Edinburgh Dating with Flirtio

For the ultimate in romance, pay a visit to Holyrood Park. The park is home to an extinct volcano, known as Arthur’s Seat. The ascent to the summit is relatively easy and viewing the sunrise or sunset together would certainly add that wow factor to your date, let alone observing the stunning panoramic scenery around you. The area is a great spot to picnic in. The park itself contains a huge amount of history, including evidence of early human activity being found, estimated at over 7,000 years ago, to Iron Age forts and medieval ruins dating from as early as 1426.

If the climb feels a little too much like hard work or leaves you wanting to refuel once you’ve done it, book for dinner at The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage – you are promised dinner with a magnificent view! The menu is superb and paired well with specially sourced wine. Situated on Carlton Hill, the restaurant focuses on simple, seasonal ingredients and a changing menu, with remarkable views of the Edinburgh skyline and you won’t need a £500 loan to be able to afford it!

Why not opt for a breakfast date? If this appeals to you both, Cafe Marmalade is the place to go! Not only do you get generous portions of home-cooked food, such as full Scottish breakfasts, but the prices are also more than reasonable and the staff are amazing.

If locally-sourced, authentic homemade food is what you crave, visit The Piper’s Rest. Their steak pie and haggis are legendary and you can wash it down with the local ales on offer.

Maybe you’d like to sample something a little different? Makars Gourmet Mash Bar will deliver exactly that. With slow-cooked joints of meat, infused gravies, sides and salads, this alone is tempting. But add to that the varieties of mashed potato, from simple buttered mash to Stornoway Black Pudding mash, and your tastebuds will just want more.

A date to remember would be taking a ghost tour! City of the Dead Ghost Tours is highly recommended and has won an award for “Best Ghost Tour” from ScareTour. The jaunt has exclusive access to two haunted locations – Damnation Alley and the Covenanters Prison, which is rumoured to be haunted by a poltergeist. Your journey becomes a story written by historian J.A. Henderson, and superb professional entertainers to bring it all to life. Why not take a bet on who screams first?

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, located close to Edinburgh Castle, guarantee you will both have a fun time. From mind-bending illusions to mirror mazes, a Vortex tunnel (which of you may stumble first?) and thermal cameras, and so much more, you can both let your hair down and enjoy the laughs together. Their Roof Terrace offers panoramic views over Edinburgh where you can marvel at this beautiful city.

If you consider yourselves shopaholics, then Edinburgh will certainly cater to your needs. Whether you just wanted to browse the local markets, shop in the high street stores on Princes Street or treat yourself to something designer on George Street or Multrees Walk, you will find what you need. And not forgetting The Royal mile, leading to the castle, is where you can get all of your souvenirs, with some great little taverns and restaurants to grab a snack.

The remarkable castle surveys all of Edinburgh from where it sits. Steeped in rich history, the castle has a tale or two to tell from its reign, beginning life as an Iron Age fort in the 2nd century. With Kings and Queens coming and going, and sieges being common occurrences, the castle was also the first place to host a firework display in Scotland in 1507 (fun fact!). The venue has tens of more strange-but-true memoirs to explore. The castle mainly serves as a tourist attraction these days but the British Army still uses parts of the castle in a mainly administrative way.

Edinburgh has more than a few beautiful gardens where you can take a picnic and stroll around, chatting and getting to know each other better. Visit Calton Hill for some fantastic photo opportunities, with views of Edinburgh. The Royal Botanic Garden is a must-see, with 72 acres of beauty and tranquillity, perfect for a cosy date. And there is always Portobello Beach – a walk along the beach or the promenade, teamed with a snack or ice cream from one of the vendors along the way, is a great way to chat and bond.

The city also has a great choice of galleries and museums to visit. The National Museum of Scotland comprises both Natural World and Scottish History and Archaeology and is a very popular destination for many. The building itself has some impressive architecture. The Museum of Edinburgh has a vast array of artefacts housed in a 16th-century maze of buildings, including the collar of the famous Greyfriar’s Bobby. If you both enjoy art, then the Scottish National Gallery will please both of you. Showcasing pieces by the likes of Botticelli, Rembrandt, Constable, and the history of Scottish painting, this gallery will indulge you.

Edinburgh absolutely has something for everyone. The hardest part is deciding what to choose.