Sparkles and Shoes

A Fashion, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Fashion
    • My Style
      • Spring Style
      • Summer Style
      • Fall Style
      • Winter Style
    • Really Love My …
    • Shop My Instagram
    • Style Icons
    • Trending
  • Travel
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Southern Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Qatar
      • Russia
      • Singapore
      • Turkey
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Caribbean
      • Central America
      • US: East Coast
      • US: West Coast
    • South America
  • Lily Harper
  • Favorites
    • Beauty
    • Delicious Eats
    • London
    • My Wedding
    • Sparkle Sessions

A Weekend Exploring Edinburgh

08/09/21 | Edinburgh, Scotland, Travel

Exploring Edinburgh - Flag of Scotland Flying from the top of Edinburgh Castle

We took the train up Thursday night after work and the four hours sped by. We worked”from home” on Friday and then for 48-hours had an action packed adventure. We began with a tour of the Chocolatarium and a show from the Edinburgh fringed and between Saturday and Sunday visited a palace, a castle, two museums, and climbed a few hills, of course.

The train journey home last night gave me the time to put together this post with a few hours turn around and I hope you enjoy it! It was hard to keep it to only 12 photos as there was so much I wanted to include but that just makes it exciting to have a few full recap posts coming your way soon! See a few highlights below of our weekend exploring Edinburgh. 
The front of the Holyroodhouse Palace

The garden and entrance to Holyroodhouse Palace

Travel Blogger outside St Columbas Free Church of Scotland

Before dinner Friday night outside St. Columba’s Free Church in the Old Town

St Marys Catholic Cathedral in Georgian Style from the top of Calton Hill

The Georgian style St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral from the top of Calton Hill

Travel Blogger at the Chocolatarium in Edinburgh

Making dark chocolate bars at the  at the Chocolatarium

The Great Hall in the Castle

The Great Hall in the Castle

 

Overlooking the New Town of Edinburgh from the Castle Walls in LK Bennett Sneakers

Overlooking the New Town of Edinburgh from the Castle Walls in LK Bennett Sneakers

Exploring Edinburgh - The courtyard of Holyroodhouse Palace

The courtyard of Holyroodhouse Palace, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland

Exploring Edinburgh - View from Arthur's Seat

The view from the top of Arthur’s Seat, 250 meters above sea level

Travel Blogger after climbing to the top of Arthur's Seat

Smiling after climbing to the top (albeit in a questionable hiking outfit)

The World's End Pub on the Royal Mile in Scotland

One of the many beautiful pubs brimming with colourful flowers on the Royal Mile

Exploring Edinburgh - London Travel Blogger with the cannons protecting the 11th-century Edinburgh Castle

With the cannons protecting the 11th-century Edinburgh Castle  – now also houses the the Crown Jewels and National War Museum of Scotland.

– – – –

We had booked this weekend away in the Spring when we were not sure International travel would be allowed this Summer.  We did not want to cancel this fun adventure but we are off to Chicago in less than 48 hours which make it quite a turnaround, good thing I love travel!

Which of these exploring Edinburgh photos are your favorite?

Signature

Subscribe

« Feeling Strong in Metallic Snake Print
Style Icon: Carolina Herrera »

Related Posts

  • My Guide to a Roman Holiday
  • In front of Royal Palace of MadridOur Madrid Walking Tour
  • Kelly Cooking at Le Foodist Paris Cooking ClassA Parisian Cooking Class
  • Next Up? Edinburgh, Scotland

Comments

  1. Bernadette says

    September 3, 2021 at 8:44 am

    Personally I always favor the shots from up above. So smart how they built forts so high up in the day to see oncoming attackers and how they fortified their fortresses to ward off/defend attackers.

    Was just at Windsor Castle, I told the Queen a hello from you, and they said that they built the castle high enough so that they could see 25 to 30 miles in all directions. That distance was important as that was about as far as an approaching army could travel in a day. Brilliant!

  2. Carri says

    August 31, 2021 at 7:26 pm

    I am pretty sure that this is my favorite photo: The Georgian style St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral from the top of Calton Hill.

    It looks like the attention to detail in the architecture is stunning even from that far away. Did you go into that church. It is amazing and I usually don’t get too excited about churches.

    Looks like you had a wonderful trip and covered a lot of ground as usual!

  3. Corine says

    August 11, 2021 at 7:30 am

    Oh I can’t wait to travel internationally again. I do love living through your travels though until the world settles down and I feel more comfortable traveling myself.

    Good for you.

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Newsletter

WHERE I SHOP

Amazon

Anthropologie

J. Crew

Minted 

Sephora

Target

Walmart

Zappos

Archives

  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

Fine Print

Sparkles and Shoes is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. All opinions are my own.

© Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes, 2012-2022 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Get the latest

Receive Sparkles and Shoes right to your inbox!

Connect with me

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 · Designed by High Note Designs, LLC

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework