Timeline
14:55
Grab a coffee and a light bite at David Bann. The vegetarian restaurant is open until 21:30, so you have plenty of time to settle in and plan your walk.
15:25
Walk seven minutes to Dunbar's Close Garden. It is a hidden, quiet physic garden next to Canongate Kirk. Enter through the main door; it is open daily from 7AM until dusk. Sit on a bench and wait for the light to change.
16:10
Watch the sunset. The sun sets toward the SW at 16:10. The low winter light will filter through the historic walls of the close, creating a warm, golden glow in the quiet space.
16:40
Walk to The Jolly Judge for a evening drink. This cosy independent pub is one of the few on the Royal Mile that avoids the tourist trap feel. It serves a good selection of beer and whisky. Note: On Mondays and Thursdays through Saturdays, it stays open until midnight.
Local tip
Dunbar's Close Garden is open until dusk. In January, dusk falls around 16:10, so do not arrive too late or you may miss the entry window. The Jolly Judge is closed on Sundays before 14:00, so check the opening hours if you are visiting on a Sunday.
Check before you go
- Dunbar's Close Garden: Daily 7AM-dusk.
- The Jolly Judge: Tu,We 12:00-23:00; Mo,Th-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 14:00-23:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).