Day Trip
Take A Tour Around Portobello
There are some beautiful places along the coastline just outside Edinburgh, and Portobello is one of them. It used to be a little village on the edge of Edinburgh and now it is a lovely seaside suburb that has a really welcoming village feel to it.
It’s about 20 minutes from Preston Hall by car and the main areas are the high street and the promenade that runs along the beach. It is probably our closest beach, and we often head there for a nice walk, paddle, and an ice cream or coffee.
There are so many great things going on there and to do so we’ve done a little day trip idea to explore some of the places in our doorstep.
Promenade
Head down to the beach for a morning walk. The promenade is all tarmac so very pram friendly or you can walk on the sand. There are a couple of playgrounds along the route so fun for the children as well. Obviously the earlier in the day you get there, the quieter it will be, and parking may be easier. The views across to Fife are beautiful on a clear day, but the Haar also adds an air of mysteriousness too so I never mind it.
We would suggest heading to The Beach House Cafe for lunch, and getting there sharpish. They don’t take bookings so if you want to avoid a queue then better to be early. They are very accommodating for people with prams too. We always try and get a table by the windows as its fun for the children to watch what’s going on outside. Best dish for breakfast is the Turkish Eggs and for lunch I’d say the Beach House Club Sandwich.
The Beach House does do very good ice cream, but we sometimes pop round to Oscar’s Gelato. I would have to say that Raspberry Sorbet is a hit with the children and I love the Honeycomb Ice Cream. It is a great experience.
After lunch wander along to The Portobello Bookshop and find a cosy corner to relax in. I find browsing in a bookshop so therapeutic and you pick up all sorts of things that you might not normally be interested in. It pushes your boundaries in terms of books that you might read. A really great selection here.
Finally, to the day why not try the Soul Water Sauna on the beach followed by a plunge in the sea…? It is not for everyone, but the inner warmth followed by the immersion in the icy sea really connects you so why not give it a go. You do need to book ahead for this one, and obviously be prepared in terms of swimwear and kit for afterwards to warm up. Only for the braves ones amongst us!
A busy day out, but everything is close together and then a quick trip back to Preston Hall to enjoy the peace of the countryside.