Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and lies on the East coast on the Firth of Forth. The second highest population in Scotland it is the largest city by area. The city is famous for its architecture and design, both the old town and the new town are World Heritage sites. It has a world famous Castle and hosts the Edinburgh Festival (and Fringe) every year.

The easiest way to get to Edinburgh is by train to Waverley station. There is also the second last station which is Haymarket. These stations are at either end of Princes Street and Haymarket is the stop for Edinburgh's West End

 Edinburgh is a large city with many pubs spread over different areas of the town. Rose Street is a very popular drinking trail so I have ignored it and have introduced nine other pub trails based in Edinburgh. There is a short one viewing pubs at the Grassmarket (red icons) and two slightly longer (or one very long) starting at Haymarket station towards Lothian Rd (green icons) or Princes Street to Haymarket (yellow icons) taking in pubs in the West End and Lothian Road triangle.

All of the pubs are highlighted on the map below.

Now added is a trail Around Bread St, (blue icons) linking West End trails to The Grassmarket Trail and a trail going beyond The Grassmarket (purple icons) and finally The Royal Mile (brown icons).

There are also trails in The Cowgate (dark blue icons), heading to The Southside (orange icons) and around Waverley Station (light Blue Icons)

The Cowgate - 8 pubs in the afternoon and 12 in the evening

 Come out of Waverley St Station and walk up to North Bridge which runs above the station. Walk up the road to reach The Royal Mile (see Royal Mile crawl). Start your visit in The Inn on The Mile which should be across the road in front of you.

Come of the Inn and turn left to go down the road to the right where North Bridge has become South Bridge. On the right-hand corner of the building directly behind the Inn is The Tron, opposite this to the right is The Advocate and slightly further down the hill is The City Cafe. At the foot of the hill turn right into The Cowgate and walk along to the next corner to OX184. Further up, both on the left, are BrewDog and then The Three Sisters.

Then re-trace your steps back down the Cowgate and under the tunnel to find Bannerman's on the left. Continue down passing Pilgrims on the right and set back on the left is a large alley way entrance to Bar 50 (in a hostel). Travel down Cowgate and after crossing at a crossroads there is Holyrood 9A at the start of Holyrood Rd. Walk back up to Bannerman's and go up the thin street (Niddry St) beside it to find The Banshee Labyrinth, The Globe and Whistle Binkies and back up to The Royal Mile.

Inn On The Mile is set in an impressive old building. A few steps take you to a terraced entrance door. This leads to a large tall room. The servery and stools are to the left while there are tables and chairs down the right-hand side. In the centre left there are stools and a shelf style high table while centre right are booths. There are two large TV screens that are pulled down when showing sport.

Have a pint here.

Real  ale;   Deuchers; Flying Scotsman; Bitter & Twisted;        The Mile Ale

Heavy:    Caledonia Best; Innes & Gunn Original

Lager:     Tennent’s;  Estrella:; Haverlee; Schiehallion

cider:      Magners                                            Guinness

The Tron

Servery is at the back left.

Have a half pint

Heavy:     Belhaven Best

Lager:      Peroni; Carlsberg; Heineken;  Coors; Stella;  Tennent’s;  Carling

Cider:     Strongbow ; Guinness

 The Advocate is a large room split into seating areas. It is very neatly split into smaller personal areas by use of different styles of seating and tables. There is a large standing area along side bar counter. Some seating outside on balcony and food all day.

Have a pint here

Real ale:                               Ossian:  Trade Winds;  Belhaven IPA;   Old Speckled Hen

Heavy:  Belhaven Best; Goose island IPA

Lager:    Carling;  Stella;  Tennent’s; Staroperaman; Innes & Gunn lager

The City Cafe has some outside seating in a little balcony by the street. The entrance takes you to an American diner styled pub. The bar is to the right with large swivel seats.  There are booths to the left of the door and around the curved room. Pool table at the back. Food served

have a pint here

Craft:                     Ceasar Augustus; Calton Gold

Heavy:                  Deuchers

Lager:                    Erdinger; 1664;  Tennents;  Heineken;  Krusovice;  Three Hop

Cider:                    Strongbow + Cloudy apple                           Guinness

OX184 makes use of an industrial style layout. Downstairs is a very large room with a high ceiling. From the ceiling hangs the ventilation tubes and all of the infrastructure which is usually hidden. . There is a log fire at the far end and a door to a thin outside space. Inside is mainly bench seating opposite the bar and some canteen style seating nearer the fire. There is also a cage displaying spirits. Open until 3am with live bands and DJs each night.

Have a pint here

Craft:     Cloudwater IPA  (Cloudwater) ;   Long White Cloud ; Armadillo (all Tempest); Sierra Nevada;

Lager:    Kappitel Pater ;   Weihenstephen Hefeweissbier;  Octoberfest;  ; Hacker Pschorr ;Hefty;  Easy Livin’ Pils  (tempest)

Wipe and True Phoenix Porter

BrewDog is a thin bar with its length along the front of the Cowgate. Inside is the room is decorated with visible air conditioning vents and big steel lights. There is a tall counter servery along the middle of the back wall. Seating consists of seating along the window and right-hand side.

Have one here

Craft ale:                              Dead Pony Club; Electric India; Punk IPA;  Born To Die;  Blitz;  Five AM Saint;       Double Bustard Ale and Go To IPA (both Stones) ; Oscar Blues IPA

Lager:                                    Weihenstephaner Festbier

Stout                                     Hoxton (Redchurch)

The 3 Sisters is a very large outside and indoor sports bar venue. The entrance from the street is to a large covered outdoor space with a large TV screen. There are beer and hot snacks serving counters down the sides and at the far end is the entrance to the inside area. This is a large low-ceilinged long room. There is an L-shaped bar on the left-hand wall. Seating is along to the left opposite one of the legs of the counter and opposite the counter to the right. Walking beyond the bar counter, towards the back of the room, there is a lot more seating at the sides of this area then another bar along the back wall.

Have a pint

Bitter/Heavy:                     Deuchers (£4.35);  Caledonia Best; Golden Ale (Guinness)

Lager:                                    Tennents;  Heverlee; Hop House 13;  Innes & Gunn

Cider:                                    Magners                                              Guinness

Bannerman’s Bar is a bar and live music venue (6 nights a week). Entrance takes you to the front bar. The servery also serves a large back bar entered via a passage to the left of front bar. Also, to left of front bar is entrance to vault room with pool and beyond that a performing area.

have a pint here

Real ale:               Fair Maid (Inveralmond); Deuchars; Doom bar

Heavy:                  McEwan Red; Caledonia Best

Lager:                    Calton Gold; 1664; Carling;  Tennents

Cider:                    Strongbow

Club 50 is part of Smart City Hostels

half pint here

Craft:   Octoberfest (West)

Lager:  Stella;  Bud; St Mungos

Cider:    Strongbow           Guinness

Holyrood 9A is a large gourmet burger pub selling lots of craft beers and real ales. It has several different room areas. Three quarter height wood panelling around walls and pillars with pictures above.

Have a pint here

Craft:      William's Draught; Tempest Long Cloud; Black Isle Red Kite;  Fyne Ales Jarl; ; Blue Moon; Chiefeton IPA plus rotating

Lager:    Peroni; Schiehallion; Sharp's Cornish Pilsner; Urquell pilsner

Cider:   Sharp's Orchard

The Globe is a sports bar in the centre of town aiming at student and backpacker clientele. Bar counter is round to the right and runs along the street wall. Opposite bar are two long tunnel rooms with large TVs at the end - like a small private curved ceiling cinema

Have a half pint

Bitter/Heavy:     Caledonia Best

Lager:                    Stella;  Carlsberg;  Carling;  Tennents;  Coors

                                Guinness

Whistle Binkies is a live music venue. opening in the evening and running till 3am. Good sized bar opposite entrance. with plenty of seating and variety of table sizes. Down to left from bar is a large standing area and the performing stage.

Have a pint here

Real ale:               Edinburgh Castle;  Deuchers;  Belhaven IPA;  Red Cullin; Scary Man (Longman)

Craft Ale:             Innes & Gunn Lager; Innes & Gunn IPA

Bitter/Heavy:     Tetley’s

Lager:                    Heineken;  Stella;  Red Stripe;  3 Hop; Tuburg;        Carlsberg;  Hop House 13; Brooklyn

Cider:                    Somersby                            Guinness