When I moved to Edinburgh three years ago, I languished for a while in the loneliness that comes with living in a new city. Hopeful, wide-eyed, and freshly eighteen, I had carted myself off to Scotland with the naïve expectation that I’d neatly slot into a group of friends from the first day of freshers’ week, and that would be that. The transparent reality is that I spent the first month or so feeling sorely lonely, in the company of only myself. I did find my people, and I cherish the friends that now surround me. But what I also gained along the way was a newfound realisation that I’m not bad company after all, and that it is entirely possible to find enjoyment alone. After years of practice, I’d like to think I’ve mastered the solo date.
Taking yourself to a gallery or a museum is one of the most gratifying individual activities out there, and Edinburgh has no shortage of options. Taking your time to wander through an exhibition, at a pace only you set, can honestly be more rewarding than doing so with friends. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street is an exquisite building that houses an extensive collection of portraiture spanning from the 16th century to contemporary photography. It is quieter than the National Museum of Scotland, for example, so perfect for a solo visit.
Weather permitting, taking a stroll through Grassmarket is one of my favourite pastimes. On Saturdays the market offers a range of independent stalls selling everything from jewellery to vinyl, and some of Edinburgh’s best bookshops are dotted around the area too. Particularly when the sun is shining, Edinburgh’s old town is serene.
But the pièce de résistance of solo dates is the Sunday brunch. Taking yourself to a café (my current favourite is Mavyn on George Street) and getting yourself an overpriced avocado on sourdough toast is an indulgent treat. It can be any day, but Sunday is the best- celebrate the fact you’ve made it through this week and get next week off to an uplifting start.
Lovely things like book shopping and brunch don’t need company to be enjoyed. They can even be lovelier alone. Just as you would with a friendship, tend to your relationship with yourself: cultivate it, honour it, and learn to love the time you spend alone. Soon you’ll be looking forward to a weekend you get all to yourself.
Image via Naomi Wallace