on throughout the castle, one of our favourites being the Mary Queen of Scot’s event – find out all about her life from 1566.

2 – Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is based in Holyrood, and the building is fast becoming one of the most visited in the country. Ever since the building was completed, people have come from miles to see and experience. Well worth a visit especially this year with all of the Homecoming activities throughout the summer and autumn.

3 – Edinburgh Zoo

From Panda’s to Meerkats, Edinburgh zoo is one of the best days out in Scotland. See a wide variety of animals in habitats that are as close to their own environments as possible and see daily shows and daily exhibitions which are a fun treat for the whole family. It is only 10 minutes from The Dunstane too, which means getting back to put your feet up is no ordeal!

4 – Trams

Edinburgh is one of an increasing number of British cities to have voted to reinstate her tram system. The Trams have been an ongoing build in Scotland and at the end of May this year they began! The trams run right through the city and are another exciting way to feel the Edinburgh buzz during the summer wherever you are going. With its easy hop on – hop off process you can relax without having to bring your car into the city centre!

5 – Arthur’s Seat

Arthur's Seat is the famous dormant volcano that adorns the Edinburgh skyline, sitting majestically on the outskirts of the city. The Seat is known as such because it resembles a sitting lion with its gently arched back. It is also the home of Salisbury Crags and worth the trip if you fancy escaping from the bustle of the city without having to go too far. On a clear day the views are incredible and you can see over the whole of Edinburgh – it is definitely worth the trek to visit it!

All of the above activities are in the heart of the city – just like us! If you are coming to Edinburgh and are looking for accommodation, look no further than The Dunstane. Our beautifully decorated boutique rooms are perfect for relaxing after a tough day sightseeing! We are close enough to the excitement of the city but far enough away from the hustle and bustle. We have amazing offers on now for the best deals this summer – be sure to call our sales team on 0131 337 6169 and book direct for the best prices.