Whilst perusing pictures of #Edinburgh and #Scotland on Instagram, you may well have come across a dreamy image by Fariba Stoddart, although you may know her better by another name. The brains behind the addictive @berriestagram Instagram profile (and @igersedinburgh), Fariba creates a whimsical narrative through her images of her travels around the country. Here we chat to the Edinburgh-based Instagramer about her favourite places in the city, plus some hidden gems you might not yet have discovered!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your Instagram?
My name is Fariba Stoddart, on Instagram I am known as Berries.
For my day job I am a Part Time HR Manager for a charity organisation in the Scottish Borders and I also work as a Part Time Travel Photographer/
I started using Instagram in 2013 to document my little trips around Scotland and very quickly gained a loyal following from all around the world. It mainly started when Buzz Feed did an article about “15 Instagramers that will make you want to move to Edinburgh” and my Instagram account was mentioned in the article.
Berriestagram is an insight into my travel adventures and conveys the atmosphere and feelings of the places I visit. For me, it isn’t just about the pictures, it is about matching them with evocative words that stir emotions and means something to me at that point of time. My aim is to inspire others to travel more and experience my adventures through my story.
Interaction with other influencers and bloggers is an important part of the experience and I regularly arrange and attend meets in Edinburgh via @igersedinburgh page.
Where are your favourite places to eat and drink in the city?
My favourite place to eat in the city depends on my mood and where I am in the city. I love trying new places and rarely go back to the same place to eat.
However these are some of my favourites I would like to recommend:
With a group of Friends…
Being half Persian and spending most of my childhood in Dubai – I love a middle eastern feast. I would recommend Pomegranate at Antigua street. Its perfect for a group of people looking for a relaxed atmosphere and to share a mezze of food or if you are planning to go to the Playhouse afterwards.
Looking to Impress…
If you are looking for a hint of glamour in the old town then I would recommend Angels with Bagpipes for a nice romantic meal. If you are on a working lunch then Castle Terrace restaurant will be sure to secure that important deal with the client!
It is a bit of a cliché but for drinks I like The Balmoral, The Devils Advocate and The Dome at Christmas, its nice when you get a private space to sit and enjoy some refreshment.
Are there any hidden little gems you would recommend to visitors? Perhaps any special photo opportunities people should go to?
All hidden gems around Edinburgh has been outed by Instagram! However there is a hidden cove in Glimerton that is yet to be discovered! The Cove is a series of hard carved passageways and chambers that lie below ground. There are questions around who constructed the place, when and why? It’s nothing like I have seen before and my theory is that it’s a place where witches used to coven. I would recommend a trip to the cove to unveil the mystery and come up with a theory for yourself. If you are looking for a photo opportunity you will need to make sure you take your tripod.
Other places I enjoyed experiencing was the roof top climb on the St Giles Cathedral during the Festival in August. Watching thousands of tiny people on the royal mile enjoying the street acts from above was something I will never forget. If you have a fear of heights I would not recommend this tour as it can be a mental challenge to walk towards the edge and look down. Not many people know that the roof top is open for public to book and visit by appointment.
Finally, this might be a little unusual and you might tremble with horror at the thought but my favourite museum in Edinburgh is the Surgeon’s Hall. The collection at the Surgeon’s Hall represents Edinburgh’s rich history in changing nature of medical and scientific teachings. In a way it also brings to life the brutal past of old Edinburgh where you can learn about murders, the body snatchers Burke and Hare, and discover how dissection was once used as a method of torture and punishment. If you decide to take a ghost tour around Edinburgh Old Town, the stories might leave your imagination tingling, but a visit to Surgeons hall will leave you with an explicit visual treat into the brutal history of medicine. A word of warning, this museum is not for the faint hearted!
Is there anything in the city you haven’t done but would like to do?
I haven’t been on the roof top of the Scottish National Gallery and have seen photos of the castle and the views taken from here. It is not open to public for health and safety reasons however this is certainly something I would love to experience.
Finally, describe your perfect 24 hours in Edinburgh!
My perfect 24 hours in Edinburgh would include experiencing 24 adventures around Edinburgh city centre in 24 hours! It would mean one adventure per hour to experience and document. It’s a challenge I have been thinking about for the past few weeks! From visiting the iconic castle, taking a selfie with Greyfriars Bobby to sipping whiskey at a pub where Robert Burns once visited. It would be great if I was sponsored for charity to achieve it!
Check out more from Fariba on her website here, or follow her on Instagram.
