FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ELMVIEW B&B

CLICK ON ANY FAQ BELOW

How do I get from the Airport to your Guest House?

There are two ways of getting to Elmview from Edinburgh Airport.

The first option is by taxi from the airport. The cost is approximately £18.00. This takes between 20 and 30 minutes depending on time of day.

The second option is by bus.  The Airport Express bus (#100) runs every 15 minutes and starts from just outside the Arrivals Hall. A return ticket costs £6.00 per person. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at Shandwick Place, (at the westerly end of Princes Street).  Walk on for about 100 metres and then cross the road into Lothian Road staying on the left hand side of Lothian Road.  Just past St John's Church catch any of the following buses; 11, 15, 15a, or 16.  (if you miss Shandwick Place, you can get off anywhere on Princes Street, cross the road and catch any of the buses I have just mentioned, going the other way down Princes Street). The cost of this ticket is £1.20 (you should have the exact money (or more), as no change is given by the ticket machine or the bus driver).  These buses come by every 10 minutes. The name of every stop is marked near the top of the bus stop post.  Get off the bus at Leven Street (about the 4th or 5th stop). The stop is just after the King’s Theatre and just before a very large church with a spire, both on the left side. Continue walking up the hill for 30 metres, and turn left into Glengyle Terrace.  Elmview is 140 metres on the left hand side. On your right side will be Bruntsfield Links, a public park. This bus journey takes between 30 and 50 minutes depending on time of day and how long you have to wait for the buses.

A third option is the Lothian Buses' Number 35. (see www.lothianbuses.co.uk for the up to date information and bus route maps). This is a local bus and is therefore quite slow as it stops frequently. But it does stop at Lauriston Place which is only a 6 minute walk from Elmview. The No 35 bus takes about 1 hour to travel from the airport to Lauriston Place, but it is considerably cheaper, at GBP 1.30 per person for the journey, than the other transport options.
The number 35 departs from outside the Airport Arrivals Hall every 15 minutes. The bus goes round a number of estates and shopping centres before it eventually turns left off Earl Grey Street into Lauriston Place. Get off the bus as soon as it turns into Lauriston Place
When you get off the bus and face back, in the direction that the bus has just come from, you are looking at the Tolcross Junction. Walk to the Tolcross Junction and turn left into Brougham Street. In Brougham Street, take the 3rd turning on the right into Leven Terrace (1st right is Drumdryan Street, 2nd right is Tarvit Street). Walk the length of Leven Terrace (passing a junction on the right, Valleyfield Road). After the sharp corner to the right, the road becomes Glengyle Terrace with Bruntsfield Park on your left. Elmview is at No 15 Glengyle Terrace on your right. The distance from Lauriston Place to Elmview is just short of 500 metres and should take 6 minutes.

I am thinking of bringing a car, are there going to be any problems?

Parking in Edinburgh is extremely difficult. Our guest house is located in the City Centre parking zone and we do not have any reserved parking for our guests. I try to encourage our guests not to bring their cars. The city is so small that you can walk to all the main attractions. Public transport is reliable, plentiful and relatively cheap.

Car Parking near your B&B?

We have the following car parking options:
• Free on-street parking about 1.5 kms south from us (South of Grange Loan).
• Free "Park & Ride" car parking at the Airport and Hermiston. It will require one or two bus journeys costing GBP 1.30 per journey
• An underground carpark at Riego Street (700 meters) for GBP 15.00 per 24 hours (pedestrian access from Tolcross).
• An underground carpark in Semple Street (900 meters) for GBP 12.00 per 24 hours
• An openair carpark by the International Conference Centre in Morrison Street (1 km) for GBP 8.50 per 24 hours
• Metered parking in Glengyle Terrace, infront of Elmview, up to a maximum of 4 hours at GBP 2.00 per hour during the day. Parking is free between 6.30 pm and 8.30 am and all day Sundays.
• Metered parking in an adjacent street which is outside the city centre parking zone. For example, parking in Barclay Crescent or Whitehouse Loan has a maximum of 6 hours at GBP 1.20 per hour during the day. Parking in this area is free between 5.30 pm and 8.30 am and all day Saturday and Sundays.
The parking attendants in Edinburgh are extremely zealous and I would suggest that on arrival you park on the left hand side of Glengyle Terrace, purchase a ticket from the meter for 30 minutes (GBP 1.00) or more. You can then unload your luggage, see your room, get a key, and decide where you want to park your car. We can provide you with a map of the nearest parking options. If you want on-street free parking, arrive after 18.30 hrs when you can also park on the single yellow line without penalty. Take care, the right hand side of the road is for residents with a parking licence.

Park and Ride Option for parking?

Parking in the vicinity of Elmview is very difficult. On-street parking is not only expensive, but is limited by the maximum length of time you are permitted to park. The nearest free on-street parking is about a mile from Elmview.

To my knowledge, none of our guests have actually used the ‘Park & Ride’ option, but Edinburgh City Council are very keen that I should point out this option to my guests. There are two ‘Park & Ride’ sites suitable for guests staying at Elmview. I call them suitable because they have bus routes which pass close to Elmview.

The first is Ingliston ‘Park & Ride’. This is located at Edinburgh Airport . The number 35 bus calls every 15 minutes at the car-park and it can drop you off at a bus stop which is within 400 m of our house. (See below for a more detailed instructions on how to use the No 35 bus). The car parking is free and secure. There is also a very comfortable bus shelter at the car park. The bus fare is £1.30 and the journey takes about 1 hour. The other bus that stops at the Ingliston Park & Ride is the number 48 bus which takes you to the city centre. At Shandwick Place you can get off and walk the short distance to the Lothian Road and catch either the 11, 15, 15a or 16 to get off at Leven Street which is 100 m from the house. The two journeys will cost you £2.60 each or £3.40 for a day ticket and take about 1 hour.

The second option is Hermiston ‘Park & Ride’. This is located due west of the city, just outside the city by-pass and is close to Heriot-Watt University. Again the parking is free and secure. The Number 45 bus is ideal as it can drop you off within 100 m of our house. But this bus route only operates to and from the ‘Park & Ride’ during certain hours (morning and evening rush hours). The number 25 and 34 both go into the city centre. You can get off the No 25 in Shandwick Place and walk the short distance to the Lothian Road and catch either the 11, 15, 15a or 16 to get off at Leven Street which is 100 m from the house. The No 34 has a slightly different route so you should get off the No 34 at the bottom of Lothian Road and cross the road to catch the 11, 15, 15a or 16 going back up the road as described above. The two journeys will cost you £2.60 each or £3.40 for a day ticket.

Do have a look at the Lothian Buses website (see www.lothianbuses.co.uk for the up to date information and bus route maps) to check the frequency and timings of the buses. All the options take about an hour, including changing buses and waiting for the second bus.

This ‘effort’ is no more difficult or different than if you were to arrive by plane at Edinburgh Airport and you were to choose to ‘struggle’, with all your luggage, to Elmview using public transport.

The Lothian Buses' Number 35 Bus Route
The No 35 is a local bus and is therefore quite slow as it stops frequently. But it does stop at Lauriston Place which is only a 6 minute walk from Elmview. The No 35 bus takes about 1 hour to travel from the airport to Lauriston Place, but it is considerably cheaper at GBP 1.30 per person for the journey, than the other transport options.

The number 35 departs from outside the Airport Arrivals Hall every 15 minutes and the first stop is the Park & Ride at Ingliston. The bus then goes round a number of estates and shopping centres before it eventually turns left off Earl Grey Street into Lauriston Place.

When you get off the bus and face back in the direction that the bus has just come from, you are looking at the Tolcross Junction. Walk back to Tolcross Junction and turn left into Brougham Street. In Brougham Street, take the 3rd turning on the right into Leven Terrace (1st right is Drumdryan Street, 2nd right is Tarvit Street). Walk the length of Leven Terrace (passing a junction on the right, Valleyfield Road). After the sharp corner, the road becomes Glengyle Terrace. Elmview is at No 15 Glengyle Terrace. The distance from Lauriston Place to Elmview is just short of 500 metres and should take 6 minutes. (see www.lothianbuses.co.uk for the up to date information and bus route maps)

I am worried about giving my credit card details over the Internet

If you are worried, call me by telephone and give me the details of your card over the phone, if you would prefer that system. If you choose to use the internet, our secure server uses a PGP program to encrypt the details of your booking and send it directly to me in an email message. PGP stands for “pretty good privacy”. It is not military or government standard of encryption but it is still a “pretty good” standard. Most businesses on the internet use this same standard of encryption (see the company's website at www.pgp.com for a full explanation of their product). When the email arrives, I de-encrypt the message. I am the only person in the world who knows the key. It is 12 digits long in hexadecimal code, so it a pretty tough one to crack. We do not take any deposit from the credit card or any advance payment/deposit for the booking (this makes it easier for me when I work out the bill when you depart). When you leave we will ask you to settle up by which ever means of payment you prefer. We prefer either a debit card or cash as they incur the least bank charges.

Do you have a policy of a minimum number of nights for your bookings?

We have a minimum booking of three consecutive nights until about six weeks prior to the date, when we will take one or two night bookings on a fill-in basis. If in doubt, send us an email and ask!

I am having great difficulty in finding accommodation in Edinburgh during August.

Finding accommodation in August is difficult because of the huge influx of visitors for the festival; you might like to look at the following site www.festivalbeds.co.uk Tel: ++44 (0)131 225 1101, who find rooms in private houses during August only. Another choice is the accommodation offered by the University of Edinburgh, see www.edinburghfirst.co.uk and use their enquiry form, or telephone ++44 (0) 131 667 1971, or ++44 (0) 131 651 2007 and ask for "reservations".

How do I get to Elmview from the railway station?

The main rail station in Edinburgh is Waverley, a second is Haymarket. Most trains stop at both stations, and both are equal distance to Elmview. To get to Elmview:

the first option is by taxi from either station. The cost is approximately GBP 7.00. At peak times there can be a long queue for the taxis at Waverley. If there is a very long wait, a ruse may be to walk out of the station and telephone for a taxi (0131 272 8000 or 228 1211 or 229 2468) to meet you at a road junction, shop or some other landmark.

The second option from Waverley is by bus; Because of the on-going tram works, Princes Street is closed to all vehicles until Summer 2012. All the buses have been re-routed down George Street (see www.lothianbuses.co.uk for the up to date information and bus route maps). Walk out of Waverley station, turn right and follow the sign posts to St Andrew's Square and George Street (keeping Jenners to your left). On George Street, turn left and your bus stop is just before the Dome restaurant opposite St Andrew's & St George's Church. You need to find the one that serves the following buses; Numbers 11, 15, 15a, or 16. The cost of a single journey ticket is GBP 1.30. You should have the exact money ready as no change is given by the ticket machine or the bus driver. One of these buses comes by every 5-10 minutes. Get off the bus at Leven Street (about the 5th or 6th stop) ask the driver to tell you when to get off. The stop is just after the King's Theatre and just before a very large church with a spire. (The two stops immediately before Leven Street are called Fountainbridge and Home Street. The name of every stop is marked near the top of the bus stop post). Continue walking up the road for 30 metres, and turn left into Glengyle Terrace. Elmview is 140 metres on the left hand side.

Another option is catching the Number 23 or 27 bus. These have been re-routed past Waverley Station but the nearest bus stop is half way up Market Street. Turn left out of the station, turn right at the roundabout into Market Street.

My mother has bad knees. How many stairs does your B&B have?

There is an external flight of 12 stone steps from the sidewalk down to the front door of the Bed and Breakfast . The whole Bed and Breakfast is located at the basement / garden level. There is a sturdy handrail down the stairs. There are no further stairs or steps once you are here.

Comfortable seating area in room (?) - Just a place for us to quietly enjoy some TV or reading in the evening.

There is a sofa/settee in each room so that you can comfortably watch TV, and relax. There is a standard lamp beside each sofa to provide extra lighting for reading.

Do your rooms have ensuite bathrooms?

All our rooms have a private 'ensuite' bathroom consisting of a toilet, wash hand basin, large spacious shower cubicle with electric shower, heated towel rail and generous sized bath sheets, hand towels, face flannels, bath robes, shampoos, soap, shower cap and other toiletries. There is a mirror over the basin and an electric shaving point. We also provide hand washing soap for clothes washing and a clothes drying rack in the shower cubicle. In the bedroom there is a hair drier.

Can you recommend a restaurant?

I always feel a little uneasy recommending a restaurant, as Robin and I have fairly simple tastes. Here is the list we put in our guest's rooms (local restaurants). We have eaten at most of them. The Witchery and its Secret Garden restaurant is very famous, but pricey. A number of the restaurants are in Leith, this is an easy bus ride and well worth it if you like fish. The view of the castle, which is lit at night, from the restaurant, or brasserie at Harvey Nicholls is wonderful. I have recently found this web site which has reviews, which I find helpful www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/edinburgh_restaurants.htm. Last year some friends took us to Dubh Prais which is a tiny cellar restaurant on the Royal Mile, where we had truly lovely Scottish food. Our starter was haggis in a brandy cream sauce and then we had Aberdeen Angus fillet - wonderful.

Do you have a Vegetarian Menu?

We do have a vegetarian menu, but you must let us know before you arrive, so that we can prepare. We have a daily changing "special" every day, and this is frequently a vegetarian option. Today's was a bruchetta with mixed varieties of mushroom and new potato in a cream sauce.

We are thinking of getting a rental car?

Regarding a car - I would advise you only pick up a rental car on leaving the city. You will not need a car once you are here. At the moment (2012) the centre is in chaos as the City is re-introducing trams, and so there are endless roadworks everywhere. We have an excellent bus system and taxis are numerous and not expensive. Car parks close to us are shown on our website, and there are also directions from the airport.

My plane arrives at 7.30 am. Can I drop off my bags with you?

We try to get the rooms ready by 12:00 midday, but we are very happy for you to come as soon as you can and if your room is not ready, you can drop off your bags, and I will give you the key to your room and a map and you can head on into the City. If you want breakfast there are a number of restaurants/cafés nearby (300m) that will serve you breakfast from 8 am.

Could you confirm whether there are any animals on the premises?

Our elderly Persian cat, Lucy, unfortunately died early this year. We now have no animals on the premises.

Is it possible for 3 people to stay in a room?

I am sorry, but all our rooms are only for two people. We do not have any triple rooms. We are not insured for 3 people, the city council will not allow 3 people in a room and the Automobile Association (AA) who rate us with their 5 gold stars do not allow it. May I suggest that you look at www.privatehousestays.com or www.scotland2000.co.uk or www.theaa.com which list a number of B & Bs in Edinburgh or the Edinburgh Tourist Office at www.edinburgh.org who will be able to help you.

Is it possible to leave our luggage with you until our flight in the evening?

Yes. You can leave your baggage in an alcove in the hall. You can keep the key to the house, so that you let yourself in, just in case we are not around, and you can then leave the key on the hall table as you leave. An alternative option is to take your luggage down to Edinburgh Station (Waverley) where they have a left luggage office. This is convenient not only for the trains but it is not far from the start of the Edinburgh Airport Express bus service. The charge is £7.00 per item (it goes through an X-Ray machine).
If you are coming back to us later in your holiday we are happy to look after some of your luggage, as long as there is not too much, we will put it in our part of the house, and then on your return it will be put in your room.

Can you recommend a car rental company?

There are lots of national car rental chains in Edinburgh. If you look at www.yell.co.uk and put in "car rental" & "Edinburgh", I believe at least sixty companies are displayed. Our nearest rental company is Condor (++44 131 229 6333), located in Lochrin Place which is about 500 meters from Elmview. (see www.condorselfdrive.co.uk). Condor seem to have ordinary cars, but if you wanted something more out of the ordinary do look at www.guysalmon.co.uk. Guy Salmon is in Roseburn Street which is not difficult to get to. The rental rates (2008 prices) for Condor, who are located in Lochrin Place, are:
Nissan Mitre (a very small car) is GBP 25.00 per day this includes insurance and free mileage up to 200 miles per day thereafter it is GBP 0.04 per mile. (a rental of 3 days or more is unlimited mileage and they also have a 7 days for the price of 5 days rental) A family car, for example a Nisan Quashqai is GBP 45.00 per day this includes insurance and free mileage up to 200 miles per day thereafter it is GBP 0.04 per mile. (They also offer similar deals for mileage and weekly rates as above) You will have to pay for the petrol consumed. They all have special deals and special rates at certain times of the year, so do remember to ask. If you are N. American, it can be cheaper to rent a car through the AAA or some of your own national rental companies (so I have been told).

Do you have any single rooms?

- Unfortunately we do not have any single rooms; however, we are delighted to offer you a room with a king-sized double bed at a slightly reduced single occupancy room rate of approximately GBP 25.00 per night less than the normal rate for two occupants. This price includes a full Scottish breakfast and all taxes. All our rooms have a private en-suite shower room attached.

We are trying to decide whether to rent a car after leaving Edinburgh or check out hiring a driver for the balance of our trip. After Edinburgh we will travel to Grantown on Spey, Ullapool, Plockton, Oban and then to Glasgow for our trip home. Could you possibly recommend any agencies?

To hire a car for up to a week can vary in price from GBP82.45 to many hundreds depending on the type of car you wish to drive. You would need a national hire company as you will be picking up from Edinburgh, but returning to Glasgow airport. I have looked up on the web, and Alamo, Hertz, Thrifty and National would fit the bill. If you belong to the AAA they may well have a good rate with a particular firm. It would be well worth asking. If you wanted to be driven we have been recommended Dougie Millar whose details are : info@travelexonline.co.uk www.travelexonline.co.uk Office 0131 258 1693 Direct 07710 722613 13 Ellangowan Terrace Edinburgh EH16 5TD We work closely with a bespoke golf company run by Joan Montgomerie, and she has nothing but praise for Dougie. She said "Dougie is a really nice guy and very reliable. He has a network of drivers to whom he effectively subcontracts the work and he also drives himself. He has a good range of quality vehicles - minvans to Bentleys - and has done a lot of work for the big finance houses and banks, as well as having quite big contracts for airport transfers for overseas tour operators. He has a contract with one of the finance houses that Neil (her husband) works for, and they are pretty demanding in who they contract to generally."

Do you have high speed internet access in the bedroom areas?

Yes, we have secure WiFi for broadband access to the Internet available in all our rooms, and there is also one laptop computer available for guests to share and to use in their room.

We would prefer to be on the upper floor if there are any nice views?

Unfortunately, all our Bed and Breakfast bedrooms are on the basement / garden level of the building, so there is only a view of our small south facing courtyard garden (rooms 1, 2, 4 & 5) or our small north facing walled garden (room 3).

Please advise of cancellation policies just in case we have travel changes.

CANCELLATION - we will always do our utmost to re-let the room. However, if we cannot, then the full charge will be levied for a cancellation of LESS than 4 days. It is highly recommended that you check your travel insurance policy covers cancellation charges, and then you won't be out of pocket.

Where can I get clothes dry-cleaned or is there a Launderette nearby?

If you give enough warning, Merchiston Cleaners will collect and deliver the same day. In a crisis, Nici has done the delivery and collecting for a £4.00 fee. For small washes, there is a drying rack and liquid hand washing soap in each of our bathrooms. For the past year we have been using a same-day collection and delivery service from a laundry called "Suds R Us" at 20 Polwarth Gardens (15 minutes walk). But we need to be told by 8.30 am for us to call them to arrange for them to come and collect your washing. Telephone ++44 (0)131-229-5131. If your arrange it yourself, please remind us in the morning that someone is coming to collect your laundry as the driver usually arrives at the busiest moment during breakfast!!! Each room has a laundry bag for you to stuff your laundry in and put it out ready for collection. A typical wash costs £6.50 which includes collection and delivery. If the bag is stuffed full they might charge £7.50.

Can I pay by a different credit card to the one I booked with?

Yes. I normally take payments when you depart. You can pay by cash, credit card, debit card or UK cheque. Whichever is convenient to you. You can part pay in cash and the rest on a credit card if that is what you would like. Obviously we like payment on a debit card, or cash because this generates the least in bank charges. If you pay by credit card or a foreign debit card then I am afraid that I will have to add a 3% charge to cover the charges that the bank imposes on me. There is no extra charge for payments in cash, UK cheque or UK debit card. I am happy to take payment in Euros at the current exchange rate.

How do I get to you from Prestwick or Glasgow airport?

GLASGOW AIRPORT - Airport Transfer Options

Taxi. A Taxi taken from the taxi-rank at the airport may cost you a minimum of GBP 90.00 (2008 prices) for a one way journey from Glasgow to Central Edinburgh.

Private Hire Car. By making prior arrangement with a Private Hire Car company, the journey from Glasgow airport to Central Edinburgh costs about GBP 55.00 (2008 prices). There are numerous companies that offer airport transfer services. You can find your own company by searching the online Yellow Pages (www.yell.co.uk) and looking at the result of a search for "I am looking For: = Taxis", Located in = Glasgow (or Edinburgh)".

Alternatively, you can take the bus from the Airport, change at the bus station in Glasgow and get the Edinburgh bus. During the day the buses run every 20 minutes from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The timetable is at www.citylink.co.uk/timetables.htm . Trains also run between Glasgow and Edinburgh every 20 minutes. Guests have found this journey easy to do. Either Edinburgh Haymarket or Edinburgh Waverley station, both are the same distance to Elmview. Waverley is the main station.

I am arriving late; will I be able to find a place to eat?

Many of our local restaurants take 'last orders' at about 10.00 pm and remain open to 11.00 pm. There are at least two 'Take-aways' within 500m that will serve food and drink until 3.00 am. Both have a small area with a few tables and chairs where you can eat your 'take-away'.

How do I find out what's going on in Edinburgh during my visit.

Have a look at www.edinburgh.org . Events in the city can also be found on www.theoracle.co.uk , www.gigguide.co.uk , www.list.co.uk/events/what:edinburgh/ and www.edinburghguide.com.

We would like to get tickets for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, but there are none for sale on the official Website.

There are 4 ways of getting tickets,

Firstly by buying on the official website at www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk . The problem is that the tickets have often been sold out by mid Feburary.

The second choice is to buy them on ebay. The problem here is that that they are being sold by speculators at seriously inflated prices.

The third option is by queueing at the Tattoo office on the morning of the night you wish to go, (the earlier the better) - these are for tickets that have been returned to the office.

Or, there is an unofficial spot on the Castle esplanade where private individuals (often the bus drivers of coach parties) sell unwanted tickets - these are not touts, otherwise they would be moved on by the police. Only a few of the Elmview guests arrive without tickets, but in the last 3 years none of these guests have failed to get tickets on the day. They may have had to spend an hour or two of waiting, but all who were determined, managed to obtain tickets at reasonable prices. However it really is a matter of luck. Talk to Robin at breakfast and he will tell you exactly where to go.

Of all the B&Bs in Edinburgh, why should I stay at Elmview?

Let me tell you a little bit about our B&B;

First of all, it is a 5 star B&B. In fact, it is a 5 gold stars B&B which means it is in the top 10% of all the 5 star B&Bs inspected by the Automobile Association (AA). It has also been honoured with the AA Egg Cup Award, which is for a breakfast meal, which exceeds what is expected from a 5 star establishment.

The second thing about Elmview is that we live opposite Bruntsfield Links. This is the Edinburgh equivalent of Regents Park or Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York. In fact Bruntsfield Links is claimed by some people to be one of the oldest golf courses in the world. It has been converted into a 36-hole "pitch and putt" course, but the good news is that it is free, and in the summer months there are lots of young people playing on this course. All very informal, relaxed and great fun. Robin will be delighted to lend you golf clubs and balls.

A third reason is that we are very well positioned. We are close to the city centre, close to the University and close to the International Conference Centre. There are at least 50 restaurants within ½ mile of us. Also, there are 3 theatres, 4 cinemas (total of 22 screens), 1 swimming pool and a range of excellent independent shops - not those high street chains that you find in a typical English town or city.

A fourth reason is that all our rooms are very quiet. We are located on a small one-way street, so our rooms are very quiet. All our rooms are very spacious and have high Victorian ceilings. All our rooms have en-suite shower rooms and the beds are king sized double beds which means that they are 6 foot wide and 6'3" long. All the rooms are fully supplied with complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits and everything we can think of. We also include a generous decanter of sherry and peanuts. Broadband internet access is provided free on our WiFi system. Elmview is truly a 5 star bed and breakfast!

Fifthly, we are located only a hundred yards or so from 7 different bus routes that can whisk you off in every direction. To the south you can visit Roslyn Chapel or walk the length of the Pentland Hills. If you go north beyond the city you can walk the beaches of Musselburgh, view the historic Forth rail and road bridges or visit the ancient port of Leith where you can visit the world famous Royal Yatch Britannia. There is a car rental company within about 300 yards, which will allow you to take trips to the Scottish Borders and into the highlands if you want to follow your own itinerary or there are lots of tour companies that will guide you on one, two or three day tours of the Highlands. There are truly masses and masses of things to see and do whilst you are based here at Elmview. We are on the route of a historic 57 mile cycle route (National Cycle Route 1) which will take you out of the city to the East using old canal tow paths, old railway tracks and tunnels and little known minor roads which can take you in a wide circle to the south of the city and back on the west side. If you are a keen jogger, I can give you routes that can include a canal tow path that runs uninterrupted 50 miles to Glasgow or a more strenuous run round the picturesque Arthur's Seat, an ancient (300 million years) plug of volcanic rock, (only a 50 minute walk to the top from our front door and spectacular views). Other trails include the Royal Observatory located on a hill to the south of us. Braid Burn; A steep-sided, wooded valley with the remains of pre-historic forts on the higher slopes. To the East you can walk for 4 hours along a wonderful coastline of empty sandy beaches and small coves to North Berwick where you can visit the Scottish Sea Bird Centre and catch a train which runs every half hour back to Edinburgh.

Finally there are more than 30 golf courses within an hour's drive of our front door. Numerous castles, historic building, countless museums, art gallaries, the odd world famous zoo, botanical garden, haunted houses, royal palaces. churches, graveyards, distilleries, salmon fishing, factory outlets. It goes on and on…

How do I book train tickets on line?

How to book your train ticket online; Using your internet browser go to www.nationalrail.co.uk. Click on the box on the top row, titled "Plan my journey". In the window titled "National Rail Enquiries" fill in the details. Remember to insert the date of your journey and the approximate time of departure that you are planning. Click on "Get train times". The next screen is titled "Timetable Results". It will show the frequency of the trains and the number of changes if any. You now have an opportunity to look at return journies at this stage. When you decided on the approximate train time, you will need to check if tickets are available, this is done by scrolling to the bottom of the screen and clicking on "Check fares and availability". The next screen titled "Fares and available tickets for your journey are listed below", shows the prices and availability for the different tickets available for each of the trains approximate to your journey time. Information about the different types of ticket are available by clicking on the ticket. If you wish to purchase a ticket, check one circle underneath your travel time on the line for your required ticket type and then click 'Continue' on the same line. This will take you to the ticket retailers.
Follow the onscreen instructions to purchase a ticket.
Beware some of the cheaper tickets will not allow any changes or refunds.

Another website which is virtually identical is www.thetrainline.com . To get the best discount you need to book at least 14 days ahead.

What time is breakfast? I have to catch a very early flight.

We normally serve breakfast between 8.00 am and 8.45 am. However we are happy to serve breakfast earlier than these times if guests have to leave early to catch a flight or to join a sight-seeing tour. For very early flights we will either provide a packed 'breakfast to go' and we will put that in your fridge the night before or alternatively a continental breakfast on a tray in your room or a continental breakfast in the dining room, whichever is preferred by the guests.

I am picking up a rental car at Glasgow airport. How do I get to Elmview?

Route card from Glasgow Airport;

Brief Description

Join the M8 motorway. Follow signs to Glasgow City Centre and then signs to Edinburgh and Edinburgh City Centre. In Edinburgh city centre turn right to follow the A702 signed to Biggar and Carlisle (up Lothian Road). After you pass the Kings Theatre on your left, take first left into Valleyfield Street. Turn right at T-junction into Leven Terrace - this shortly becomes Glengyle Terrace.

Same Route card, but with slightly more detail.
Coming from Glasgow Airport.
Take the motorway (M8) to Glasgow City Centre. Stay on the M8 through city centre following signs to Edinburgh. At the end of the motorway, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, follow signs for the city centre. After you pass the railway station at Haymarket , the road is called West Maitland Street. This shortly becomes Shandwick Place. At the next junction with traffic lights (just before Princes Street) turn right following the A702 signed to Biggar and Carlisle (up Lothian Road). After 6 road junctions with traffic lights, you pass the Kings Theatre (sited on the far left corner of the 6th junction), take first left into Valleyfield Street, which takes you into a one-way system. Turn right at T-junction at end of Valleyfield Street into Leven Terrace - after the first corner this becomes Glengyle Terrace. (In 2009 the city will be subjected to many diversions because of the construction of the new tram system down Princes Street, Shanwick Place and Haymarket)

We have a couple of individuals in the group who smoke. I wonder if there is a garden, patio or someplace nearby for the smokers to go.

We are completely non smoking, in the house, and have been for over 20 years. Yes, we do have a patio and small garden but this may annoy other guests whose windows may overlook, however, from my point of view I do prefer to have non-smoking guests. Like many parts of the world, Scotland does not allow smoking in public places, which has lots of bonuses for non smokers - pubs are now very nice places to go! Those guests, who do smoke, tend to go out on the street or take a walk in the large park opposite the house.

My husband is celebrating his birthday on the day we arrive. Can you arrange for a few appropriate things to be in the room when we arrive?

We are happy to arrange flowers, a cake and some champagne. The costs would be approximately GBP 32.00 for a cake, flowers, and a bottle of French champagne; or GBP 22.00 for a cake, flowers, and a bottle of New Zealand or Italian sparkling white wine.

Which is your quietest room?

Rooms 1, 2, 4 and 5 are at the front of the house, whilst Room 3 is at the back of the house. I would therefore say Room 3 is the quietest. But it is next to the dining room which means that there is some noise from that room from about 8.00 when breakfast starts. The four rooms at the front face a park which is across the street, and so you would only have noise from anyone walking past, or the occasional car (it is a one-way residential street). The four rooms at the front have heavy wooden shutters on the inside of the windows (this is a traditional Scottish feature in Victorian housing - an early form of double glazing). Guests often remark how they were surprised how quiet it was.

Would you please be able to a recommend a couple of lovely restaurants with great atmosphere probably in the old part of Edinburgh or perhaps views over Edinburgh.

Here is the list we put in our guest's rooms (local restaurants ) . We have eaten at most of them. The Witchery and its Secret Garden restaurant is very famous, but pricey. A number of the restaurants are in Leith, this is an easy bus ride and well worth it if you like fish. The view of the castle, which is lit at night, from the restaurant, or brasserie at Harvey Nicholls is wonderful. I have recently found this web site which has reviews, which I find helpful www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/edinburgh_restaurants.htm In November some friends took us to Dubh Prais which is a tiny cellar restaurant, where we had truly lovely Scottish food. Our starter was haggis in a brandy cream sauce and then we had Aberdeen Angus fillet - wonderful.

Is there any good cycling trails near Edinburgh? Can I hire a bicycle?

Yes there are several good cycle trails. Our B&B lies about 100m from National Cycle Route No 1 www.sustrans.org.uk. There are in addition, a number of routes which you can use to explore within the city using old railway tracks and quiet roads www.spokes.org.uk. I have cycled from the city to the Fife Coastal cycle path (along the north shore of the Firth of Forth) via the Forth Road Bridge If you are really keen, this will take you all the way to St Andrews. Another route is along the Union Canal westwards to the Falkirk Wheel. To the South West I have cycled to Balerno, then over the Pentland Hills to Penicuik and then back into Edinburgh on another disused railway track via Roslyn Chapel. To the South east the same disused railway line can take you along the coast to Musselburgh where minor roads can take you all the way to North Berwick and the Scottish Sea Bird Centre. There is a cycle shop, within 500m, that rents out good quality bicycles (www.biketrax.co.uk ). Also there is a company that does half day guided tours on bicycles around Edinburgh city (www.edinburghcycletour.com ). They supply the bicycles and helmets, you supply the muscle power.

I have been told that there is a very nice walk from Gullane to North Berwick along the coast which is very easy to start and finish using public transport?

Yes. In fact one of our guests did this walk very recently (Apr 2009). They travelled by train from Waverley Station which is the main train station in Edinburgh to North Berwick, caught a bus to the start of their walk at Gullane and then walked along the coast eastwards to North Berwick. It took them about 4 hours. Along the route there are many rocky headlands and sandy bays. The walk provides good views of a number of small islands out in the Firth of Forth. When they arrived at North Berwick they visited the Scottish Sea Bird Centre and then caught the train back to Edinburgh. Quite a full day! There are numerous other good walks; either along other bits of coast or in the Pentland Hills, which are a range of hills south of Edinburgh which is also accessible by frequent public transport. Another popular walk for our guests is out by train to South Queensferry then walk across the Firth of Forth on the road bridge then back to Edinburgh by train across the historic Firth of Forth Rail Bridge. Not far from the station at North Queensferry is "Deep Sea World" The National Aquarium of Scotland. See www.deepseaworld.com

You say the checkout time is 10.00 am. If possible, we would like to keep our room for a little longer as our flight check-in time is not before midday?

I would be grateful if you could vacate your room by 10.00 am (checkout time). This is so our small team of cleaners can get the room ready in time for our next guests. However if you speak to me when you arrive I may be able to extend the checking out time to 11.15 am if there is other work for the girls to do and if the next guest is arriving late in the afternoon. We strive to have all our rooms ready by 12.00 am.

Where can I do some bird watching near Edinburgh?

At North Berwick we have the seabird centre, www.seabird.org where you can watch sea birds using a bank of CCTV cameras that you can control. The actual cameras are located on the various seabird colonies on the islands in the Firth of Forth or you can visit the bird sanctuaries on the islands in the Forth. North Berwick is easily accessible by rail from Edinburgh. Further down the coast at St Abb's Head www.ntsseabirds.org.uk/properties/st_abbs/st_abbs.aspx is another nature reserve for seabirds. Both of these sites have been visited by guests from Elmview. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) here in Edinburgh organise cruises in May and June from South Queensferry to watch the puffins. Look at www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/ a local company who do much the same thing, but without the expert knowledge of the RSPB. Also from the RSPB at Vane Farm on Loch Leven, Perthshire, look at www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/v/vanefarm/index.asp and if you let them know in advance that you are visiting; they may be able to have an expert in the hides to help you. To visit Loch Leven you will need a car. The Scottish Ornithologists Club has a good website at www.the-soc.org.uk. Their headquarters is in Aberlady which is not far away; it houses the George Waterston Library. The library is open to the general public, and is the largest collection of ornithological reference books and journals in Scotland. The centre is also worth a visit for their art gallery of bird pictures and nature garden. If you put "bird watching Edinburgh" into Google a number of sites come up, such as http://wildlife.visitscotland.com/unique/edinburghlothians

Where can I stay close to the airport?

All the Bed and Breakfasts on the west side of the City that I talked to really were not interested in a one night stay on a Saturday night, although Tudorbank Lodge did have one single room free for that night www.tudorbanklodge.co.uk, but not two. There are two hotels actually at the airport, and both have free shuttle buses www.hilton.co.uk is the website for the Hilton Edinburgh Airport hotel and if you purchase your room in advance it will be GBP 93.00 each. If you just book but do not pay in advance it will be GBP 109.00 each. www.qualityhoteledinburgh.com is the website for the Quality Inn, a room there costs GBP95.00 with a continental breakfast in your room and GBP 90.00 without breakfast. The receptionist, the nicest and most helpful of the lot said that if you booked online you would probably get it cheaper. About 2 miles from the airport, towards the city, is the Marriott Hotel www.marriott.com once you input Edinburgh it is no 1 on their map. There is no complimentary shuttle bus, you can use the X100 Airport Express Bus which has a stop right outside their door. As it is so close a taxi would not be expensive. A standard room is GBP 82.50 when you pay 45 days in advance. This room is GBP 108.00 when paid for 21 days in advance, or GBP 110.00 at the normal rate. These prices all exclude breakfast.

Do any of your rooms have stylish modern furniture?

Unfortunately none of our rooms have anything like modern stylish furniture. The doors, skirting boards and the architrave are all in the original pine. We have therefore decided that the furniture should match this. Most of our furniture is made by Ducal, an English furniture company, which is no longer in business. The beds and mattresses are made by a local Edinburgh company, Blindcraft, which only employs blind workers. Our pillows are made locally and we buy them from a shop just round the corner from us called The Feather Shop. We have actually had a guest who was so impressed with the quality of her night's sleep that she wanted to buy the bed, mattress and pillows to ship home. We persuaded her to buy the items directly from the suppliers. Our furniture can be seen in the photos of our bedrooms on our website.

Type your question here

Answer here

Type your question here

Answer here