Edinburgh can be a city break and a seaside break on the same day. Portobello Beach offers a wide stretch of sand, a promenade made for an unhurried walk and a high street with places to pause for coffee or lunch. Even when the weather is cool, the sea air makes it a refreshing change from the Old Town’s steep streets.
Spend a few hours by the sea
Begin with a walk along the promenade and leave time to explore the high street behind it. On a bright day, bring a picnic and find a spot on the sand. On a blustery one, enjoy the view from the promenade and warm up in a café. The beach is equally good for a short outing or a longer afternoon, depending on the weather and your plans elsewhere in Edinburgh.
If you are considering a paddle or swim, check the conditions on the day and take care around the water. The Firth of Forth can feel cold even when the sun is out. It is always worth taking an extra layer for the coast.
Getting to Portobello from our Edinburgh accommodation
From Ben Cruachan Guest House at 17 McDonald Road and Ben Cruachan Rooms & Studios at 21 McDonald Road, head into the city centre and pick up a Portobello-bound bus from Princes Street. Lothian Buses routes 19 and 26 serve Portobello.
If you are staying at Caledonian Apartments on Caledonian Crescent, travel into the centre via Haymarket before joining one of those buses. Check the current route and stop before you set out, as services can change.
Stay in Edinburgh, visit the coast
You do not have to choose between a central Edinburgh stay and a day at the beach. The Ben Cruachan Collection offers a guest house, rooms and studios on McDonald Road, plus self-catering apartments on Caledonian Crescent. Each gives you a different base for exploring the city, with Portobello as an easy day out rather than a change of accommodation.
See Forever Edinburgh’s Portobello guide for more ideas and transport information.
Featured image: Portobello Beach by subberculture, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The original file was uploaded; any cropped display is shared under the same licence.