Ruth's Guidebook
Neighbourhoods
The beach is less than 10 minutes walk away – best way to find it is to walk from our house and just keep walking straight along various narrow roads until you see it in front of you! The walkway next to it is called the Promenade (Prom for short). The sand is usually clean and there are rocks to climb at the far end of the beach. There are some buckets and spades in the garage as well as body boards and a skim board.
Local shops
There are some good local shops, all a short walk away on Portobello High Street, including butchers, fishmonger and bakers. There are 3 supermarkets – closest and best value is Aldi (open 8am-10pm Mon-Sat, 9am-8pm on Sunday), which you can walk to from our house by going to High Street and turning left, it’s about 5 minutes walk on the left. There’s also a Sainsburys, High Street (open 7am-11pm) and Scotmid (Bath Street, open 7am-11pm).
The Post Office is located inside Scotmid – it opens 9am-5.30pm.
Breadshare on Seafield Road is a community bakery which has amazing bread.
If you have a car, you may also like to drive to the local Asda or Morrisons supermarket. There is a large shopping complex about 5 minutes drive away (Fort Kinnaird) which has all the high street names, endless chain restaurants and an Odeon cinema.
Restaurants/coffee shops
Would recommend the food and drink at Foresters Guild at the west end of Portobello High Street – have never been disappointed by their menu, though it’s popular so recommend you book (0131 6692750). Other good places to eat are the Espy at the bottom of Bath Street, right next to the beach – it does really good daily specials and has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, Miro’s next door to the Espy which ha a simple menu and great views of the sea and Malvarosa a Spanish tapas restaurant on Portobello High Street. The best fish and chips restaurant in Portobello is the St Andrews, at the traffic lights turn right and walk along the High Street until you see it on the left.
There are lots of nice coffee shops in Portobello – the Beach House (right next to the Espy on the Promenade) and Miro’s (the other side of the Espy) are two of the best for great cakes.
Buses to Edinburgh City Centre
The bus stop is a short walk through Rosefield Park, along Rosefield Avenue to Portobello High Street. There’s an electronic screen at the bus stop (this side of the road) letting passengers know the waiting times for buses.
Lothian Buses number 26 (runs every 5mins) and number 15 will take you to the centre of town (Princes Street). You need the exact change on the bus – it costs £1.70 for adults and 80p for children. If you are taking more than 2 buses it is worthwhile buying a day ticket (£4 for adults and £2 for children) to get unlimited travel. A family day ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) costs £8.50.
The driver will tell you when you get to the city centre (Princes Street). Coming back to our house, you ask to get off at Portobello Town Hall.
(Some!) Highlights in Edinburgh: Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, Scottish Parliament Building and Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Camera Obscura, Museum of Scotland, New Town, National Galleries, Museum of Modern Art, Edinburgh Zoo (book online in advance if you want a slot to see the pandas), Royal Yacht Britannia.
Tourist Office is at the east end of Princes Street (just as you arrive from Portobello).
The Festival is a whole different world of energy and fun – make sure you walk around the old town (down Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood Palace and around the Grassmarket) for some amazing street artists and music, but keep your wits about you as it’s usually incredibly busy.
East Lothian
There are lots of beautiful beaches and villages along the coast to the east of Portobello – our favourites are Yellow Craigs, Gullane and North Berwick. The next town along (easy cycle along the prom) is Musselburgh where there are a couple of famous ice cream shops (Di Rollos as you enter the town on the right and Luca’s as you leave at the other end). Would also recommend the Museum of Flight at East Fortune where they have Concorde on display.
99 abantu bendawo batusa
Portobello
The beach is less than 10 minutes walk away – best way to find it is to walk from our house and just keep walking straight along various narrow roads until you see it in front of you! The walkway next to it is called the Promenade (Prom for short). The sand is usually clean and there are rocks to climb at the far end of the beach. There are some buckets and spades in the garage as well as body boards and a skim board.
Local shops
There are some good local shops, all a short walk away on Portobello High Street, including butchers, fishmonger and bakers. There are 3 supermarkets – closest and best value is Aldi (open 8am-10pm Mon-Sat, 9am-8pm on Sunday), which you can walk to from our house by going to High Street and turning left, it’s about 5 minutes walk on the left. There’s also a Sainsburys, High Street (open 7am-11pm) and Scotmid (Bath Street, open 7am-11pm).
The Post Office is located inside Scotmid – it opens 9am-5.30pm.
Breadshare on Seafield Road is a community bakery which has amazing bread.
If you have a car, you may also like to drive to the local Asda or Morrisons supermarket. There is a large shopping complex about 5 minutes drive away (Fort Kinnaird) which has all the high street names, endless chain restaurants and an Odeon cinema.
Restaurants/coffee shops
Would recommend the food and drink at Foresters Guild at the west end of Portobello High Street – have never been disappointed by their menu, though it’s popular so recommend you book (0131 6692750). Other good places to eat are the Espy at the bottom of Bath Street, right next to the beach – it does really good daily specials and has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, Miro’s next door to the Espy which ha a simple menu and great views of the sea and Malvarosa a Spanish tapas restaurant on Portobello High Street. The best fish and chips restaurant in Portobello is the St Andrews, at the traffic lights turn right and walk along the High Street until you see it on the left.
There are lots of nice coffee shops in Portobello – the Beach House (right next to the Espy on the Promenade) and Miro’s (the other side of the Espy) are two of the best for great cakes.
Buses to Edinburgh City Centre
The bus stop is a short walk through Rosefield Park, along Rosefield Avenue to Portobello High Street. There’s an electronic screen at the bus stop (this side of the road) letting passengers know the waiting times for buses.
Lothian Buses number 26 (runs every 5mins) and number 15 will take you to the centre of town (Princes Street). You need the exact change on the bus – it costs £1.70 for adults and 80p for children. If you are taking more than 2 buses it is worthwhile buying a day ticket (£4 for adults and £2 for children) to get unlimited travel. A family day ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) costs £8.50.
The driver will tell you when you get to the city centre (Princes Street). Coming back to our house, you ask to get off at Portobello Town Hall.
(Some!) Highlights in Edinburgh: Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, Scottish Parliament Building and Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Camera Obscura, Museum of Scotland, New Town, National Galleries, Museum of Modern Art, Edinburgh Zoo (book online in advance if you want a slot to see the pandas), Royal Yacht Britannia.
Tourist Office is at the east end of Princes Street (just as you arrive from Portobello).
The Festival is a whole different world of energy and fun – make sure you walk around the old town (down Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood Palace and around the Grassmarket) for some amazing street artists and music, but keep your wits about you as it’s usually incredibly busy.
East Lothian
There are lots of beautiful beaches and villages along the coast to the east of Portobello – our favourites are Yellow Craigs, Gullane and North Berwick. The next town along (easy cycle along the prom) is Musselburgh where there are a couple of famous ice cream shops (Di Rollos as you enter the town on the right and Luca’s as you leave at the other end). Would also recommend the Museum of Flight at East Fortune where they have Concorde on display.
Sightseeing
If you have access to a car, this is one of the many beautiful beaches a short drive from Portobello. Really clean water and sand, fun park nearby for children and usually an ice cream van too.
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Yellowcraigs Beach
If you have access to a car, this is one of the many beautiful beaches a short drive from Portobello. Really clean water and sand, fun park nearby for children and usually an ice cream van too.
I think this is the most beautiful place in Edinburgh. A wild, rugged park just next to the city centre where you can walk easily and enjoy amazing views over the city’s historic buildings and north over the Firth of Forth if you climb up Arthur’s Seat.
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I-Arthur's Seat
I think this is the most beautiful place in Edinburgh. A wild, rugged park just next to the city centre where you can walk easily and enjoy amazing views over the city’s historic buildings and north over the Firth of Forth if you climb up Arthur’s Seat.
You can’t miss spending time walking around the city centre, it really is stunning. Walk through Princes Street Gardens and look up at the Castle and then walk up to the Castle Esplanade to get a wonderful view over the city. It’s expensive to go into the castle, but worth it if you are interested in history and Crown Jewels.
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Edinburgh Old Town
You can’t miss spending time walking around the city centre, it really is stunning. Walk through Princes Street Gardens and look up at the Castle and then walk up to the Castle Esplanade to get a wonderful view over the city. It’s expensive to go into the castle, but worth it if you are interested in history and Crown Jewels.
Food scene
There are loads of local restaurants and coffee shops which I’d recommend you try out. Miros, the Espy and the Beach House, all on Portobello Promenade next to the beach are good, though busy. On the High Street, try Guild of Forresters (Scottish specialities) or Malvarosa (tapas restaurant).
99 abantu bendawo batusa
Portobello
There are loads of local restaurants and coffee shops which I’d recommend you try out. Miros, the Espy and the Beach House, all on Portobello Promenade next to the beach are good, though busy. On the High Street, try Guild of Forresters (Scottish specialities) or Malvarosa (tapas restaurant).
Shopping
Shopping tips
There are lots of nice independent shops on Portobello High Street, including a wonderful bookshop, gift shops (particularly like Cove and the Velvet Easel), foodie shops (Findlays butchers, Williamson fishmongers, Aemilia fresh pasta shop and the Twelve Triangles bakery) as well as lots of charity shops and Friday Street for vintage finds.
99 abantu bendawo batusa
Portobello
There are lots of nice independent shops on Portobello High Street, including a wonderful bookshop, gift shops (particularly like Cove and the Velvet Easel), foodie shops (Findlays butchers, Williamson fishmongers, Aemilia fresh pasta shop and the Twelve Triangles bakery) as well as lots of charity shops and Friday Street for vintage finds.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Ukuzulazula
Travelling to and from Portobello
The Lothian bus service is fast and frequent. It takes about 20 minutes from the city centre to Portobello, via the number 26 route. You can pay by card, costs £1.80 single for an adult. When returning to Portobello, ask the driver to let you off at Portobello Town Hall. You cross the road and walk along Rosefield Place to Rosefield Park (couple of minutes). Walk through the park and our house is almost directly opposite - just to the right ahead of you, dark red door. Taxis from the city centre cost around £8-15, depending on the time of day.
Ungaphuthelwa
Portobello Beach and Promenade
Our house is a short walk from the beach, which is a must at any time of the year. There are lots of places to eat and drink looking out over the water and you’ll find people doing all sorts of things such as swimming (year round), rowing, paddle-boarding, playing beach volleyball, having barbecues and bonfires, setting off fireworks at new year and just generally enjoying the outdoor space.
Ungaphuthelwa
Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park
It’s a short drive (or longer walk) directly south of Portobello to Holyrood Park. There are various entrances to this beautiful, rugged space which is right in the heart of the city. Would recommend if you are fit for it to climb Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcanic plug which gives you spectacular views over the city and further afield over the Firth of Forth to Fife and beyond. You can see most of Edinburgh’s historic sites from above, including the castle, Calton Hill, the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace.
Izindlela zokonga
Art galleries and museums are free
You normally only pay for special exhibitions at the art galleries and museums. Would recommend visiting the Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, particularly if you have kids with you. Also the National Galleries on the Mound and the Museum of Modern Art at the west end of Princes Street are well worth visiting.
Okufanele ukupakishe
Layers
The weather in Edinburgh can be variable, so it’s best to expect the best but prepare for the worst. The city is known to be windy, so bring warm layers and a waterproof jacket and hat in the winter rather than an umbrella which is likely to blow inside out!