About Scotland

Historic self-catering accommodation in central Edinburgh
Visit Scotland **** Sleeping 2 + double sofabed
With associations with Greyfriars Bobby, see below.

48/1 Candlemaker Row
(near the Grassmarket)
Edinburgh
Scotland

Location of the apartment

In 1645 Edinburgh's candlemakers were required to settle together in a row, and hence the name of the street. Number 48 dates from at least the early 1700's and this first floor apartment (US second) is thought to have been the upstairs meeting-room at the Inn kept here in the 1800's by Mrs Patterson who also ran the mail coach to Jedburgh.

Owned and looked after by Julie Watt, the flat is available for self catering rental for 2 to 4 (one double bedroom and one double sofa-bed in the living room). It is very central and convenient, a couple of minutes' walk from a specialist malt whisky shop on the Royal Mile and one of the best cheese shops in Britain (Mellis on Victoria Street). There are plenty of excellent places to eat and drink close by especially in the Grassmarket just at the end of the street.

Julie is member of The Arts Welcome Scheme and not only are there lots of leaflets in the apartment about what's on in Edinburgh, but also she is happy to make recommendations. She also holds an award in Ancestral Tourism for excellence in helping guests research their Scottish ancestry.

Accommodation:

Dining area Sitting area

Above left and right;
Two views of the Living room showing the dining and sitting areas. Gas fire with coals, TV/VCR and a selection of video cassettes, double sofa bed.
Below left and right;
Double bedroom, with kingsize bed, and bathroom with bath (shower over), basin and wc.

Bathroom Bedroom

Kitchen:

Right;
Also part of the open-plan Living Room is the kitchen area:

  • Electric oven.
  • 4 burner gas hob
  • Microwave oven.
  • Dishwasher
  • Toaster, etc.
  • Fridge and freezer.
  • Automatic washer/drier.
  • Iron and ironing board.
Kitchen

Tariff:

Prices range from £300 to £650 per week depending on the season.

Prices are inclusive of electricity, gas, towels and linen.
Bookings normally weekly Saturday to Saturday. Other times and shorter rentals sometimes available, please enquire.
Visa and Mastercard accepted.
Non-returnable deposit of £100 required to secure your booking.
No smoking and no pets please.

Right;
Julie holds an award in Ancestral Tourism for excellence in helping guests research their Scottish ancestry.

Ancestral Tourism

To enquire or to book:

Please contact:
Dr Julie Watt

630 Lanark Road
Edinburgh EH14 5EW
Scotland, UK

Tel: 0131 538 0352
Fax: 0131 453 4088
or from outside the UK:
Tel: 44 131 538 0352 Fax: 44 131 453 4088

Photograph at the top of the page courtesy of Julie.

Please tell Julie you found 48 Candlemaker Row through About Scotland!

Right; Window in the kitchen. Through the second pane down on the right you can see the pink granite gravestone of John Gray whose terrier was known as Greyfriars Bobby.

Window
Greyfriars Bobby Location of the apartment

The Story of Greyfriars Bobby

John Gray was a gardener who with his wife and infant son came to Edinburgh in the early 1800's looking for work. He enlisted with the Edinburgh Police Force, and kept a Skye Terrier called Bobby as a "Watch Dog"

Bobby was completely devoted to his master, and when in 1858 Auld Jock Gray died of tuberculosis, and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard the little terrier would not leave the grave.

His loyalty was first noticed by James Brown, the church gardener, who made him a shelter from sacking under a stone slab next to the grave.

As years went by, at precisely 1 o' clock every day (a cannon shot on Edinburgh Castle marks the hour), Bobby would make his way to the Coffee House on Greyfriars Place where the owner would feed him. "Bobby's Dinner Dish" can be seen at the nearby Museum of Edinburgh.

For 14 years until his death in 1872 Greyfriars Bobby lived next to his master's grave. The Lord Provost, Sir William Chambers, paid for Bobby's dog licence from his own pocket. He was well-known and loved in Edinburgh, and in 1873 a bronze statue upon a granite drinking fountain was put up to commemorate him.

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