we are off to Edinburgh in a couple of weeks, do some touristy things and drive up to the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies. MrsTheWeary wants to see something of the sea/ seaside on our trip ( West Midlands psychology of if you haven't seen the seaside it isn't a holiday) and whilst Edinburgh is almost coastal I don't know what in the area would afford stunning views and cosy cafes, walks along the beach and ice creams and what would turn out to be industrial seaports.
Ta
Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell.
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Wouldn't be that far out of our way although yes not exactly Edinburgh.
I'm thinking more walks with the dog than sunbathing and naked volleyball.
Portobello (beach) probably ticks all of the boxes. It is a couple of miles from Edinburgh City Centre with several bus routes into the city centre if you don't want to take the car with you.
North Berwick is a nice seaside town best know for the bird sanctuary. It is about 50 miles East of Edinburgh Google to see whether there is enough to keep you occupied in the area for a day.
However be aware that most beach car parks in East Lothian now have height restrictions and parking charges. You can however park in Gullane then walk out, or park on the side of the road from the coast road past Longniddry Bents heading into Longniddry, and walk back down.
Gullane does have a nice café. There is also the Bothy in Gosford estate (east of Longniddry(, and the Longniddry Inn does good cooking (nothing fancy, just good pub grub). If you want ice cream though, it's got to be Lucas in Musselburgh as you drive out of town!
You can head further south to the likes of Belhaven Bay, and Cove/Pease Bay (Cockburnspath).
Beach, ice cream, tea shops, pubs, chippy, boat trips round the Bass etc. It's a nice touristy place.
There's a wee seafood place on the harbour that's great.
If you're staying in Edinburgh, you can get a train to N.B. (as us locals call it).
If you're driving Tyninghame, SeaCliff, YellowCraigs are all lovely for walking.
Dunbar is nice (Belhaven Brewery is there too).
@Toms_Dad you can't recommend RedDog anymore. It was on Grassmarket not Haymarket & sadly closed 6months ago.
Cramond is a good shout- just check the tides for the causeway!
Music:
The Royal Oak does live music often- the first time I saw Kris Drever (check him out- he's great) was there.
Similarly the Sandy Bells does folk ssessions daily (& is handy for the Old Town etc)
https://www.sandybells.co.uk
Touristy:
there are usually walking tours leaving from near St Giles on the high st. Try to find one that takes you to the catacombs- kinda spooky, kinda cool.
The open top bus tours are a great way to see the city without walking your legs off- some of them take you to the New Town. I love Stockbridge/Dean Village/Botanics- Lots of nice pubs etc and Georgian architecture.
The Modern Art Galleries are good & there's a free bus from the National Gallery on the mound. You can walk down the water of Leith to Stockbridge (a lovely neighborhood).
If the weather is decent, Arthur's Seat/Calton Hill are a nice walk (As is Botanics etc)
The National Museum is GREAT- the views from the roof are spectacular too.
Food/Drink:
Civerinos: Cool pizza place
Vittorias: (Italian) Edinburgh institution
Beer Kitchen: Owned by Innes and Gunn, food is good and the beer is impressive
Scran and Scallie: Gastropub owned by Tom Kitchin.
Affrogato: excellent gelato.
Howies- Good modern Scottish food.
BrewDog pubs- good beer
Further afield:
Crammond Island- walk along a causeway at low tide.
Roslyn Chapel- as mentioned in the DaVinci Code, but don't hold that against it!
Stirling- Lovely picturesque & small. You can do most of it including the castle in a day.
Linlithgow- has a palace etc & is a short train ride from Edinburgh
Glasgow- has everything you could want in a big city.
North Berwick- picturesque seaside town .
Leith (which is NOT part of Edinburgh!)- has been massively redeveloped & has LOADS of things to see/do/eat/drink. It's far less touristy than Edinburgh is. (Some tour busses will go there, or just use public transport)
Royal Yaught Brittania is there- worth a look if that's your kind of thing.
Mimis Bake House- their "Before noon tea" is brilliant (but remember to book).
I wouldn't like to imply that when we go away we are at all organised but have some names here of places.
Not mentioned so far... Tantallon Castle near North Berwick in East Lothian - absolutely spectacular ruined castle with a couple of beaches within easy walking distance of the castle car park.
North Berwick isn't 50 miles from Edinburgh, by the way - it's about 20. It's Berwick-On-Tweed which is 50 miles away.
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