Todayâs Newsletter Presented By
Why Portobello Is Edinburgh’s Best-Kept Secret
Portobello is a Victorian seaside suburb 3 miles from Edinburgh’s city centre. Most tourists don’t know it exists. Edinburghers would quite like to keep it that way â but it’s too good not to share.
- The beach is 2 miles of golden sand and it’s on a city bus route. The number 26 bus from Princes Street takes 20 minutes and drops you 100 metres from the beach. In summer, the sand is packed with locals. In winter, it’s empty and beautiful. Either way, a beach on a bus route from Edinburgh’s city centre is remarkable.
- The Espy is one of Edinburgh’s best pubs and nobody queues. The Espy (Esplanade Bar) sits right on the promenade with sea views. Good beer, decent food, outdoor seating. While tourists fight for tables in the Grassmarket, Portobello’s pubs have room to breathe.
- The independent shops on Portobello High Street rival Stockbridge. Vintage furniture, bookshops, artisan bakeries, and zero tourist tat. The Saturday morning market brings local producers. This is where Edinburgh residents actually shop when they want something interesting.
- Combine with a walk to Joppa and Musselburgh for a full coastal day. The promenade extends east along the coast. Musselburgh has a racecourse, a harbour, and Luca’s â an Italian ice cream shop that’s been serving Edinburghers since 1908. The entire walk is flat, easy, and scenic.
Want more honest Scotland travel advice? Join 43,000+ readers in our free Scotland newsletter.
(Your business could be featured in our Newsletter )
Please spread the word to other Lovers of Scotland
In todayâs email:
- Have You Been To Scotland’s Coolest Neighbourhood With Its Sandy Beach And Fabulous’ Seafood?
- 5 Of The Most Beautiful Beaches In Scotland
- Collect your gift! – A Free Digital Copy Of The Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide
- Around the Web: Avalanche on Scotland’s Creag Meagaidh caught on camera, Love is in the air as Edinburgh Zoo animals celebrate Valentine’s Day, The Top Natural Wonders In Scotland and more
- From Social Media – A Scottish castle with a dramatic location – ye cannae beat it!
- Scottish Food You Will Love – Fab Breakfast in this Glasgow CafĂŠ – The Hyndland CafĂŠ
- Coo Wee – I need a new bum! Read by The Scottish Granny.
Our Daily Newsletter is free and will remain free for our loyal followers forever.. ( if you are not subscribed then just enter your email below) But as they say in the infomercials, thatâs not all.. For less than the price of a wee dram, you can upgrade to our premium Newsletter which will give you access to our archive of travel deep dives, travel itineraries as well as special deals curated for our premium subscribers. So consider buying us a drink and upgrading to get all the goodies..
Scotland’s Coolest Neighbourhood With A Sandy Beach And Fabulous’ Seafood
Earlier this month, The Times named Portobello in Edinburgh as the “coolest urban corner” in the UK,
5 Of The Most Beautiful Beaches In Scotland
Collect your gift!
Ready to plan your Scotland trip?
Start with our Planning Hub â itineraries, budgets, accommodation, and everything you need. Subscribe for weekly Scotland travel guides delivered free.
Get Your Free Digital Copy Of The Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide
Around The Web
Scotland demand World Rugby admission over TMO call that ‘made no sense’
Scotland freezes as temperatures drop ’20C colder than rest of UK’ as snow forecast
Inside the parts of Edinburgh store Jenners you’ve never seen before
Long-delayed Ferguson ferry Glen Sannox begins sea trials
MV Glen Sannox sails under its own power for the first time, eight years after construction began.
New Species of Pterosaur Discovered in Scotland Persisted 25 Million Years More Than Previously Thought
Avalanche on Scotland’s Creag Meagaidh caught on camera
An avalanche has been photographed as it slid down a mountainside in the Scottish Highlands.
Scotland’s best place to live named and one town near Glasgow has taken top spot
Scotland’s ‘wettest’ towns named with scenic spot coming in at number one
Edinburgh Fringe star Puddles Pity Party gig is huge coup for Kirkcaldy’s Kings Theatre
Love is in the air as Edinburgh Zoo animals celebrate Valentine’s Day
The Top Natural Wonders In Scotland
From Social Media
A Scottish castle with a dramatic location – ye cannae beat it!
Scottish Food You Will Love
Fab Breakfast in this Glasgow CafĂŠ – The Hyndland CafĂŠ
Coo Wee
I need a new bum! Read by The Scottish Granny.
Thank you for reading Love Scotlandâ your support allows us to keep doing this work.
If you enjoy Love Scotland, it would mean the world to us if you invited friends to and read with us. If you refer friends, you will receive benefits that give you special access to Love Scotland
Our Daily Newsletter is free and will remain free for our loyal followers forever.. ( if you are not subscribed then just enter your email below) But as they say in the infomercials, thatâs not all.. For less than the price of a wee dram, you can upgrade to our premium Newsletter which will give you access to our archive of travel deep dives, travel itineraries as well as special deals curated for our premium subscribers. So consider buying us a drink and upgrading to get all the goodies..
Essentials you need to pack for your Scotland Trip
Need more inspiration?
43,000 Scotland lovers can’t be wrong.
Every week, our free newsletter delivers hidden Highland gems, seasonal travel guides, local stories, and practical tips â straight to your inbox. Join the community that loves Scotland as much as you do.
FREE GUIDE: 25 Hidden Gems of Scotland That Most Tourists Never Find (PDF)
Download our free Scotland Travel Guide (PDF)
Love Scotland?
Get the best of Scotland delivered to your inbox every week â free.
Join 43,000+ readers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
A Traveller’s Perspective
Portobello â Edinburgh’s seaside neighbourhood â is one of the best-kept secrets in the city, though it is becoming less of a secret every year. A mile of sandy beach, independent cafes, excellent seafood restaurants, and a community atmosphere that feels nothing like the tourist-heavy Old Town. On a sunny day, Portobello feels like a completely different city from the Edinburgh of castles and cobblestones.
Take the number 26 bus from the city centre â it runs every few minutes and takes about 20 minutes. Walk the full length of the promenade from Seafield to Joppa. For lunch, The Espy does excellent pub food with beach views. The Beach House serves some of the best seafood in Edinburgh. On a warm day, the beach fills with locals paddling, swimming, and building sandcastles. The outdoor heated pool â Portobello Swim Centre â is a good option when the sea is too cold. Saturday morning is the best time for the full Portobello experience.
Sitting outside a cafe on the Portobello promenade with a flat white and a croissant, looking out at the Firth of Forth with the hills of Fife in the distance, it is hard to believe you are in Edinburgh. The sand is golden. Children run along the shoreline. Dogs chase balls into the surf. The air smells of salt water and coffee. The promenade has the relaxed feel of a small seaside town, a world away from the intensity of the Royal Mile. This is where Edinburgh comes to exhale.
🏴️ You Might Also Love
🏴️ Join 43,000+ Scotland Lovers
Every weekday morning, get Scotland’s hidden castles, whisky secrets, and Highland travel inspiration — the kind you won’t find in any guidebook.
Love more? Join 65,000 Ireland lovers → · Join 30,000 Italy lovers → · Join 7,000 France lovers →
Free forever · Fresh stories, MonâFri · Unsubscribe anytime
Secure Your Dream Scottish Experience Before Itâs Gone!
Planning a trip to Scotland? Donât let sold-out tours or packed attractions dampen your adventure. Iconic experiences like exploring Edinburgh Castle, cruising along Loch Ness, or wandering through the mystical Isle of Skye often fill up fastâespecially during peak travel seasons.
Booking in advance guarantees your place and ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the rich culture and breathtaking scenery without stress or disappointment. Youâll also free up time to explore Scotland's hidden gems and savour those authentic moments that make your trip truly special.
Make the most of your journeyâstart planning today and secure those must-do experiences before theyâre gone!
***************************************************
DISCLAIMER Last updated May 29, 2023
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER
The information provided by Love to Visit LLC ('we', 'us', or 'our') on https:/loveotvisitscotland.com (the 'Site') is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL WE HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE SITE OR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE SITE. YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND YOUR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION ON THE SITE IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
EXTERNAL LINKS DISCLAIMER
The Site may contain (or you may be sent through the Site) links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us.
WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THE SITE OR ANY WEBSITE OR FEATURE LINKED IN ANY BANNER OR OTHER ADVERTISING. WE WILL NOT BE A PARTY TO OR IN ANY WAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN YOU AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.
AFFILIATES DISCLAIMER The Site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. Our affiliates include the following:
- Viator
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.
