Product Description

Like a friend in a foreign city, The Locals' Guide to Edinburgh is a new departure in travel guides. Based around interviews with 17 local legends, the book gives a fresh insight into Scotland's capital from a diverse range of people living there. In addition, tips on where to stay, eat, drink and party are sandwiched between recommendations for romantics, winter retreats and festival fanatics.

Where other guides need a holiday in itself just to read them cover to cover, we ve cut to the chase to give you the best bits Edinburgh has to offer. Look out for Scottish words for the weather, a recipe from award winning chef Martin Wishart, a poem by Alastair Reid and a few lines about films and books that define different aspects of the city. All of this content is beautifully presented by designer Claire Dowling whose own love affair with Edinburgh inspired her breathtaking design.

Our 17 local legends have given their personal recommendations and based on their different lifestyles, how they interact with the city and why they love living here. Each are photographed in some of their favourite places by photographer Matthew Reid whose work throughout the guide gives us a taster of why Edinburgh is often referred to as Athens of the North . Interviewees include; Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings, architect Malcolm Fraser, taxi driver extraordinaire Bob McCulloch and pub owners Anna and Mike Christopherson.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35481 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Review
"The book… is a distillation of the kind of places and events visitors often miss out on. Interviews with "local legends", from Gavin Hastings to DJ Trendy Wendy, and suggestions for places to go to match mood, budget and times of day are all presented in a beautifully produced work (step forward designer Claire Dowling) that could just as easily serve as a memento of a visit to Edinburgh as a practical guide when tourists are actually here." --The Scotsman

In the Romantic section, tips include taking a lucky partner for some "canal boat canoodling" - hiring a rowing boat from the Edinburgh Canal Society, just off Ashley Terrace in Morningside.

With other sections including "Drink and be merry" and "All you can eat", the new guide, from first-time publishers Word of Mouth Travels, promises a bonanza of tips covering most activities. --Evening News

TWO FIRST-TIME publishers from Edinburgh have started what one industry expert has called a "revolution" with the world's first organic travel guide. All the content in The Locals' Guide to Edinburgh, published last week, from the design to the writing, is sourced locally and aims to give visitors an alternative view of the city far from the madding tourist crowds. --Sunday Herald

In the Romantic section, tips include taking a lucky partner for some "canal boat canoodling" - hiring a rowing boat from the Edinburgh Canal Society, just off Ashley Terrace in Morningside.

With other sections including "Drink and be merry" and "All you can eat", the new guide, from first-time publishers Word of Mouth Travels, promises a bonanza of tips covering most activities. --Evening News

TWO FIRST-TIME publishers from Edinburgh have started what one industry expert has called a "revolution" with the world's first organic travel guide. All the content in The Locals' Guide to Edinburgh, published last week, from the design to the writing, is sourced locally and aims to give visitors an alternative view of the city far from the madding tourist crowds. --Sunday Herald

In the Romantic section, tips include taking a lucky partner for some "canal boat canoodling" - hiring a rowing boat from the Edinburgh Canal Society, just off Ashley Terrace in Morningside.

With other sections including "Drink and be merry" and "All you can eat", the new guide, from first-time publishers Word of Mouth Travels, promises a bonanza of tips covering most activities. --Evening News

TWO FIRST-TIME publishers from Edinburgh have started what one industry expert has called a "revolution" with the world's first organic travel guide. All the content in The Locals' Guide to Edinburgh, published last week, from the design to the writing, is sourced locally and aims to give visitors an alternative view of the city far from the madding tourist crowds. --Sunday Herald

From the Publisher
We've asked everyone we know in Edinburgh to tell us exactly what makes home special; which eateries, bars, shops and walks they absolutely couldn't live without. And then we asked some more. We invited local legends to guide you through the city, and they'll be speaking directly to you from the pages of the book. Maybe you are visitor keen to avoid the `tourist trail', or a local resident willing to try new things. Take the locals' word for it and check out their stories, tips and thoughts.

Welcome to Edinburgh , you've arrived...

p.s. - We have a no advertising policy. Instead, places are featured on merit alone, either because they're unique, inspiring or run by people who genuinely care about their trade. This book has been written, designed and photographed by Edinburgh-based folk and printed in Scotland.

About the Author
Word of Mouth Travels are Claudia Monteiro & Owen O'Leary

Claudia came across a Scotsman who lured her to his homeland with the promise of never ending golden beaches and fresh seafood. Naively jumping at the opportunity she soon realised that Edinburgh's beauty came a significant climatic price. She spends half her day thinking of where she's going to eat next. Her over-zealous enthusiam for random experiences is often endured by people who (surprisingly) still call her a friend.

Owen moved to Edinburgh during August and fell in love with the city at festival time. After five years working on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he's seen the most unusual and exciting spaces across town and still can't stop exploring. Always on foot and sometimes late, his best excuse to date has been 'I've found this great new pub!'

Customer Reviews

Feel like one of the locals
i've just come back from a fab weekend in edinburgh thanks to the locals' guide. not only did it give me the low down on all the cool places to hang out but i could walk along the street holding it without feeling like a tourist - i loved the design because it doesn't look like an ordinary guide book - more like a funky note book or journal. Plus, it's small enough to fit in a handbag but still contains all the info you need. Genius.

Best guide by far
If your going to visit Edinburgh don't even think about doing it without this guide, you'd miss so much - I actually used to live in Edinburgh for a while and I didn't know a quarter of this.

Instead of listing tons of bars and restaurants, this book picks places and things to do according to your mood. There's a great section on things to do if it's a cold day and things to do on a romantic outing, the best pubs for a quiet chat, etc etc. And the thing I really liked is that it's all written and photographed by locals - beautiful and stylish to look at too... Definite a great buy if your visiting or if you live there.

This is a local book... but not just for local people!
Like all the best bits of Lonely Planet but beautifully packaged and designed. It's obviously written by someone with real love for their fair city and the people within it.
Like having a really amazing tour guide who knows all the best bars, restaurants and attractions that he doens't normally show to the tourists but he likes the look of you so he'll let you in on the cities secrets.
With little interviews with people who live in Edinburgh reccomending their favourtie haunts this is such a personal guide, almost like it's been tailored to your every off the beaten track need.
A little gem.