Stay in the centre of Edinburgh, at the foot of castle rock where the old fortification looms over the West End. It’s an eight-minute walk to the entrance of the castle, and from here you can explore the atmospheric alleys of the Royal Mile, stretching all the way to the Queen’s Gallery at Holyrood Palace. Housed in a traditional tenement building, the apartment itself is a vision of high ceilings and wood-panelled walls updated to the 21st-century in dove grey. The original cornicing still frames the ceiling, like icing on a wedding cake. In the living room, Georgian sash windows let in plenty of light, so it’s a delight to recline on the big, L-shaped sofa. The kitchen is a cheery shade of duck egg blue and has everything you need for self-catering and plush carpet leads to bedrooms for a sound sleep. There’s a shared garden, shaded by old oak trees and with outdoor seating in the sun, should you want to make the most of the rare sunny days in Edinburgh.