Dog-Eared Collective's day off

The Meadows

Just minutes from buzzing Bristo square, The Meadows provides the perfect leafy antidote to the street-beating Fringe mayhem of town and The Mile. Happily though, the heady mix of buskers, lady-boys and occasional locals will stop any cultural withdrawal that moving away from the main Fringe drag can provoke. Plus there's always plenty of space for a well earned lie down on the grass or some tennis. Nice.

The Nicolson Street/Clerk Street Gauntlet 

If you like to bag a bargain then be on your marks as this street provides a second-to-none run of charity and vintage shops, which stretches all the way from Marie Curie at South Bridge at one end to Armstrong's on Clerk Street at the other. So if you come armed with as much stamina as you have style, you can leave with fitter calves as well as fatter flares.

Arthur’s Seat

With more unfazed prowess than Billy Crystal's hair, Arthur's Seat rises from the hills behind the picturesque Pleasance Courtyard and gently whispers "put down your Twix Duo and eat my panorama instead". However, just like Billy's hair, its disarming allure can be fleeting - many performers spend the Fringe entertaining the idea of an epic endorphin-soaked climb, only to find the real struggle is getting out of bed post late-night gig.

Greyfriar’s Graveyard
86 Candlemaker Row, EH1 2QA 

Greyfriar's Bobby alerts the pedestrian to this hidden gem like a silent, Scottish Lassie. Akin to the Meadows, the graveyard provides a mini oasis away from the bustle of the flyerers and show hawkers. And if you stay stationary, you can always catch the highlights of its haunted history in French, Spanish or Italian as the various tour guides snake through. Ah, there's nothing like a body snatching hot-spot to sit and enjoy a sandwich, oui?

Choco-latte
33-39 South Clerk Street, EH8 9NZ
0131 667 0091 

Although this is not technically a landmark, just standing outside this confectionery kingdom can change your day for the better. Bedecked with sugared mice, M&M cakes and the Twix Duo brownies which keep us all from climbing Arthur's seat, this is the only place to go for a super-sized sugar rush. So whether you're celebrating success or commiserating failure – stick a tray bake in your cake-hole and feel better. Also great for those last minute "whoops, I forgot to buy Mum a present" moments!