03/01/18 - CAMRA Edinburgh Pub Walks - Walk 2 - Around the Castle

Distance - 3 Miles
Pubs - 3
Geocaches - 3
Previous Edinburgh Pub Walks - Rose Street, Royal Mile around the Castle


First blog of 2018 comes from a City known universally for it's New Year celebrations.  I have a chance to slowly knock off all the CAMRA Good Beer Guide Entries and will continue to use their Pub Walks Series to discover new locations and old favourites.

Tonight's walk is a bit of a mis-match between Walk 1 and Walk 2 in the book.   Doesn't matter, I will get there in the end.

Tiles - 1 St Andrew Square - Isle of Arran Brewery, Dark

I've walked past this on the way to the other Walk 1 pubs, the Cafe Royal and Guildford Arms, many times but always ignored it.  The signs says Cafe/Bistro.  It's not in the GBG but is the first entry in the Pub Walks book and I am starving.  A new experience awaits.

Walk 1, Pub 1

It's certainly in keeping with the aforementioned other pubs in Walk 1.  Large island bar and further proof that the architectural highlights of Edinburgh pubs are often found by looking heavenwards to the ceiling.

Inside of Tiles

To match a first visit, a first Isle of Arran Dark.  Always try and go LocALE and this didn't disappoint.  The food was also superb and note to self, they have the football on at low volume.   This could be a regular haunt.

Can't stay long though, I need a new diary.  Google indicates that Waterstones is open to 9pm.  I have 15 minutes to get along the length of Rose Street and avoid temptation, either from previously found pubs or trying to take photos.

How can you resist Edinburgh under a Wolf Moon.

No need to panic, Waterstones shuts at 8pm.  Time to grab a geocache along the Lothian Road and take my time to revisit an old friend.

The Blue Blazer, 2 Spital Street - Allelic Drift

Pubic Triangle navigated and I can confirm the Burke and Hare lapdancing bar is still patriotically maintaining local legends through the art of Strip Tease.  The Blue Blazer is a proper old school boozer and entry in the Good Beer Guide.

A two roomed bar, seemingly lit by nothing stronger than candles.  It creates an atmosphere appreciated by middle aged bloggers, old guys at the bar reading the paper, bearded hipsters and encouragingly, students.

Blue Blazer

I'm on #Tryjanuary, so its a never previously seen Allelic Drift from the Panda Frog Project Brewery.  I'll give any beer a go me, even ones from strangely named breweries in the North East.  The pint was well kept and great quality but far too hoppy for my delicate palate.

This is Allelic Drift

Can't stay all night - there's secret passageways and geocaches to find under the cover of darkeness.

Geocaching GZ - The Vennel - leads to the Grassmarket

It's hard to walk past the old favourites of the Grassmarket but when I reach the bend in Victoria Street, I know I am close to one of the finest bars in the City.

Castle Arms Above - Visited in Walk 4

Bow Bar, 80 West Bow, Stewarts 80 /-

Always a Favourite

A place that boasts a collection of 130 Malt Whiskies is normally an oasis of calm, if often difficult to get a seat.  Tonight, a couple of unusual events occur.

First off, I get one of the funky little narrow tables to attempt the Times Sudoko Super Fiendish.  Nothing says ambition like three pints and mental arithmetic.

The two pint width tables of the Bow Bar 

Turns out this is prime position for the first pub punch up of the year.   And we are only on day 3.

At first, I mistake the smartly dressed balding man as just someone who is speaking a touch too loudly.  In a protracted 30 minute debate that ebbs and flows like a ceilidh, it becomes apparent to the pub that something is going on.  A hush descends so we can hear the man's beef.  He's had a few too many samples of the 130 types available and has been banned from anymore.

Eventually, its just him shouting at the bar staff and bewildered looking tourists avoiding eye contact.  When he is eventually ejected, there is a loud cheer from all present.  Apart from me - experience shows that you don't goad people on whisky benders.

Of course, he hears and takes exception to this spontaneous applause.  Back in he comes, and starts getting physical with some young Americans who stand their ground.  It looked like it could have got messy but sensing he is outnumbered and outclassed he leaves once more, shouting loudly "Eff You you Whisky C*nts".

I've googled and this is not the name of the Sleaford Mods new album.

Excitement over, Sudoko completed, pen returned to the harassed bar staff and a slow walk back to the hotel.

Where there's always a view to capture