Shopping in Scotland
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Carson Clark Gallery
Scotland’s leading map specialist has knowledgeable staff who are more than happy to advise on their interesting range of original and facsimile antique maps, charts and plans of Scotland, Europe and the rest of the world. The shop also has on offer some gorgeous antique globes.
reviewed
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Boudiche
Boudiche is a divinely decadent boudoir designed to make shopping for lingerie a lush, leisurely experience – you can try on basques and bustiers in the opulent changing rooms, each one equipped with a mirrored dressing table and an antique bell to call for a shop attendant.
reviewed
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Second Edition
This is a small bookshop for serious collectors buying and selling rare editions, with a good range of titles on Scottish subjects. The owner often goes to buy books on weekday mornings, so wait until after noon if you want to be absolutely sure that the shop will be open.
reviewed
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Arkangel
Owners Janey and Lulu will help you pick out a glamorous outfit from their carefully selected wardrobe of off-beat European chic and vintage fashion – look out for designer wear by Antoine & Lilli and Irene Van Ryb, and jewellery by Angela Caputi and Martine Boissy.
reviewed
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Wonderland
Wonderland is a classic kids-with-their-noses-pressed-against-the-window toy shop that is filled with model aircraft, spaceships and radio-controlled cars and all sorts of other desirable things, but it also caters to the serious train set and model-making fraternity.
reviewed
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Baxters Highland Village
West of the bridge over the Spey is Baxters Highland Village, which charts the history of the Baxter family and their well-known brand of quality Scottish foodstuffs, founded in 1868. There’s a factory tour with cookery demonstrations on weekdays.
reviewed
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Edinburgh Architectural Salvage Yard
A happy hunting ground for house renovators, this is a rich source of period features where you can find everything from original Georgian and Victorian cast-iron fireplaces and kitchen ranges to roll-top baths and gleaming, chrome, art deco bathroom fittings.
reviewed
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Backbeat
If you’re hunting for secondhand vinyl from way back, this cramped little shop has a stunning and constantly changing collection of jazz, blues, rock and soul, plus lots of ‘60s and ‘70s stuff, though you have to take some time to hunt through the clutter.
reviewed
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Ian Mellis
Scotland’s finest cheesemonger purveys the best of British and Irish cheeses. This is the place to purchase traditional Scottish cheeses, from smooth Lanark Blue (the Scottish Roquefort) to sharp Isle of Mull Cheddar. There’s also a branch in Stockbridge.
reviewed
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Island Bakery
Campers can stock up on provisions at the Co-op supermarket, and the Island Bakery, which sells delicious, locally baked wholegrain bread, cakes, biscuits and pastries, as well as having a great deli counter.
reviewed
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Oscar & Fitch
If you’re looking for some stylish spectacles, this boutique stocks the city’s largest selection of designer eyewear, from head-turningly avant-garde daytime glasses to popstar-cool shades, all expertly fitted to your personal satisfaction.
reviewed
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Catherine Shaw
Catherine Shaw is a well-stocked gift and souvenir shop packed with appealing goodies. You can get your Charles Rennie Mackintosh fix here, and if jewellery's more your thing, you'll find many gorgeous pieces that transcend mass production.
reviewed
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Dandelion Designs
At Stein on the Waternish Peninsula, Dandelion Designs is an interesting little gallery with a good range of colour and monochrome landscape photography, lino prints by Liz Myhill and a range of handmade arts and crafts.
reviewed
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Corniche
A major stockist of designer clothes for women, with a selection of big-name labels such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Anna Sui, Katharine Hamnett and Alexander McQueen. The branch next door concentrates on designer menswear.
reviewed
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Mcnaughtan’s Bookshop
The maze of shelves at McNaughtan’s bookshop – established in 1957 – houses a broad spectrum of general second-hand and antiquarian books, with good selections of Scottish, history, travel, art and architecture, and children’s books.
reviewed
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Edinbane Pottery
On the way to Dunvegan from Portree you’ll pass Edinbane Pottery, one of the island’s original craft workshops, established in 1971, where you can watch potters at work creating beautiful and colourful stoneware.
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Courtyard Antiques
Hidden down a lane, the Courtyard has two crowded floors of wooden furniture (19th century to the 1970s), toys and militaria, including some fascinating bric-a-brac that ranges from 78rpm records to a homemade canvas canoe.
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Mcalister Matheson Music
This is Scotland’s biggest and most knowledgeable shop for classical music CDs, DVDs and books – just about every staff member seems to have a music degree. It also stocks a selection of Scottish folk and Celtic music.
reviewed
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West Port Books
A long-established secondhand bookshop, West Port has a good range of material covering Scottish history and also specialises in titles covering Indian and Himalayan history and art. There’s a10% discount for students.
reviewed
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Royal Mile Whiskies
If it’s a drap of the cratur ye’re after, this place has a selection of single malts in miniature and full-size bottles. There’s also a range of blended whiskies, Irish whiskey and bourbon, and you can buy online too.
reviewed
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Fudge House of Edinburgh
A monument to the Scots’ sweet tooth, this family business offers acres of homemade fudge, including chocolate and peppermint, rum and raisin, hazelnut, and tasty Highland cream. Mmmmm. There’s a coffee shop too.
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Ocean
Sells a fantastic range of jewellery in contemporary designs by top Scottish and international designers, including silver, gemstones and pearls. Also watches by Steel and Opex, and handbags by matt & nat.
reviewed
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Sam Thomas
With the entrance on William St, this place has a range of affordable designer gear, from casual to evening wear, as well as reasonably priced accessories, including jewellery, bags, belts, boots and shoes.
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Hogs Head
A classic, old-skool music and film shop that buys and sells second-hand CDs and DVDs. Thousands of disks and box sets to browse among, a good range of T-shirts, and staff who know whereof they speak.
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21st Century Kilts
21st Century Kilts, which operates out of the Geoffrey (Tailor) shop, offers modern fashion kilts in a variety of fabrics; celebrity customers include Robbie Williams and Vin Diesel.
reviewed