The Dickins Edinburgh Accommodation Blog

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'Thanks for this booking. It's terrific you're getting us so many lets this summer.' Lisa Kerr, owner.

Own a special or unique Edinburgh flat and are interested in short letting? Give us a ring today on 0131 558 1108 or have a look at the Dickins website

Snows Falls on Midsummer's Day

I'm not sure if you've been to, or even heard of Jupiter Artland. I hadn't until Friday, but my strong advice is to get there as soon as possible.

Robert and Nicky Wilson have turned the 80 acre estate around their home Bonnington House, into the most incredible sculpture featuring works by major artists including Andy Goldsworthy, Anthony Gormley, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Charles Jencks and Anish Kapoor.

On Sunday we arrived at 11am and a few metres after entering the gates we were driving through softly falling snow for at least 200 metres down the drive. This work was the brain-child of Peter Liversidge and it was magical. All the children there, and quite a few of the adults too, were in paradise, throwing snowballs. This was a one of piece, but the park is open Friday to Dunday 10am to 4pm until 1st August, when to the end of August, it is open on Thursday too. www.jupiterartland.co.uk 

Back in the reality of the office and we're getting there with housing all our clients for the Edinburgh Festival. So if you're looking for Edinburgh Festival Accommodation and haven't secured any yet, you'd better get in touch fast if you don't want to be pitching a tent on the Meadows.    

Taste Edinburgh 28th to 31st May 09

If you love food, then why not head to Edinburgh from 28th to 31st May as we're celebrating the Taste Festival in its new location in Inverleith Park, next door to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Famous chefs like Jean-Christophe Novelli and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall are appearing as well as some of Edinburgh's own Michelin starred chefs like Tom Kitchin. If the sun is shining like it is today, then you'll be in for a treat.

The Edinburgh Marathon is taking place that weekend too and so you can support some of the 16,000 runners by giving them encouragement from the sidelines.

We still have a few Edinburgh self catering apartments left like a charming one bedroom holiday apartment with a garden at 20 West Scotland Street Lane which has a special offer for the week from 26th May of only £375 saving you £65 and this fantastic modern apartment with parking, two bedrooms and two bathrooms overlooking Arthur's Seat, so perfect for the marathon which is just £424 for the 3 nights. It's at Ann Terrace but get in touch as they're going fast.

What's on in Edinburgh in April

April in Edinburgh is filled with famous figures, take a look below:

• The Kings Theatre has a couple of treats in store, Roald Dahl's children's favourite The BFG is on from 7 to 11 April. From 13 to 18 April two mighty figures Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart perform Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot but you need to book now as there are only a few seats in the gods left.
  www.eft.co.uk

• The Edinburgh International Science Festival runs from 4 to 18 April. 2009 is both the Year of Astronomy and the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth so this yeras programme promises to be fascinating for both adults and child.
  www.sciencefestival.co.uk

• Artists Rooms; a collection of modern art through the donation of gallery owner Anthony D'Offay and featuring work by the likes of Damian Hirst and Andy Warhol. Continues until 8 November. www.nationalgalleries.org

Our Hot Tip of the Month

L'Escargot Bleu at 56 Broughton Street, 0131 557 1600 is a very welcome addition to the Edinburgh eating scene. On a recent visit we spied one of the chefs who was on a night off ordering a Cote de Boeuf and it looked so good we had to have one. A Cote de Boeuf at L'Escargot Bleu is a whole rib of the most fantastic beef and all four of us agreed it is the most delicious thing we've tasted in Edinburgh this year. It costs £39 and is so big that we shared one between four and felt there was plenty as we'd already tucked into some typically French starters including moules and frogs legs. We've been back and had the same again but have never had enough space for the cheese board which looks fabulous. The house wine is good and the atmosphere fun and French with giant posters, copper pans hanging around the kitchen and some clever lights. When we left the chefs were deep into some serious looking recipe books. This place is the real deal.

Tom Wilson's Five Favourite Things about Edinburgh

Tom Wilson owns The Open Eye Gallery, a beautiful contemporary art gallery at 34 Abercromby Place just up the road from the Dickins office on Dundas Street. Tom has been championing the work of artists for over 30 years and represents the likes of John Bellany, Jack Knox, Donald Provan and Leon Morocco. The gallery also sells a terrific range of prints as well as ceramics, jewellery and sculpture. A wonderful place to find a treasure.
www.openeyegallery.co.uk

"I love Edinburgh, but working hard I also enjoy escaping. So with that in mind 'Escape' plays a part in my 5 Favourite Things about Edinburgh."

1. Within a few minutes walk from the Open Eye Gallery is the National Galleries of Scotland. Here I can escape the demands of dealing with contemporary art and immerse myself in the early Northern Eurpean paintings of Lucas Cranach the Elder, Hans Memling and that stunning self portrait by Rembrandt.

2. If I'm felling energetic I occasionally run from my house in Trinity to Newhaven and along the stretch of coastline to the breakwater of Granton Harbour. Half a mile out to sea is a great place to reflect on the city and the changing seasons. When my children were young we used to light a fire on the beach and looking out to sea it was hard to believe that the city centre was only 10 minutes away.

3. Low tide Cramond, the stunning abstract patterns of sand. Flying a 3 meter power kite in a high wind, no time to concentrate on anything apart from hand to eye movement and the heavy rock pounding from my i-pod. Before you know it you have to beat a quick retreat from the incoming tide.

4. Calton Hill, winter, late evening. It's amazing how this view from any vantage point never fails to delight me. It's so quiet yet the city is still buzzing below: Princes Street; the Royal Mile; Arthurs Seat; The Bass Rock; the Castle; the Forth Bridges and Berwick Law unfold like a map.

5. The ultimate escape is leaving on the Rosyth/Zeebrugge Ferry, leaving and returning are always a treat. The amazing skyline of Edinburgh on one side and the medieval Inchcolm Abbey on the other and a large beer in hand, nice to leave and equally nice to return.

Easter Special Offers with Dickins

The Easter break provides a rare oppotunity for the whole family to get together and have some fun, so why not make the most of it and take a trip to Edinburgh this Easter? There's lots going on including the Edinburgh International Science Festival, Roald Dahl's BFG at Edinburgh King's Theatre as well as an Easter Egg Bonanza at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

A self catering apartment is the perfect option for families, so come on, book your holiday now to Scotland's Capital City Edinburgh! Just take a look at Dickins 'Special Offers' below:-

Easter Weekend Offers Available from 10-13 April

18a Cumberland Street- 1 bedroom pied a terre in heart of Edinburgh's New Town (sleeps 2)

3 nights - £300 (saving you £52)

12/5 Brunswick House- Modern & sophisticated 2 bedroom apartment with parking (sleeps 4)

3 nights - £425 (saving you £75)

26a Inverleith Row- Stylish 3 bedroom family apartment close to Royal Botanic Gardens (sleeps 6)

3 nights - £500 (saving you £52)

Easter Week Offers Available from 6-13 April

54/8 St Mary's Street-Comfortable 1 bedroom apartment within minutes of the Royal Mile (sleeps 2)

1 week - £380 (saving you £60)

101b St Stephen Street- Charming, central 2 bedroom apartment with parking (sleeps 4)

1 week - £475 (saving you £55)

1/12 Ann Terrace- 2 bedroom apartment with open views to Arthur's Seat and parking (sleeps 5)

1 week - £475 (saving you £55)

51 (MD) Northumberland Street- Glorious 5 bedroom Georgian Townhouse over 2 floors (sleeps 9)

1 week - £1000 (saving you £250)

 

These great deals are not to be missed so don't wait any longer, contact us today on:

0131 558 1108

[email protected]

 

 

Our Hot Tip of the Month

Visit the Dovecot Studios at 10 Infirmary Street (www.dovecotstudios.com). Following an £8 million refurbishment, this former Victorian Baths is now the permanent home of The Edinburgh Tapestry    Company. Forget images of Granny's with needles, this space is sleek, modern and beautifully designed with gallery space on the ground floor and the tapestry looms in a magnificent galleried room upstairs. A new gem for the Old Town.

 

Dickins look after a charming and contemporary one bedroom apartment at 54/8 St Mary's Street, less than 5 minutes from The Dovecot Studios.

Eric Robinson's Five Favourite Things about Edinburgh

Eric Robinson is the coolest 78 year old bon viveur we know! Eric lives in a stunning flat in, what he describes as the fag end of the New Town, Broughton Place packed with art and fascinating things. He saw 43 operas last year and loves art, yoga, walking and gossiping over lunch or coffee.

His five favourite things about Edinburgh are:

1. Coffee shops - Glass & Thompson on Dundas Street and The Circle on Brandon Terrace. Excellent coffee, relaxed ambience, wonderful staff and always something to gossip about.
2. Walks - The Water of Leith from Canonmills to the Gallery of Modern Art shows you a fabulous cross section of the best architecture and The Millennium Edinburgh to the Falkirk Canal is a fascinating slice through Edinburgh's development with wonderful views of the Pentlands and nothing to disturb he contemplation.
3. Shopping in Broughton Street - not  a Supermarket in site. Warm friendliness and superb quality.
4. A winter evening in my flat, alone with a fire burning, some wine and Lully, Strauss, Verdi, Beethoven or my latest passion playing.
5. Private views at The Open Eye Gallery, Scottish Gallery or Lyon & Turnbull. Lots of friends to greet and news to exchange, after all we may not have met for several days. There are usually pictures and antiques too.

If you agree with Eric or would like to give us your Five Favourite Things about Edinburgh, then please email us on [email protected], we would love to hear your throughts.

18a Cumberland Street, Central New Town

This delightful holiday apartment on Cumberland Street is situated in the heart of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town and is ideal for couples, anyone on a business trip or if you are just wanting to have a quiet get away. Its close proximity to local shops, restaurants, bistros, pubs and attractions means it’s in a perfect spot for exploring the city. There is excellent public transport just on Dundas Street – a bus every ten minutes in both directions which takes you straight up to The Royal Mile. However, Princes Street is only a 15 minute walk away.

Decorated with real flair and a sense of style and quality, this south facing pied-a-terre is located on the basement level, featuring a small private patio area, which can be enjoyed on a sunny day. You enter the apartment straight into the spacious, homely living room which has a TV, DVD player, a round dining table to seat 4 comfortably and a living flame gas fire for those cold Scottish evenings. The hall off the living room takes you firstly to the lovely bathroom with roll top bath, rain shower and underfloor heating, then to the fully equipped galley kitchen. The cosy double bedroom is situated at the back of the apartment overlooking a quaint and quiet Mews street. All in all this apartment is a wonderful retreat for anyone visiting Edinburgh. A real home from home!

From £350 per week

 

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