FAQ's

Dine at the fashionable 'Shore' area of Leith, on the waterfront

Pilrig House is just under 1 mile from Princes Street - Edinburgh’s main street – you can walk there in 15-20 minutes. Pilrig House is also just under a mile from the ‘Shore’ area of Leith – Edinburgh’s port area, which has many fashionable restaurants, bars and galleries on the waterfront – and where The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed. A taxi to either Edinburgh city centre or Leith would cost approx. £5-£6. The local bus service is also only a few minutes' walk from Pilrig House and buses travel very regularly to the city centre!

Newhaven Harbour - a short walk from Pilrig House

I am sorry, we advise that you book an extra day to accommodate either an early arrival or late departure, as we take bookings on the same day so we really do need that time to allow the existing guests to leave, and to prepare the apartment for your arrival at 2.30pm that day.

And, as we may not be at Pilrig House at an earlier time, unfortunately, we are unable to facilitate luggage-drop. Car parking is not available prior to the 2.30pm check-in time.

Water of Leith Walkways approaching Dean Village - a World Heritage site

Pilrig House is 5 mins' walk (or less!) from:

• Tesco Express Food Store and a local newsagents
• a bistro - 'The Guilty Lily', which serves all-day food/snacks and has free Wi-Fi, really good range of teas and coffee/home-made cakes, etc.
• Nearest Bus-Stop
• Martin Wishart's Cookery School in Bonnington Road. See: www.cookschool.co.uk Or, take a look at his Michelin-star restaurant in Leith's Shore area: www.martin-wishart.co.uk
• Twice-weekly 'Ramsay Cornish' Auctions
• Leisure Centre and Swimming-Pool
• Pilrig Church
• Water of Leith Walkways
• Edinburgh Woollen Mill

& 10 mins' walk from:

• The Playhouse Theatre
• Valvona & Crolla (world-famous Italian Deli) and 'VinCaffe' coffee-shop and restaurant (cookery demonstrations and tastings are also held here).
• Leith School of Art - we offer 10% discount on our nightly rates to all Leith School of Art guests (except during August)
• Edinburgh Printmakers' Studio & Gallery (Union St) - we offer 10% discount on our nightly rates to all Edinburgh Printmakers' guests (except during August)
• Library
• Post Office
• Tesco Supermarket

The Guilty Lily Bar and Bistro - across the road from Pilrig House

There are around 12 wide steps in the Palladian staircase entrance leading to the Park Apartment’s front door, so, sadly, wheelchair access is not possible. And, there are steps leading down to the Garden Apartment, and leading up to the Balfour Apartment, making wheelchair access impossible. It is an A-listed building, so these things cannot be changed, alas.

Edinburgh Printmakers' Workshop & Studio

Yes – see our location Map page - you can click on nearby attractions. We also give all guests fold-out pocket maps of Edinburgh and Leith to keep with you during your stay – and there are many Edinburgh guidebooks and a variety of street maps available in all apartments, plus an AA-Scotland Road Atlas to which you can refer if moving on to the next leg of a touring holiday!

Leith Swim Centre & Gym

We are always looking out for our guests’ arrival but, should we not be there exactly as you arrive, please come down the steps to the back door to Pilrig House (not the door at top of front steps!), and press the buzzer marked ‘Martin Dougray’ and either Philip or Debbie will come down and welcome you and give you keys, show you your allocated parking space and take you to your apartment. Remember to bring Pilrig House’s address with you when you come!

Leith School of Art

Yes, all the apartments have an allocated parking space in a private car park to the rear of the property. Off-street, free parking is also available in the streets bordering the park, if guests visit you and need to park in the vicinity.

Kilt hire anyone?

Yes, we will be pleased to offer a reduced rate for booking 2 or 3 apartments at the same time, just enquire and we'll get back to you very quickly with a price.

Valvona & Crolla Italian Deli & VinCaffe

No, not if here for a few days only and you intend to sightsee in and around the city centre – Edinburgh is a really compact city and easy for walking around in. A car would not be necessary, in fact, we would probably advise against hiring a car - parking in the city centre is difficult, and extremely costly! There is an excellent local bus service within a 5-minute walk of Pilrig House, where buses go to the city centre every few minutes, and tour buses in the city centre are easily accessible. Also, trains go to Glasgow every 15 mins and take around 50 minutes. If you took a taxi from Pilrig House to the city centre, it will cost around £5-£6 (so, if 4 of you are staying, for example, it works as an even cheaper option than taking a bus!)

If you intend to drive further afield during your stay, eg to the East Lothian coastline, the Borders, St Andrews, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, the Highlands, then a car is necessary. Bear in mind that there are many Edinburgh tour companies that organise half-day, 1-day and 2-day tours, at very reasonable prices, to places such as Loch Lomond, Stirling, the Highlands, Inverness, the Isle of Skye (see Useful Links).

Leith Mills - a few mins' down the road

Two local car hire firms: Enterprise Car Hire: 67 Salamander Street, Leith. T: +44 (0) 131 555 0555 Arnold Clark Car Hire: 20B-20D Seafield Rd East, T: +44 (0) 131 657 9120

Retro book & vinyl shop nearby

Please see our Useful Links page on our website. It gives details of all the tour companies that operate in Edinburgh, the places they visit, and the cost. You may want to consider going with an operator that has smaller buses, eg Rabbies, or one that may cost slightly more, but which picks you up early in the morning at this address, and drops you off here when you return.

Martin Wishart's Cookery School - a few mins' walk away

Yes, we have free Broadband Wi-Fi connection in all apartments. And, if you do not have a laptop, there are plenty of local internet cafes close-by (we give details in our Welcome Pack). We have one laptop available for hire, which you can prebook well in advance of your stay.

One of Antony Gormley's '6 Times' figures in Water of Leith

No, we have a policy of not recommending agencies for baby-sitting services. Nor do we baby-sit ourselves.

Trinity House, Leith

Yes – all apartments are strictly non-smoking. If desperate, you can smoke outside!

Customs House, the Shore, Leith

Duvets - we have these cleaned/renewed on a regular basis.

A fantastic local antiques warehouse odyssey

The pillows on the bed are feather pillows - but, we leave a foam pillow in all apartments for guests who may be allergic to feathers, and, if you advise us in advance of your stay, we can provide a non-feather duvet.

Loch Fyne Seafood Restaurant, Newhaven Harbour

No. Sorry – much as we love animals, we have a strict non-pet policy to respect all guests’ wishes (see below).

St Bernard's Well, Water of Leith Walkways

No – we have never had any animals at all in the property – this is a rule we take seriously in light of the fact that people have allergies to cat and dog hair, and for hygiene purposes.

Mimi's Bakehouse, the Shore

Yes – all apartments have a shower. In the Park & Garden Apartments, the shower is over the bath (constant hot water), with glass shower screen. And, in the Balfour Apartment, there is a walk-in shower cabinet (no bath).

Victoria St leading to the Grassmarket

Yes. UK voltage is 240V - please check that any electrical items you bring will operate at 240V (the voltage cannot be less than this).

Robert Burns' statue - Leith

Given the unpredictability of the Scottish weather, we would suggest that you always bring at least one pair of warm trousers, one warm jumper, a pair of training shoes/comfortable walking-shoes, a light waterproof jacket with hood, and the rest - the usual items you would pack for spring/summer: layers – T-shirts, loose trousers, summer dress, skirt, shirts, etc. Remember, in the apartments we provide: umbrellas, alarm clock, continental plug, hair-driers and towels – so, no need to pack these items!

Sunset at Granton (Forth Rd Bridge in the background)

We are located around one-and-a-half miles from Edinburgh University. It would take around 20 mins by bus (depending on traffic) and around 35 mins to walk there. Pilrig House is a short walk (under a mile) to the east end of Princes Street – this is the end that leads via George IV Bridge – around a half mile further on leads to Edinburgh University! (It is worth bearing in mind that the Uni has many campuses, spread all over Edinburgh – so, please check which building you may be visiting while here.)

Rock-climbing centre in old church, Newhaven Harbour

No. In Scotland we do not have a great necessity for this! However, there are ice trays and bags of ice in the freezers of both apartments.

Restaurant of the Year 2010 - The Plumed Horse, Leith

Yes, provided you let us know in advance of your stay and it is due to flight arrival times necessitating late entry! And, so long as you don't stop off en route for a bite to eat – we will be waiting up for you!

Local auction held each Saturday - 5 mins' walk from Pilrig House

No - we are sorry, but, due to the conditon of the accommodation, bikes cannot be accommdated. The building's historic listed status also prohibits bikes being tethered to the building. There is a daily bike hire shop just mins from Pilrig House where you could leave a bike overnight and collect again the next day should you hire it for a longer period......

Pilrig Church

Yes, provided that you give us some advance notice and we have no other plans that day which would mean we would be away, we will be happy for you to leave your luggage with us and for you to collect it later that day.

Sicilian pastry shop nearby

No – there are no children (and no barking dogs) residing at Pilrig House – it is very peaceful.

Early Autumn, Botanical Gardens

Our conditions of rental include that we are always informed of any other person/s who will be staying with you during your visit. Also, we need to know at all times, details of persons staying in the apartments for insurance reasons, and in the event of, eg a fire. But, usually, and provided that the apartment accommodates the number, we are happy for an overnight stay to be included at no extra cost.

Crocuses on Leith Links

No – the price quoted in your confirmation is all-inclusive. There are no hidden charges or taxes!

Floating Restaurant, The Shore

Edinburgh’s Waverley Station (which is just off Princes Street). There is a taxi rank at the station. Waverley Station is around a mile from Pilrig House – a taxi from the station will cost around £5-£6.

Historic mural, Corn Exchange Building, Leith

Yes, you catch your London train from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station. It will take you to King’s Cross Station in London. The approx. time is 4 hours and 50 minutes to reach London.

Great bar lunches at The Roseleaf, the Shore area, Leith

Edinburgh International Airport: Tel (General Enquiries): 0870 040 0007.

Art Deco street lamps at the Shore, Leith

Around 12 miles.

Lovely Ann St in the Georgian New Town

There is an airport taxi rank directly outside the entrance to Edinburgh Airport - you can conveniently and easily catch a cab there on arrival without prebooking. On booking, we provide details of a car company which can take your prebooking online if you would prefer a meet & greet at the airport.

Leith Docks

You can take a Citylink bus outside the airport to Edinburgh and disembark at the terminus point (this will take around 2 hours), then catch a taxi (as outlined in the answer above). Or, you could take an airport shuttle bus to Glasgow’s Queen Street Station and catch a train to Edinburgh Waverley Station (50 mins by train), then, take a taxi from the station to the apartment – this, will, however, mean three cartings of luggage from airport to bus, bus to train, train to taxi – and, will probably save you only around half an hour off your journey!

Looking up in Edinburgh........

We leave full details in our Welcome Pack for this journey, but, in short, you get a train from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station to Glasgow Queen St Station (52 mins), and, just outside the station entrance you catch the shuttle bus to Glasgow Airport (shuttle leaves every 10 mins). Or, you can take a bus to Glasgow Airport from the bus station in central Edinburgh’s St Andrews Square.

Mural on side of building just along the road....

Around 60 miles. Would take around two hours to drive there.

St Andrews Golf Hotel T: 01334 472611 (Overlooks the West Sands and the Old Course – hotel restaurant has won many accolades, including two AA rosettes) – impressive views of St Andrews Bay.

Playhouse Theatre - 10 mins' walk away

Yes – exact fares. You can buy either a daily or weekly bus pass – we leave details in the Welcome Pack of places nearby where you can purchase these – they can prove very cost-effective if you are going to be jumping on and off buses a lot during your stay!

Pipers - Hogmanay

Drop the zero in our dialling code ‘0131’ and T: +44 (131) 554 4794 M: +44 (7788) 113886

Autumn in Edinburgh's Georgian New Town

Please email us and we will send you a file with information and links to whisky distillery tours and with regards to whisky tastings in Edinburgh. 

Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh

Please email and ask for the file we have created with information and relevant links.