Life’s a beach down Portobello way
Warmer, longer days are hopefully nearing, so are you feeling like it’s time for a spring getaway?
Portobello, Edinburgh’s historic beach holiday destination, offers the perfect opportunity for an affordable day trip and it’s just 20 minutes from the heart of Edinburgh. It may not be the most exotic of resorts – and this is Scotland, so the sun won’t always shine – but Portobello is bursting with cafés, shops, entertainment and loads of atmosphere to suit all occasions.
Holiday hints for a grand day at the beach...
- Stroll the promenade with an ice cream and binoculars in hand, keeping an eye out for the large number of seabirds in the area.
- Not hot enough for a dip in the sea? Enjoy a swim at the Victorian decorated Portobello Swim Centre, making sure you leave enough time to relax in the Turkish baths.
- One’s trash is another’s treasure so try your luck rummaging through the many charity shops in Porty. When it’s time for refreshment, the high street has lots of delightful cafés including Jamieson’s Tea Rooms.
- Let the creative juices flow! Portobello is home to a vibrant arts and crafts movement. There are several galleries in the town, featuring the work of local artists.
- Work on your handicap at the nine-hole public golf course, which is child and beginner friendly. The signature hole is the long par three ninth! To book a tee time, call 0131 669 4361.
- Catch the sunset with a BBQ on the beach’s white sands. Pick up some free range meat and poultry from award-winning Findlay’s butchers.
- Take a quick trip to dine in Asia. Your taste buds will be spoiled for choice with a range of ethnic specialty restaurants offering delicacies from China, Bangladesh, India and Thailand. Approximately 20 per cent cheaper than uptown too!
- From folk to soul to rock and roll, Portobello’s newest drinking emporium, The Three Monkeys Bar, boasts a beer garden and a jam-packed events programme with live music most nights of the week.
The Seafield roundabout works are scheduled to be completed in April, so your journey to Portobello should now be even easier. The new traffic lights will make it easier for you to cycle down there too!
Need to know more
Visit www.porty.org.uk
Photo courtesy of Lee Kindness photography