A Scotsman’s FIRST TIME In Edinburgh Castle! Plus The Incredibly Cheap Train Fare To Get There…
I lived in Edinburgh most of my adult life and had NEVER visited to castle before, but this is so often the way with attractions close to home isn’t it? Was I missing much? Join me on an impromptu journey to Scotland’s capital city, a trip inspired by a very cheap train fare…
Filmed on Monday 27th January 2025
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Thumbnail designed using Canva
This video is not sponsored and all opinions are my own
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I don’t pretend to be a travel expert, but I love what I do and would be honoured if you came along with me. My channel focusses on the wide-eyed wonder and excitement of finding somewhere new, and my genuine reaction to it. You may not get a history lesson in my videos, but who knows, you might pick up some useful travel tips along the way, add a few destinations to your bucket list and hopefully be entertained by what you see. Thanks for watching, it means a lot to me 🙂
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FAQs:
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I was born in Glasgow but have lived in Carnoustie, Dalgety Bay, Stonehaven, Edinburgh, Montrose, and further afield (Salamanca, Spain & Devonport, New Zealand)
WHEN DO YOU UPLOAD?
Saturdays at 10am Scottish time. Occasionally a bonus midweek video will pop up (in which case, likely to be Tuesday at 5pm)
WHY IS THERE A DELAY BETWEEN TRIP AND VIDEO APPEARING?
This is the reality of a weekly upload schedule, coupled with doing everything myself and sticking to a budget. Often I need to film 3-4 videos in one trip to make it cost-effective and that means a queue for the Saturday morning slot. This is just part of YouTube life I’m afraid, but I will only upload something if it still has value for you as a viewer. Please also remember I’m a regular guy with all the responsibilities of life and this can sometimes mean I need to keep emergency videos for times when that life gets in the way!
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I film with a GoPro11 and my iPhone12. I edit on iMovie and use epidemicsound.com for music. I also use canva.com for thumbnails etc. I also have a DJI Pocket 3 (bigger sensor) for nighttime, although I’m still getting to grips with it.
WHY DON’T YOU SPEND LONGER AT DESTINATIONS?
The usual suspects I’m afraid – time and money! Hotel prices especially these days make my eyes water like a true Scotsman. Also my weekly upload schedule means I need to keep on the move.
WHERE’S ALICJA?
Alicja will feature whenever possible, but she has her own life and a 9-5 job so it can take a while for our schedules to match up. Trust me though, I prefer it when She is there too!
DO YOU PAY FOR YOUR OWN TRAVEL?
Yes I do. I’ve only ever accepted a complementary ticket as compensation for a previous problem. All my opinions are frank and honest reflections of travel as I experience it.
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#SteveMarsh #Train #Edinburgh
44 Comments
@steve-marsh That toilet looks very clean compared to here in The Netherlands.. 2:16
There have been some bargain fares available lately, something to do with the 200th anniversary of the railways. It won't last forever I'm guessing! TrainPal is another app I use which comes up with split ticketing fares. It doesn't have the admin fee that Trainline charges for tickets bought prior to the day of departure. I do find Trainline easier to use though. On another matter, you, along with one or two other youtubers, have inspired me to do the Aberdeen-Penzance trip next month. The advanced fare was very reasonable, probably because of that Railway 200 promotion. I'll give you a wave as I pass through Montrose!
The English set on a siege for the castle in the 1500s, but unfortunately they didn't have a key for the padlock, so their siege was thwarted 😂
Been to Edinburgh a few times and never been to the castle myself, still want to venture North West too and see the Highlands, etc. Andy.
Hi Steve, That was 50 quid well spent and a great day.
Great vid! And so much fun to finally watch you discover sth that I have actually seen before. Also thanks for the 'down the barrel of a gun' line I spend the second half of this video singing John Farnham's You're the voice…. I know I'm showing my age here but hey, that's how my brain works 😄
Where’s Filson! Fiiiillllllooooonnnnn! (Said in a Tom Hanks voice) 😂
Great video Steve. I've been to almost all the 4 corners of the UK, but never Scotland…cross fingers this year…Fantastic cemetery to the mascot dogs 🐕
I do like Edinburgh,
An an Aussie, I have walked up the Royal Mile a number of times, but I always get side tracked when I get to the Royal Mile Whiskies and then my thoughts of going to the Castle seem to disappear.
Steve would you consider doing a video on Balquhidder?
CrossCountry's response to being asked about that ghost on the map was "Yorkshire's a bit spooky" 😂
Edinburgh is such a beautiful place! Never been to Scotland, so I must go there soon! I love to watch all your vlogs, you are so good at what you're doing ☺👍 Say Hi to your lovely Alicja as well 😘 Please travel more to Norway and Oslo – my lovely home country and home town 🥰
Miss Edinburgh so much ❤
Cracking video Maybe an idea for a wee video next time you get to Edinburgh is the fascinating story of Greyfriars bobby love that story and anyone who does not know about it would be fascinated 10/10 for this vid though
York ghosts: through very clever online marketing York Ghosts became a thing. There's been a shop on the Shambles for only maybe 5 years now, with an annoying queue of gullible instagram drones that needs to be negotiated on this narrow street. They're just plaster of Paris ghost shapes hand painted so all unique. Good luck to them, it's money for old rope, and they have their marketing even on railway posters now.
Yeah, very recognisable, I've been living in Brussels for about 17 years, now, and I have yet to visit the Atomium, or the Basilica of Koekelberg, go up the Cinquantenaire Arcade… We'd go visit museums in Amsterdam, Paris or Berlin, but right here at home, there's always the excuse that there's another day…
Such a cool history to the Scottish standard flag that the infantry company from Otago NZ had flown in Crete to show their Scottish descent! We are all connected!
There’s one for unity🥰
Thanks for the video Steve. Ghost on the train map is likely for Whitby Abbey.
What a beautiful city – and the castle is magnificent! Just added this destination to the 'If I'm ever overseas again' list. Thanks!
You have outdone yourself on this one Steve, Edinburgh Castle is on my list for before the summer, watching this makes me look forward to it even more. Great video. Keep em comin mucka. All the best.
Ahhh, Scotland! Where there is 9 months of cold, rain, and wind – and 3 months of really crappy weather.
"Kirkcaldy; and it's looking a bit brighter". I guarantee you're the first person ever to say that 🙂
Anyone watching this who hasn't been to Edinburgh or even been for a while. Get yourself gone. I went just before Christmas and it was an absolute delight, the beauty of the architecture is worth it alone. But the best bit, sunset at Carlton Hill, it was AMAZING!!! Got the Flixbus from Glasgow for about £6.
G'day from Australia Steve. I found your channel a couple of weeks back, when YouTube suggested your video about the ferry trip to Isle of Man. That got me hooked, and I subsequently watched the two videos where you went on vintage tram and train rides. I knew nothing about the Isle of Man, but found out much from your video, and a few consequent Google searches.
This led me on to your ferry trip to Santander and subsequent stay there, videos I again enjoyed. I was happy to see how good your hotel was in Santander, great value for 58 pounds. You deserve uplifting hotel rooms, especially if the price is right.
Then of course I watched your video re Salamanca. Your personal experience of this city came through as you showed us areas of interest. It was great that you had a room over the city plaza.
And I was of course in suspense as to whether your favourite restaurant, La Parrilla De Loma, was still open. Open it was and you certainly enjoyed your food.
You tell great stories and give your viewers much entertainment and information. I will be watching more or your videos.
Hello Steve! My husband and I love your videos! We have added so many places to our bucket list since we started watching your channel. Quick question… what brand is the jacket you are wearing in this video? Our "rain jackets" did not hold up when we visited Scotland. We'd love to have some actual waterproof jackets for our next visit! Cheers! And thanks for all the fun trips!
Thanks Steve for that great tour of the Castle. I am Scottish and also have never been inside it. I now live in Australia and did visit a few years back but baulked at the price since we were on a 3 month holiday in UK and Europe. Something I have always regretted!
Looks like a cracking day out! I’ve been to Stirling castle (which was excellent!) but not been to Edinburgh yet -this is tempting me!
I am surprised and disappointed that the cannon fired from the King's Bastion of the Quebec Citadel is not among those included in 'Time-guns of the World'. Perhaps because it marks the noon-hour and not 1:00 o'clock!?
Each day noon is marked by a cannon fired from the Citadel, which is heard throughout the fortress and surrounding parts of the city. This tradition goes back to the arrival of the Royal Canadian Artillery's garrison in 1871(replacing the last active duty garrison duty British soldiers in Canada). Originally two guns were fired each day, the second time being at 9:00pm to, originally, signal a general curfew hour(this ceased sometime in the mid to late last century); in later years the curfew continued in supposed effect: a city by-law required minors to be off the streets by then.
You didn’t mention that the ‘10 minute walk from Waverly Station’ was ALL UPHILL. And a steep hill at that. But I did it at 75 years.
Hey man! Had a lovely interaction with you today, you didn’t mention the quarter million subscribers lol. Anyway, new subscriber here all the best. Fi Baz the guy with the dugs ootside the Playhouse 👍🏻🏴
Where's Alicja ? I kept looking for her photo…….
Brilliant Steve as always, I really love that you show the whole journey.
You missed a trick there. You should have got a pasty on the way home from The Pasty Shop on the station concourse. Recommended. Can’t wait for your next adventure.
Love you video on the castle .hoping to go during the summer
York is said to be the most haunted city in the UK, I’m guessing that’s why the ghost is on the map
Hi Steve, I have been binge watching your videos for a couple of weeks. Amazing! Just a suggestion: have you ever considered traveling from Montrose to Orvieto, Italy? Rick Steeves posted a wee article on Orvieto and the old town sounds cool. And you could do a video about getting there by train (lots of interesting connections) over the 24 hours plus it takes to get there too. Just a thought.Anyways, love the videos!
Steve I noticed neither you or Scott have done the hovercraft to Isle of Wight. I haven't been on it since I was a little kid and would love to see one of you vlog the trip. There's also the high speed catamarans that go back and forth to either portsmouth or southampton. There's the Hythe Pier Railway nearby. Gotta be enough going on there to fill a video I reckon!
Great video! question–when you were crossing the Forth bridge, what was that little peninsula of land below that had some sort of building on it? Do you remember seeing that? 🙂
Good vid thanks Steve
I in the 70s my dad used to fire the 1 o’clock gun he was in the artillery regiment
Wow Steve went into a pastry shop and didn’t partake in a pastry, I’m worried about you Steve.
Thanks for the fantastic video stiùbhart
Brilliant video, love the booking hall ceiling and skylight in Waverley station. Hope all is well, take care