My Perfect Weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland

Ideal weekend companion: If I could have two, I’d take the nun and art historian, Sister Wendy, and my five-year-old nephew, James. Sister Wendy always seems such fun and is so passionate about art history which is something I find fascinating but have never taken the trouble to study properly. James is great company, loves art galleries and knows which ones have the best chocolate brownies. He and Sister Wendy could chat away about their favourite paintings.

 

Best place to take them: For the view, I’d take them up Calton Hill, though we might have to drag Sister Wendy up there in a sledge. Also, to the basement in the National Gallery to see Phoebe Anna Traquair’s tapestries. They’re so beautiful and moving. She was a remarkable artist who’s never received the recognition I think she deserves.  For a lazy afternoon, Inverleith Park, with the Edinburgh castle skyline, is the perfect place to just sit on a bench watching the cricket.  Some days the harr drifts in from the sea and gives the gothic spires of Fettes an eerie look, rising over the trees.

 

3 great meals: Rick’s does a great breakfast in bed and I can’t think of a better way to start the weekend than that. For lunch, there’s a Russian café in Canonmills called Russian Passion. It’s quirky, charming, and has delicious borsch, soup, and a honey cake I could eat all day. For dinner, Café Domenico in Leith is fun and friendly with lobster and ricotta ravioli I could quite happily grow very fat on.

 

One weekend item you couldn't be without: They’re not really an item, but I’m very fond of my pet rats.

 

The perfect end to the perfect weekend: An evening with a man who actually matched the description I wrote of what I was looking for in a brief attempt at online dating. As opposed to the dreadful men who seemed to carpet-wink all new sign-ups and had none of the features I said I was looking for, but apparently thought I’d be hugely impressed anyway.

 

Kate Gould is writer and chief editorial consultant for The Fine Line, a publisher and editorial consultancy.

 

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