What The Papers Say...

Staying here wouldn't really be like turning up in ''holiday accommodation'', more like visiting a friend's home - exactly as Philip and Debbie intended it.

The arrangement allows someone to sit at the dining table in the open-plan living-dining space, and gaze out through the glazed door across the park… When you're inside, there's a peculiar timelessness to the space…

Pilrig House is within walking distance of the centre of Edinburgh, yet it's completely tranquil, and both bedrooms offer leafy views of those ''brave young woods''.

Scotsman Magazine, November 2005

I could therefore not resist the invitation to visit a property that has more than its fair share of added ingredients. It is part of an historic house mentioned in the novels by Robert Louis Stevenson that has risen like a phoenix from the ashes… and overlooks an extensive park. Yet it is only a few minutes' walk of the centre of Edinburgh. It is Pilrig House.

An impressive Palladian staircase leads to double oak doors of the portico entrance at first-floor level facing Pilrig Park.

One of the continuing appeals of the apartment… is the feeling of being in a rural setting, which is unusual in a city, and enhances the atmosphere.

The outlook is to Pilrig Park with its expanse of grass and mature trees. The House also has its own private garden, and there is lots of wildlife, including glimpses of a fox in the evenings. The peaceful ambience and the fine views of the park… are what the guests have most commented on.

Now that the apartments are available for holiday lets, many more people can spend time in this wonderful building and appreciate the fascinating ingredients associated with its past as well as by its setting. As in the case of David Balfour, Pilrig House continues to provide a warm welcome.

Scots Magazine, April 2006

So long as houses such as Pilrig survive, the past can never be forgotten or erased.

The setting is superb, with views over the park to Arthur's Seat. The house is equally impressive… For grandeur, the steps up the private entrance, with its Doric portico and double doors, scores a full five stars.

Old houses exercise a strange appeal, based far more on sentiment than architectural significance. That is certainly true of Pilrig House, which brings a touch of romance to a part of the city. As a rare survivor form another age, it clearly has a tale to tell.

Sunday Times, February 2005

A number of self-catering apartments are springing up around Scotland's capital. And, the pick of the bunch is Pilrig, just a 15-minute walk through parkland and typical Georgian town houses, or five minutes by bus from Princes Street.

The advantage of having your own comfy and homey apartment is that you feel like you're living in the city centre rather than in a hotel in the city.

All credit to Pilrig's owners, Philip and Debbie Martin, then, for perfecting the skill of being on hand to guide and help and to offer a warm and personalised service while staying discretely in the background or, should you wish, out of the way altogether.

You suspect that it would be as welcoming winter as it is in summer. And, it's excellently furnished with a mix of modern and old, and is well-equipped, making your time in the apartment a match for the time you'll spend out of it.

The walk into the city, across the picturesque park, is an untaxing one, but the main road is easily reached and buses run every five minutes.

To be able to accommodate us with such space and in such comfort so close to a major city centre was a luxury that we would want to repeat again soon.

It's an excellent way to experience Edinburgh fully - and a great way to feel that Edinburgh is home.

Scotland Magazine, September/October 2006