History of Castle View Guest House Edinburgh

The history of Castle View Guest House is an interesting one. Castle View Guest House occupies the former birthplace of Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), author of “The Wind in the Willows” and “The Reluctant Dragon”. Both books were adapted into films by Disney.

Born on 8th March 1859, Grahame spent much of his first year at Castle Terrace before his family re-located to the west coast of Scotland and then on to Berkshire where he lived with Granny Ingles.

His most celebrated book – The Wind in the Willows – is still enjoyed by adults and children today, whether in book form or in the films, while Toad remains one of the most celebrated and beloved characters of the book. The Wind in the Willows won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958.

New for 2016 – on the ground floor of Castle View Guest House, you will find the newly opened Badger & Co Restaurant where you will experience classic, crafty & culinary adventures beyond the Wild Wood…

With a menu inspired by local and seasonal produce and a trip to our outdoor riverbank area there is so much to be discovered at Badger & Co. Expect healthy lashings of lunch and dinner from a seasonal menu which showcases some excellent local produce. Whatever tickles your culinary fancy – from Badger’s granola to gourmet pies – there is plenty to excite your appetite.

Badger & Co is also a great place to relax with a coffee or a drink. At Badger & Co the drinks list is punchy, exciting and altogether sensational!

Visit Badger & Co's website

Come and experience the historically-rich and very diverse streets of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, uncover Scotland’s past at Edinburgh Castle and enjoy the city’s striking architecture.

Interesting Facts about Edinburgh

The earliest known human habitation in the Edinburgh area is from Cramond where evidence was found of a Mesolithic camp-site dated to c. 8500 BC.
King Robert Bruce granted Edinburgh a charter in 1329 but it did not become the national capital until 1437, following the murder of King James I at Perth, which had been the capital up to that point.
Edinburgh Castle is built high on an impressive 700 million year old extinct volcano called Castle Rock. People have lived on Castle Rock since the Bronze Age, around 850 BC, and there has been a royal castle on the site since at least the 12th century. It is the most important castle in Scotland and has been at the center of numerous wars, having been attacked and besieged many times. Now it is a national monument, museum and tourist attraction.
Edinburgh’s nickname, Auld Reekie (Old Smoky), marks an era when the city’s buildings and homes burnt a lot of coal and wood for heat and chimneys would emit columns of smoke into the air.
Some have called Edinburgh the Athens of the North. The architecture of Edinburgh’s New Town draws inspiration from ancient Rome and Greece. Look out for features like pillars, porticos, pilasters and statues as you walk around. The earliest comparison between the two cities showed that they had a similar topography, with the Castle Rock of Edinburgh performing a similar role to the Athenian Acropolis.
The Royal Mile is called this because it’s a mile long street with two royal buildings on each end – Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse Palace.
Tourists can view the mythical Stone of Destiny in Edinburgh Castle’s Crown Room. It is still used for the crowning of English monarchs.
Edinburgh has 112 parks and more trees per head of population than any other city in the UK. The Royal Botanic Garden, founded in 1670, is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the world where unusual and beautiful plants can be found.
Edinburgh is said to be one of the most haunted places in Europe because it is home to the Mackenzie Poltergeist, the violent spirit of a 17th century murderer and torturer who haunts Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Edinburgh has 112 parks and more trees per head of population than any other city in the UK. The Royal Botanic Garden, founded in 1670, is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the world where unusual and beautiful plants can be found.
In Edinburgh’s Old Town lies the Real Mary King’s Close, a long-forgotten underground series of streets that was built over as the city’s population grew. For years, the hidden Closes of Old Town Edinburgh have been shrouded in myths and mysteries, with blood curdling tales of ghosts and murders, and of plague victims being walled up and left to die. Come and hear these enthralling stories on a tour of Mary King’s Close, found tucked away just off the Royal Mile. The guides will give you a fascinating insight and tell some of the more fascinating tales woven into this hidden part of the city…
From 1477-1911, the Grassmarket was the site of one of Edinburgh’s main horse and cattle markets. It was also the location of public executions.
J.K. Rowling penned the first novel in her Harry Potter series at the Elephant House cafe on George IV Bridge.
Edinburgh was the first city in the world to have its own fire service.
Edinburgh has been voted the fourth most beautiful city in the world, coming out ahead of a string of well-known beauty spots.