Category: Travels

It’s not surprising that after last years performances, fans are feeling optimistic about Scotland’s chances in the 2018 RBS 6 Nations. It is looking to be another record breaking Scottish rugby year, with 6 Nations tickets pretty much all sold out already!

RECORD BREAKING SCOTTISH RUGBY
Tickets for both 6 Nations home-games at Murrayfield are selling out in record time once again. That’s 67,144 seats filled faster and faster each year! Scotland are opening their 2018 6 Nations campaign against Ireland on the 11th February. With so many excellent players available to play, and many who are new to the international team, it’s sure to be a 6 Nations to remember!

It’s the first 6 Nations tournament for head coach Gregor Townsend, who coached Scotland to great results in his first home games in the Autumn Tests 2017.

GUINNESS PRO12
Last year, one of the big stories in rugby was the change in format of the Guinness PRO12…or what is now, the Guinness PRO14! The format of the competition has changed and it is now a cross-continent championship. Two South African teams, the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings (who both lost their Super Rugby status), have joined. PRO14 bosses say, this makes the competition even more competitive on the field, opens up new territories and attracts more broadcast and sponsorship interest. A win-win, surely?

The new conference style set up sees the 14 teams split into two seven-team conferences. Each is made up of two Welsh teams, two Irish and one from South Africa, Italy and of course Scotland. The teams in each conference will play each other, home and away, before all teams from conference A play each team from conference B. That’s 19 matches. Additionally, each team will play derby fixtures against teams in the same nation, but different conferences (are you still with me?!). That takes the match total to 21, with the derby games meaning Edinburgh and Glasgow will face each other three times in the regular season. Not a bad thing, who doesn’t love watching those two go toe-to-toe! If you want to see the conference splits for this year, and read more on the set up (and how to win!) check out this BBC report.

2018 FIXTURES AND BEYOND…
There are no fixtures for Scotland’s Autumn Tests released as yet. But, for the organised among you, there are fixtures for the 2019 6 Nations here. With all the PRO14 action and this years 6 Nations to distract you, the Autumn Tests will be here before you know it! There is something more exciting ahead for 2019 though…the Rugby World Cup! Scotland will be keen to put the drama of the previous World Cup behind them and go all the way in Japan 2019. We are in Pool A this year, with Ireland, Japan and two other still to be confirmed.

WARM UP AT THE DUNSTANE
Each time Scotland are playing at Murrayfield we’ll be here with Orkney Steak Burgers and Beer, as well as plenty of other alcoholic and soft drinks. Whatever the weather we’ll set you up right for the match and you never know who you might see here as Rugby greats past, present and future have been known to make an appearance at The Dunstane…!

Whilst many of us are still waiting to complete 2017’s New Year’s resolutions, the rest are looking ahead to 2018 with a fresh, positive outlook. We are always looking to help our guests and so have created, just for you, Dunstane Hotel inspired New Years Resolutions!

We wish we could tell you not to drink so much coffee or alcohol, but we’re all self-confessed caffeine addicts here and have an innate ability to sniff out a good G&T from a mile away, so we’d be completely hypocritical there, so here’s how can we actually help…

EAT WELL
Choose light bites from our all-day dining or kick-start your day with a smoothie. The all-day dining menu also includes lots of fish and game, which are low in…yeah OK, sorry we can’t keep up the pretence any more! Whilst we’re sure many of our dishes do have health benefits, not many of us go out for dinner and calorie count! So just come join us for dinner in 2018, sample our incredible Orcadian-inspired food and indulge in a chocolatey dessert or treat yourself to a luxurious Champagne Afternoon Tea. There’s a great selection of wine to go with it all too!

GET FIT
There are conditions to us helping here. If by “Get Fit” you mean taking up a new sport, we can’t help. Unless by “taking up a new sport” you mean walking 10 minutes down the road to BT Murrayfield Stadium. There you can watch Scotland beat play England in the 2018 Six Nations on the 24th February and then we take on France on the 13th March 2016. Or there are lots of stairs at The Dunstane so we’ll put you on the very top floor perhaps?

Joking aside, if you do actually want to get fit when you’re on holiday, save your bus fare and walk up to Princes Street! In around 25 minutes (depending on your walking speed) you’ll be at the foot of the famous Scot Monument! It’s pretty much a straight line to Princes Street from the Dunstane so you can’t get lost and there is so much to see on the way. Though, on second thoughts, getting lost in Edinburgh isn’t always a bad thing – you can find some amazing wee gems hidden down cobbled side streets.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Now THIS is what we’re best at! Our vispring beds are so ridiculously comfy you’ll be struggling to drag yourself out of our stunning new rooms in the morning. Whether you’re in one of our single beds on a quick business trip or splashing out on a romantic weekend in a luxury suite, we doubt you’ll get a better night sleep anywhere, except in your own bed of course!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !

Coming to Edinburgh for your Christmas shopping will be rewarding in so many ways. With some of the best boutique stores, chains stores, high street brand stores and independent stores Edinburgh cannot be missed this Christmas.

When it comes to Christmas markets, Edinburgh’s is up there with the best. From 18 November, for six weeks in the run-up to the big day, Princes Street Gardens are lined with stalls selling crafts, artwork and all manner of unexpected delights, sure to please even the pickiest on the Xmas list.

Your shopping trip continues with all the wondrous stores along Princes Street and George Street and everything in between. You will find M&S, Harvey Nichols, Topshop and many other leading stores all within walking distance. You can also look for those winter warmer bargains down the Royal Mile, just off Nicolson Bridge where you will find tartan, tweed and wool shops in abundance.

Shopping Breaks in the Scottish Capital
Book a two-night stay this December and, as well as specially reduced rates, we’ll include a nip of whisky to warm your cockles on arrival, a champagne-enhanced (and suitably festive) afternoon tea on one day of your stay, and of course, the full Scottish breakfast each morning.

Meanwhile, Back at The Dunstane
Once you’ve had enough Christmas shopping we will be waiting to serve you with the perfect evening meal in The Ba’Bar If you so wish, you can shut the winter outside and relax in your room with a nice long bath. Go ahead, spoil yourself, it’s Christmas.

Hotel booking websites have revolutionised the way we book holidays and getaways. We love the way they make it easy for guests to find a competitive deal and in many cases facilitate trips that otherwise might be unaffordable. However, here at the Dunstane Houses we are bucking the trend by offering our guests some fantastic offers when they book their room directly with us.

Edinburgh’s little secret
The Dunstane Hotel is one of Edinburgh’s best kept secrets; a luxurious bolthole in the heart of city, perfect for seasonal breaks, birthday treats and romantic winter weekends. We always offer a tempting series of discounted rates on our sumptuous rooms and suites that you won’t find on any bookings website. To make a stay with us even more attractive, we’ve put together a great offer we know you will love. However, it is only available on direct bookings made by phone or through our website.

So, here are five good reasons you should log onto our website and book your stay direct with us today:
• Best rates – we’re never cheaper elsewhere, guaranteed.
• Free room upgrades for stays of 3 nights or more (between November –March)
• Bottle of Joseph Perrier champagne with suite bookings, because who doesn’t like Champagne?
• Flexible cancellation policy, just to keep things easy.
• Reduced rates for local attractions and partnerships with local bars and restaurants giving you the best deal.

What are you waiting for? Get yourself online and book into one of our outstanding rooms to take advantage of our exclusive direct booking offers. We look forward to welcoming you to The Dunstane Houses.

‘Sing me a song of a lass that is gone’, the beautiful opening lyrics of The Skye Boat Song. A Scottish folk song, well known now thanks to it’s use as the theme tune for Outlander. If you haven’t been caught up in the incredible story yet, there’s time to catch up. It’s a tale that brings together romance, adventure, history and science fiction – and it is a magical combination.
The epic love story begins with Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 being mysteriously swept back into 1743. She’s forced to marry the handsome, brave and romantic Highland warrior, James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser – Jamie to his friends. They fall in love in the midst of the Jacobite Rebellion and the dangers that come with those times. The sweeping Scottish scenery is another reason to watch too.

Now, Outlander took an extended break after it’s last series, leading to a difficult period of time known as droughtlander. It was a dark time for many of us, missing Jamie from our lives…OK, Claire too we suppose! So here at the Dunstane Houses we figured we’d need something in case a tragedy like drought-lander ever struck Edinburgh again. Then we found Andy. One of Jamie Fraser’s kin who, with his unique insider knowledge of the TV show, it’s filming locations and the history of the Highlanders, is perfect to fill the Outlander shaped hole in your heart.

This is no “box-ticking” tour that Andy has laid on for us. This is a tour that sees you picked up from the hotel, by Andy, in full Highland dress, and transported around Edinburgh and more to filming locations and some of Scotland’s most infamous sites.

The full Highlander package includes:
• Two nights Bed and full Scottish breakfast in one of The Dunstane Houses newly refurbished luxury rooms
• Andy! He will pick you up in full Jacobite dress including Lallybroch plaid, swords, dirks, targe, pistols, and flintlock musket – just in case you encounter any marauding rival clans!
• Transportation – pickup and drop off from Dunstane House
• Whisky to toast the day on the steps of Lallybroch
• As many photos as you like with Andy
• Bottled water and snacks

Prices start from £399.00 per person for our two night break and you can book

Hogmanay is a traditional three-day Scottish winter festival to welcome in the New Year. Every year, thousands of people flock to Scotland’s vibrant capital to toast the bells, dance until the wee sma’ hours and celebrate the age-old tradition of Hogmanay in Edinburgh.

BRING THE FESTIVITIES TO LIGHT
Watch the festivities get underway on the 30th of December in the annual Hogmanay Torchlight Procession. Join over 30 000 torch-wielding Hogmanayers shed some light on the Hogmanay festivities as they snake their way through Edinburgh’s city centre. Lighting the way from George IV Bridge to Calton Hill in a blazing river of fire, the procession ends with a spectacular fireworks display over the city.

TAKE THE PARTY TO THE STREETS OF EDINBURGH
On the 31st of December, Princess Street comes to life in preparation for Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay Street Party. Set beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, Musicians, DJs and live bands rock the streets in one of the biggest outdoor parties in the world. Four different stages are set up throughout Edinburgh’s city centre, featuring the best alternative, traditional and party music. And big screens broadcast the festivities to the rest of Edinburgh and the world. As the only festival to appear in the ‘Discovery Channel’s Top 25 World Travel Experiences’, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party is one of the greatest New Year celebrations in the world.

ENJOY THE BIGGEST CONCERT IN THE GARDENS
Every year over 80 000 people celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh with the annual Concert in the Gardens. This year, Rag N Bone Man will be headlining and an all-Scottish line-up will be rocking revellers from around the world. Although Garden Tickets and Enclosure Tickets are already sold out, you can still rock the night away in the Street Party arena.

Here at The Dunstane Houses, we believe in doing things right. Come and book your Christmas party at The Dunstane in Edinburgh this year. Dine in luxury this holiday season and enjoy all this hotel has to offer for you and your guests without having to lift a finger.

At The Dunstane, Christmas is big deal. We love this time of the year because it is a time of celebration, and that is something that we really emphasise upon at our hotel. Our hotel restaurant will select a special 2017 menu for Christmas that will really make your party a standout occasion.

Christmas Dinner at the Ba’Bar
The Ba’Bar is the perfect place to have a Christmas party celebration with both your family and your friends. With beautiful fresh and local produce our talented chefs will prepare the most delicious meal. We’ve also got one of the largest selections of spirits in Edinburgh, so whether it is for family time or even an office party, do it in style when you choose The Dunstane Hotel.

Lunches and Dinners
Our hotel will bring your Christmas party to life with our fabulous and delicious lunches and dinners. At just £30 per person, you can dine and enjoy these incredible meals with your family and your friends.

Incredible Deals
You will not want to miss out on all the incredible seasonal deals that we offer at our hotel. Click here to see what we have on offer, whether its Hogmanay or Burns night, Valentine’s day or another special day, we will have an offer for you to enjoy.

Dun-stonian (noun.) slang term for anyone who loves great food, great accommodation and an even greater drink selection. OK, yes we have just made that word up. But right or wrong as it may be to have Christmas decorations up on the 1st November (we don’t, but we’re not judging if you do!), it’s never too early to plan your festive party nights in Edinburgh. Especially with all the best venues booking up so fast. We’ve rounded up the top 5 reasons to party like a Dun-stonian. OK, that’s not really working, let’s just get to the important part…

GREAT FOOD
Our new all-day dining concept means you’re sure to get a great freshly cooked meal, whenever you arrive to check-in. Serving from breakfast from as early as 7:30am and delicious bites, big or wee, until 9:30pm, we have you covered however hungry you are. From a whisky nightcap accompanied by a Scottish cheese plate or The Dunstane burger, made with gorgeous Orkney beef, you may struggle to leave room for your party night meal!

GREAT ACCOMMODATION
Recently refurbished and relaunched to some incredible reviews, the new Dunstane Houses are ready for their first Christmas! With individually designed bedrooms and suites as stunning as the Orkney Islands they are named after, it’s the perfect haven to recover from a night on the town. Roll-top copper baths, eye-catching prints mixed with heritage tweeds and luxurious Noble Isle bath products are just some of the treats in store for you, when you book your stay at the Dunstane Houses.

GREAT DRINKS
Daniel, as you may have read in our previous blog, is a dab hand and creating incredible cocktails. A lover of the classics, Daniel claims he was a pirate in a former life as rum is his favourite spirit to work with. He and his team will create a cocktail for whatever mood you’re in or help match the perfect wine to your meal. An evening nightcap is a must, let us take you on a tour of Scotland via our extensive whisky cabinet.

GREAT LOCATION
We are a 5 minute walk from Haymarket train/tram station and a short walk, bus or taxi to the famous Edinburgh Christmas Markets. As well as many of Edinburgh’s historic sights. Situated just below the Edinburgh Mound, the Christmas Markets not only locals, but visitors across the world. It offers a unique shopping experience, browse stalls of handmade goods and bespoke gifts or indulge in a range of food and drink, from a traditional Scottish Hot Toddy to hot chocolates doused with Amaretto or Baileys. You can ice skate, brave the Star Flyer or Forth 1 Big Wheel, visit Santa or explore the Ice Adventure. There is something for everyone.

GREAT DEALS
Book a two-night stay this November or December and, as well as specially reduced rates, we’ll include a nip of whisky to warm your cockles on arrival, a champagne-enhanced (and suitably festive) afternoon tea on one day of your stay, and of course, the full Scottish breakfast each morning. More details can be found here.

Or hang your stockings at The Dunstane and stay on 24–25 December. Not only will you never need to lift a finger, but you’ll also be treated all the indulgent luxuries that come with a truly memorable Christmas break. Two nights’ bed and breakfast are complemented by a festive afternoon tea, cocktail party on Christmas Eve; champagne, supper and a special luxury gift on Christmas Day; and a special Boxing Day brunch. With rooms starting at £295 per person, you can find more details and book.

Luxurious, relaxed and unlike anywhere you’ve ever stayed before the Dunstane Houses, just a 5-minute walk from Edinburgh city centre could be the answer you are looking for. Both Dunstane House and Hampton House are available for private hire – either individually or as a pair. Book exclusive use of one or both houses and you’ll have up to 35 bedrooms to spread yourselves around, along with private bar lounges and dedicated staff, and bespoke dining menus at your fingertips. You can take advantage of one of Edinburgh’s most beloved luxury hotels with privacy assured and friendly, dedicated service guaranteed.

If you have a large corporate event, wedding or even a family break this Christmas, speak to us about exclusive use of our luxury Townhouses – transform your event into something extraordinary with exclusive use of The Dunstane Houses.

Exclusive Use Luxury Accommodation
With 35 comfortable and contemporary bedrooms spread between two buildings, including 16 newly refurbished rooms in Dunstane House you and your guests are guaranteed to have a truly unforgettable time in the Scottish capital.

Our recently refurbished rooms in the Dunstane House have very comfy VI Spring beds, Noble Isle toiletries, tea and coffee facilities and smart flat screen TV’s. Luxury King rooms and the Orkney Suites also have Nespresso coffee machines, home-made shortbread, bathrobes and slippers just in case.

The luxury doesn’t end there. The Ba’ Bar in Dunstane House and Stroma Lounge in Hampton House are yours to enjoy season Scottish dining at your convenience. Gather as a family, let us set up a private breakfast for you, a cocktail reception, relaxed buffet or sit-down dinner. The Stroma Lounge is also ideal for hosting meetings and other corporate events should you be coming for a work event. We also have the Garden Conservatory at Hampton House, an ideal space to relax and even in the depths of winter there is a small chance of the infamous Scottish sun peeking through, an ideal place to sit in complete serenity.

A Private Experience
Throughout your exclusive use stay, the only people with access to your chosen House will be you, your guests and our dedicated team – on hand to offer whatever you require. It really can feel like your home away from home.

Family Christmas
This Christmas is the perfect opportunity to experience exclusive use at The Dunstane Houses. After wandering around the Christmas Markets in the Princes Street Gardens, the bus will drop you right at your front door. You can join the rest of your guests for lunches, dinners and drinks, you can have a private breakfast and leave your presents around the tree in the Ba’Bar.

We can organise anything you like for your stay – including an unforgettable Christmas Lunch in one of our partner restaurants, festive afternoon tea for your whole group on arrival, Christmas cocktails and canapes, and a leisurely brunch when it’s time to leave us. The Dunstane Houses really are there for you to make your own. Gather as a family, without the intrusion of other guests and enjoy all the fun parts of Christmas – without any of the washing up! Call our reservations team on 0131 337 6169 or email [email protected] for prices and more details about exclusive use this Christmas.

Here at the Dunstane Houses, we believe that part of running a luxury boutique hotel involves keeping guests up to date with all the exciting events happening around us throughout the year. With Halloween just around the corner, we’ve rounded up our top 5 terror-ific ghost tours in Edinburgh – some with events scarier than bumping into Pennywise.

From ghostly bagpipers walking the Royal Mile to the hidden streets of Mary King’s Close, eerily frozen in time, it’s not hard to see why Edinburgh is considered one of the most haunted cities in the UK.

1.Mercat Tours
“Feeble candlelight. Ghoulish costumes. Unsettling stories” are all promised by Mercat Tours on their All Hallow’s Eve tours. Explore the Blair Street underground vaults at midnight or become part of the ‘Edinburgh Mob’ and follow the true story of the riot. Or join the ‘Doomed, Dead and Buried’ tour, encounter stories of cannibals, body snatchers and deals with the Devil in the Canongate Graveyard…

2.Condemned Halloween Tours
There is a whole other world underneath the Old Town you see today. The once busy streets of Mary King’s Close. The “street of sorrows” was sealed off and forgotten in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town for over 250 years. Mary King’s Close’s Halloween Tour, Condemned, is back. Travel back to the time of witch trials, with suspicion around every corner. A unique insight to Edinburgh’s history with witchcraft and how people were implicated and condemned…

3.Ghost Bus Tours
Say that really fast three times in the mirror and Peter Venkman (or Abby Yates, depending on which incarnation of the Ghostbusters movies you prefer!) will appear behind you…only joking. On a serious note, the Edinburgh Ghost Bus Tour makes a ‘grim parade’ across the city, from Burke and Hare to sixteenth century The Great Scottish Witch Hunts, you can absorb the brutal history of Edinburgh, from the warmth of bus. Being warm doesn’t make it any less creepy though, malevolent energies lurk in the bus and you may find a few among you aren’t there to enjoy the ride…

4.City of The Dead Tours
Join truly macabre underground tours, their website assures you you’ll need “a couple of stiff drinks” if you survive! Tours visit the “most convincing supernatural case ever” the site of the Mackenzie poltergeist. People have claimed to have been scratched by the poltergeist during the tour, so join at your own risk. You can always choose to brave the double dead walking tour taking you to TWO of the most haunted places on the planet. City of The Dead Tours have won awards as “Britain’s Best Ghost Tour” and are the only Scottish attraction to be shortlisted for a prestigious Screamie Award (three times!) and a Luxury Travel Award.

5.The Dunstane Houses
Yes, really! While we’re not a ghost tour, night manager Alan is full of stories. Ghosts he’s seen just sat around fireplaces or where fireplaces used to be. He recalls tales from guests of ghost sightings and spooky goings on all around our Georgian-era home. They all seem friendly enough, so don’t let that put you off booking. Just don’t ask Alan about his ghost dog. Don’t say we haven’t warned you…