The surrounding area is part of the John Muir Way and features a network of walking trails that weave through the sand dunes, providing visitors with a chance to explore this spectacular landscape. There are also art-themed events such as The Art Walk Porty which highlights the work of local artists and encourages visitors to explore the creative side of the community.

Nowhere has a more dramatic coastline than St Abb's, with towering white cliffs stretching all the way along the land, topped with luscious green bluffs. Watersports: The beach is a popular spot for water sports enthusiasts. You can rent a kayak or paddleboard and enjoy a day out on the water. As the beach is shallow the waves are often quite gentle, making it suitable for beginners looking to try surfing. The swimming centre is also one of the few remaining Victorian pools that has a working Aerotone – an early hydrotherapy treatment that’s similar to a modern Jacuzzi. Opinion: The beach can be approached through Direlton on the A198. Families can have a good time out here and so do kids as the beach is spacious enough for them to hop around. The view of Fidra across the Firth of Forth to Fife is awesome. The coastal area comprising of the forest, grassland and beach is indeed a mirth for walkers. The beach is comparatively clean with enough space to accommodate each of its visitors. Best on summer evenings. An interesting stretch of the beach is the Gullane Bents found close to the village main street. To the west the beach has a hookup with the Aberlady Reserve. With the gin originally created at Langley Distillery, they launched their own distillery and visitor centre in 2014. (As a side note, it’s a great distillery to visit, with a range of tour options. There are two custom bottles proudly on display at From the Gin Shelf HQ from our own ‘Gin Making Tour’. Highly recommended!)For parking, I personally recommend finding a free roadside space on Seaview Terrace on the eastern end of the beach and then walking to the middle where you’ll find the majority of the main attractions. With tonic I’d pair it with either Fever-Tree Mediterranean or a classic Indian such as Franklin & Sons or Fever-Tree. The distiller’s recommended garnish of orange peel is where I’d go too, enhancing the citrus in the gin. If you want something a little sweeter, a wedge works well too. For the walk itself, head out of the town going north. You'll need to follow the road for about 10 minutes, then turn right and follow the signs. Sunbathing and Swimming: The golden sands of Portobello Beach are perfect for sunbathing, and if you’re brave enough, you can take a dip in the North Sea. Just be aware that the water temperature can be cold even in the summer months so a wetsuit is recommended.

If using Edinburgh’s superb Lothian Buses is your preference, take any of these bus routes from Princes Street: 19, 26, 42, or 124, or if starting at North Bridge, take these routes: X7, 45, or 49. Parking at Portobello is hit-and-miss when it comes to finding available spaces, so if you don’t mind a walk I recommend looking for a roadside space on Seaview Terrace on the southern end of Portobello. Building sandcastles will keep children totally engrossed as you chill out with a good book or a podcast. Need to hire a car to explore Edinburgh’s beaches? Out About Scotland recommends Travel Supermarket.The beach’s shallow waters and gentle waves provide a safe environment for swimming and paddling while the promenade that runs parallel to the shoreline is ideal for leisurely walks at all times of the year. This picturesque village is best known for its exceptional golf courses (the Muirfield course is a regular host of the Open Championship) but it’s more popular for the fabulous golden sand beach that runs along its northern edge. Wake up to the sound of the waves by wild camping on Gullane Beach. Avoid the wind by bagging a spot protected by the sloping sand dunes, but don’t go so far that you don’t wake up to gorgeous views of the Firth of Forth to the west. Throughout the year, Portobello hosts several events and festivals such as the annual Big Beach Busk and the Portobello Village Show, both of which draw visitors from far and wide.

Due to the shallowness of the water, the waves ride quite high when the winds blow in from the north, making this beach one of the best in the area for windsurfing while the firm sand is a popular place for sand yachting. This stretch of sand isn’t as big as the one at Portobello but it sees far fewer visitors and the facilities are excellent thanks to plenty of parking spaces, shops, and cafes in the vicinity.Leith is a vibrant and historic former fishing port near Edinburgh’s city centre that’s renowned for its trendy bars and restaurants. Sun, sea, sand and ice cream. On a warm day in Scotland, you could be forgiven for forgetting you’re standing at Edinburgh’s seaside and not at the Costa Del Sol! As well as having the perfect, cute cafe to serve you drinks and tasty food, St Abb's was also the filming location for some scenes of Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Standing out from the rest of the rooms, the family kitchen looks to be a very standard design and layout. Summer is well and truly here, which means it's the perfect time to get out and about while the sun is shining.

This 40-mile stretch of coastline is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s finest seaside areas as the beaches are all within a short drive of Edinburgh yet they see few tourists, the sand is clean and powder-soft, and the many secluded bays offer protection from the stiff breezes that blow in off the Firth of Forth. From the beautiful curved bay, you can see right out to the Isle of Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. There’s a brilliant playpark for kids and some lovely gardens on the seafront as well as the spacious white sandy beach. Known for its attractive seafront and vibrant community atmosphere, Portobello offers visitors an enjoyable experience that’s far removed from the hubbub of the city centre, yet it’s close enough that it can be easily included in a visit to Scotland’s capital. As already mentioned, Portobello becomes very crowded in the summer months so if you’re looking for a quiet place to relax in the sun you might prefer heading west a couple of miles to Musselburgh Beach instead.

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