13 Apr Eat walk Edinburgh food tour in Lockdown
Edinburgh, like many major cities around the world, looks a different place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I wondered what the walking part of our food tour would look like in these present circumstances.
The Old and New Town food tour takes in five different bars and restaurants tasting locally sourced Scottish food with three of the stops also having Scottish drink tastings. The guide talks about the history of the area as the group walks between venues. The tour takes around three and half hours to complete and only has up to eight people on each tour.
The actual walking part of the tour between venues takes about forty-five minutes.
I thought it would be fun to walk the tour route to see what the Edinburgh Old and New Town looks like in this time of lockdown.
In Scotland we are limited to a one hour walk per day and, although the area I needed to cover only takes under an hour, I had to walk from my home into town which added another 20 minutes each way. Putting together a pictorial record of the tour route took three days to complete. All photos were taken between 1pm and 2pm on Wed 8th – Fri 10th April
Our food tour starts at a local hotel in Bread St and walking down the West Port, a narrow road, into the open expanse of the Grassmarket you are normally greeted with a busy area of people eating and drinking, instead today we have boarded up bars and restaurants.
.
From the Grassmarket the tour heads up Victoria Street, one of the busiest streets in the Old Town of Edinburgh.
.
.
The photo of Victoria Street on the left shows a typical day where people are often stepping into the road, trying to avoid cars, to get a good photo of the colourful shop fronts. Not a problem today.
.
.
One of the many restaurants on Victoria St, this one is boarded up for extra security and has messages for all who pass.
VIVA NHS is a shout out to the doctors and nurses dealing with the pandemic. (National Health Service)
.
Turning left at the top of Victoria St, the tour makes its way along a small part of George IV Bridge onto the Royal Mile. This is the main artery of the Old Town of Edinburgh linking Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood. Today the tranquility of this normally bustling area is astonishing.
.
.
Just off the Royal Mile the tour normally stops in Makars Court to talk about the Writers Museum. Makars Court although close to the busy Royal Mile is often a quiet sanctuary as it is easily missed by the first time visitor but today it is totally deserted.
The tour exits out the other side to the second food stop at Makars Mash Bar where they sip on Edinburgh raspberry gin while tasting wild boar sausage with buttered mash potato and Stornoway black pudding on potato scone.
.
.
From Makars Mash Bar the tour walks down the Mound onto the first street of the New Town, Princes Street, the busiest shopping street in Edinburgh.
Today deserted. Not many people live in this area and with the shops and offices closed not much reason for people to walk the streets.
.
The tour walks up Hanover street and onto George St where there are more boutique-like shops, a good range of coffee shops and cocktail bars but it is continuing the theme of a ghost town.
.
After crossing George St, the tour walks down the hill and turns left onto Queen St. The view along Queen St continues the ghost town feel.
Due to changes in Edinburgh traffic management Queen St is the only route through the city centre that cars can drive. Princes St is only for buses, taxis and trams. George St cannot be accessed from either end of the street. Leading Queen Streetis to be congested with cars, vans and lorries but today it is empty.
.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society would have been the next stop but the sign on their door apologies for being closed.
But the last paragraph says: “Once back we will be stronger and thirstier than ever. Keep in good spirits and we look forward to welcoming you all back very soon.”
.
Walking the length of Queen street, the tour comes to Charlotte Square a very beautiful area designed by Robert Adams.
One of the main buildings of interest is Bute House the official residence for the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon.
.
.
The First Minister doesn’t actually live in Bute House, it is used for official engagements. Presently the location for the regular COVID-19 briefings.
.
Just behind Charlotte Square in Randolph Place the tour normally stops for beer and cheese at Le Di Vin wine bar.
The mock Tudor building was built in 1899 and is now a French restaurant called La P’tite Folie. Eight years ago the owners converted a Polish Catholic church attached to the back of building into a wine bar.
.
A short walk from Le di Vin brings the tour back into the centre of city at the West End of Princes street.
The last stop is at the Ghillie Dhu for a Scottish dessert. This is an old Episcopalian Church renovated into a bar and event space. Next door is the boarded-up Huxley bar.
.
At the Ghillie Dhu maps are given out showing people where they have visited on the tour. The map has discount information for most of the bars/restaurant visited should people wish to return. The guides make sure that everyone know how to get back to their accommodation or on to the next place they wish to visit.
That is the end of of this Lockdown walk around of the tour route, its time to head home.
.
On the way home I pass the Diggers, the official name of the pub is the Athletic Arms. It’s known locally as the Diggers as historically it was frequented by the grave diggers from the nearby cemetery. They have a sign in the window which made me laugh in what are rather sad times .
Although the walk was a great experience, having the City almost to myself, I would much prefer it to be bustling and vibrant as it is the life blood for Edinburgh.
Now the lockdown is lifted it is good for people to get out and enjoy themselves again but maybe not take what they have on their own doorstep for granted. We are happy to take people on our food walking tour and give them a better understanding of the City, while tasting great locally sourced food and drink.
All photos taken by Alan Chalmers between 8-10th April 2020 except: