During this time of limited travel, we are sure this is sadly putting a stop to many of you coming to visit us here in Edinburgh. We didn't want anyone to miss out on our incredible city though so we've complied a few different virtual experiences to help you feel like you are right here in sunny Scotland after all.
Get Dressed for the Occasion
By no means is it mandatory to wear tartan when you come to Edinburgh, but really we think it's the best way to throw yourself into Scottish culture. When we launched our Spring collection, we took our model Lauren (a Glasgow girl) for a whirlwind tour of Edinburgh, wearing a different tartan to each of our favourite local spots. We wouldn't want you to miss out on the experience just because you are at home so take a look through our Spring collection and get yourself some tartan, ready to embark on your virtual tour of Edinburgh.
Live the Royal Life
Holyroodhouse is the Queen's official residence in Scotland, situated at the bottom of the Royal Mile (with Edinburgh Castle at the top), the Palace is one of the must see attractions during a visit to Edinburgh. You experience all the grandeur of Royal life in Scotland with three virtual tours, exploring the Grand Stair, the Morning Drawing Room and the Kings Bedchamber. Look out for the 'i' icons for additional information on all of the artifacts on display.
Edinburgh Zoo is famous for its beloved penguin parade. I still remember the excitement of seeing them march past me during my first visit, aged 5! After reading up on the origins of the parade it turns out the tradition doesn't celebrate special event like I expected, but instead the first march was actually the result of a gate being left open accidentally in the early 50's. A Gentoo penguin managed to escape and headed off to wonder the park, followed closely by the keeper. Who'd have thought an open gate would turn in to one of Edinburgh's favourite attractions? Although the Zoo is currently closed, you don't have to miss out, there are 24 hour live cameras set up so you can see our penguin friends as well as the pandas, tigers and koalas, any time day or night.
If you love your Scottish history then why not use the Virtual Time Binoculars app to travel back to 16th century Edinburgh. The app was developed by Smart History, a company formed by the University of St Andrews, it aims to depict Edinburgh just ahead of a planned attack on the city. An English army had orders to burn the city to the ground, fortunately the attack was relatively unsuccessful, so thankfully, you should be able to recognise quite a few of the 16th century landmarks.
You may be enjoying a walk as part of your allotted daily exercise but if you are feeling the need to immerse yourself in nature, while your still safe at home then the Royal Botanic Gardens have your covered. Every week they are filming a virtual tour of the gardens so you can see the bloom unfold during lockdown.
Did you know, there's actually a Bagpipe App? No, I didn't either. All you need to do it blow in to the microphone and touch the onscreen keys and you'll be set. There are even some tutorials to get you started.
The Angel's Share is a term for the portion of whisky that is lost during the aging process as the whisky evaporates in the oak barrels. We wouldn't want you to miss out on the chance to have a wee dram, and love the idea of the Virtual Whisky Festival! Our Whisky will launch the festival between the 30th April and 21st May. Make sure to purchase your ticket with plenty of time for them to send you your tasting pack out. During the festival you can take part in a series of online masterclasses while sipping along from your sofa. Currently this is only open to UK residents, but you never know, if there's enough demand it could go global?
If you planned to head north of Edinburgh and in to Highlands, there's a good chance you'd be crossing the famous Forth bridges. Back in 2015 The Forth Bridges, set out on a project to digitally map the bridges in 3D using new laser-scanning technology. Once mapped, they then created photo-realistic 3D models of the bridges which means they were able to created an animated tour so you can now explore the bridges from viewpoints you could never see in person.
Isolation is a great opportunity to try something new, with a bit of extra time on your hands, put that to good use and amaze your friends with a new party trick next time you are able to meet up. Scottish Country Dancing is a form of dance performed by groups of couples, so you might need to jump on a video call to find another couple but before you get to that stage, you can take the time to learn the lingo, watch some examples and figure out the formations. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society have all the resources you need to get started.
Our Edinburgh Store may be currently closed, but that doesn't mean you can't pop in for a Visit, take a look inside 10 Queensferry Street with our 360 tartan tour. See something you like? Our Website is still open and we are continuing to deliver worldwide, despite COVID-19.
If you were hoping to get fitted for a kilt during your trip, don't despair. We can still help you get your traditional Scottish Kilt in your Clan tartan with our Virtual Appointment Service. Join us via video call to talk about tartan, view swatches, find your clan, and be talked through the measurements required for the garment of your choice. Our experienced staff will answer all your questions and demonstrate every measurement, and help you to take them yourself.
We'd love to hear all about your virtual holiday so get in touch, send us your photos, tips and suggestions so we can all make the most of Scotland from afar for now.