Overview

My group and I visited from Leuchie House national respite centre in North Berwick, Our transport parked at St Giles street and was led up to the castle in a convoy, we were escorted up the royal mile and into the castle esplanade earlier as we were a disabled group, it could not have been easier getting from the Leuchie bus to our seats on the platform in front of the grandstand and within touching distance of the marching bands and other acts as they passed. the chief steward who met us was fantastic although some of the others were a bit slow on assisting my carer as I was in a wheelchair and the ramps were a tad on the steep side.

Transport & Parking

We parked in St Giles Street and were filed into a convoy by Stewards, we were parked there for around 30 mins and there was a café in the street. we were escorted in convoy up the royal mile and on to the castle esplanade where the buses were parked in rows, once all the buses were parked we were greeted by a senior steward and once we were all off the bus, we were escorted as a group 50 yards across the concourse and down a small incline under the grandstand another 25 yards up a small incline to the bottom of the Ramp which was steep but manageable and then another 20 feet to our seats which was amazing.

Access

I was glad and sorry that my carer was with me, I would not to have liked to have attempted the main ramp from under the grandstand to the seating platform myself and the stewards were not the quickest to offer assistance, we were led by a steward straight to our seats and were able to find the toilets which were 20 yards under the grandstand. we were within touching distance of the acts, and had a fantastic view of all the action, the fireworks, the projection show on the castle and the narration all the way through kept us up to date with what acts were coming on and where they were from. I am unaware if there was a braille version of the event programme.

Toilets

I was in a wheelchair and had reason to visit the toilets which for a public loo were spacious enough for a wheelchair and carer and were very clean and tidy. the toilets were easily found and were fitted with grabrails.

Staff

The chief steward allocated to our bus was very helpful as were the others on duty within our section, the steward son the Friday night that we were there had a cardiac arrest to deal with and were in attendance immediately, they coped amazingly and escalated the need for paramedics who were with the person within 2 mins, they again were fantastic and had an ambulance in attendance within 6 mins, the person was treated secured in a stretcher and moved from near the top of the grandstand within 15-20 mins, I heard that the person survived thanks to the speedy response and fantastic work of all of these guys including the 2 Mp's and 2 Marines who carried the person down from the top of the grandstand to the ambulance well done all! having been a steward myself in the past perhaps I am being a bit harsh when saying they could have offered assistance to my carer, it's just what I would have done.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

The platform where our seats were made what was already a fantastic spectacle outstanding. 10 out of 10 for the organisers my first and hopefully not my last Tattoo. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! being first in we were last out as we had to wait for the public to leave first before they could bring buses and taxis back in, although this made the night a little (20-30 mins) longer there are no alternatives and this did not detract from the evening.

Photos