Stuart made us very welcome on arrival and helped us to settle in very quickly; and meeting his wife Laura was a bonus as one does not always get to chat with the owners. The apartment is lovely with much attention to detail. Being so close to the Royal Mile and Princes Street makes the location perfect for walking to many sites, but the bus system is well worth exploring; we recommend a day ticket, particularly if interested in visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia or the Botanic Gardens. The gardens are beautiful and for tree lovers the scope is impressive. While they might look like tourist traps, two surprises near Edinburgh Castle entrance were well worth visits: if interested in Whisky and good food, the Amber restaurant at the Whisky centre, and the tartan weaving mill (go down to the lowest floor first). It was our first visit to the city and we loved it. The views from Calton Hill and the castle help to make sense of it. Also the National Gallery of Scotland has an impressive collection; if visiting soon the Arthur Melville temporary exhibition, is exceptional.