Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AROUND EDINBURGH
Edinburgh is small enough that, when you need a break from the city, the beautiful sur-
rounding countryside isn't far away and is easily accessible by public transport, or even by
bike. The old counties around Edinburgh are called Midlothian, West Lothian and East
Lothian, often referred to collectively as 'the Lothians'.
Midlothian
QUEENSFERRY
Queensferry is at the narrowest part of the Firth of Forth, where ferries have crossed to Fife
from the earliest times. The village takes its name from Queen Margaret (1046-93), who
gave pilgrims free passage across the firth on their way to St Andrews. Ferries continued to
operate until 1964 when the graceful
Forth Road Bridge
was opened. Construction work
has started on a second road bridge, scheduled to open in 2016.
Predating the road bridge by 74 years, the magnificent
Forth Bridge
- only outsiders
ever call it the Forth Rail Bridge - is one of the finest engineering achievements of the 19th
century. Completed in 1890 after seven years' work, its three huge cantilevers span 1447m
and took 59,000 tonnes of steel, eight million rivets and the lives of 58 men to build.
In the pretty, terraced High St in Queensferry is the small
Queensferry Museum
(53
High St; admission free; 10am-1pm & 2.15-5pm Mon & Thu-Sat, noon-5pm Sun)
. It
contains some interesting background information on the bridges, and a fascinating exhibit
on the Burry Man (
Click here
), part of the village's summer gala festivities.
There are several good places to eat and drink along the High St, including the stylish
Orocco Pier
(
www.oroccopier.co.uk
; 17 High St; mains £15-24; 9am-10pm; )
, which
has a modern dining area and outdoor terrace with a stunning view of the Forth Bridge.
The atmospheric
Hawes Inn
(
0131-331 1990;
www.vintageinn.co.uk
;
Newhalls Rd;
mains £7-16; food served noon-10pm; First Edinburgh 43)
, famously mentioned in
Robert Louis Stevenson's novel
Kidnapped,
serves excellent pub grub; it's opposite the
Inchcolm ferry, right beside the railway bridge.
Getting There & Away
Queensferry lies on the southern bank of the Firth of Forth, 8 miles west of Edinburgh city
centre. To get there, take First bus 43 (£3.30, 30 minutes, three hourly) westbound from St
