The English attack Edinburgh

---

2 June what a night the wind just stronger and stronger and neither of us slept well - the van was shaking for the wrong reasons. Still very windy but dry as we packed up to move onto Edinburgh We liked Whins though and look forward to returning there on the way back south. Journey to Edinburgh was easy enough with a following wind we averaged 36 mpg. The road through the Borders and Midlothian was lovely (A702) arrived at caravan park amid strong winds but sunshine. Decided not to put the awning up until the next day when the wind will hopefully have dropped. However this was the start of a number of problems beginning the car making a Strange noise, then the TV packed up followed by a long drive around Edinburgh looking for
DSC_0213
a TV shop. Then to cap it all during late dinner preparation the electrics in the van packed up completely. Fortunately the helpful warden came to our aid and sorted out the connections from the supply. Tomorrow a trip to a Volvo dealer to sort out the car then perhaps a trip to see the Royal yacht Britannia 3 June auxiliary belt on car has damaged alternator fly wheel so £315 to fix. Courtesy car allows travel to visit Royal Yacht Brittania. Highly recommended as you get excellent service from start to finish, an audio tour, free parking and most importantly a great insight into how the royals were looked after and lived and the upstairs downstairs comparison with the 300 or so crew that pampered them. We took tea in the Royal and made our way back to the site via Morrisons. At 9.46 we saw the most magnificent sunset over the Firth of Forth even better than the ones we've seen at North Devon

4 June Tony has a cold poor thing. Decided to drive into the city and take in the atmosphere around the Castle and the Royal Mile. Started at the cathedral then the Scottish
In front of the Scottish War Memorial
Museum which was really interesting. But we cut it short as the weather improved and wanted to see more outside. Climbed the several hundred steps up came face to face with crowds. By then it well after 2 pm so decided to take a break at Cafe Nero. We met a very interesting couple and spent good half an hour laughing and telling stories - him of India and she of Hollandpampered them. Back to Wallyford to collect the car. The bad news is that WarrantyWise would not cough up on the claim. They will not be getting my business again and I strongly advise anyone from using this business. They will do anything they can to wriggle out of paying and I am afraid Mr Quenton Wilson your endorsement does not do your reputation any good.

5 June Edinburgh Castle well deserving of its reputation because of its well presented history. The views are magnificent and wondering around some of the older parts of the castle like St Margarets Chapel and the Prisons is quite a humbling.

6 June Strong winds eventually brought the awning down so out in our pyjamas to get it away before it
DSC_0263
got damaged. A neighbour came over to tell us that we ought to have an inflatable one like his. Not very helpful at this time and besides his was protected from the wind by his van while ours was full facing. Still saves a job tomorrow. After watching Murray lose in the French Open we drove west to the House in the Binns (meaning between two hills.

Set in beautifully landscaped parkland overlooking the River Forth, this 17th-century laird’s house near Linlithgow has been the home of the Dalyell family for 400 years.

The present house was built in 1612 by Thomas Dalyell, an Edinburgh merchant who had made his fortune at the court of King James VI and I in London.

In 1944, the Dalyell family gifted the house, its contents and the parkland, along with an endowment, to the National Trust for Scotland under its Country House Scheme, keeping the right of the family to live in the house.

The house was gifted to the NTS in 1944, along with the parkland, contents and an endowment, under the Country House Scheme by Eleanor Dalyell and her son Tam Dalyell, who retained the right of
DSC_0276
the family to live in the house and contribute towards the upkeep and maintenance in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland. We met Tam Dalyell who was a labour MP for many years and latterly elected Father of the House (of Commons). Guided tour included and a really interesting experience plus fantastic views over the Firth of Forth

---