Around Edinburgh Tourist Information

Musselburgh & East Lothian Attractions

Surrounded by so much water, Musselburgh sits at the mouth of the River Esk on the banks of the Firth of Forth. It gets its name from the huge number of mussel beds on the shores of the Firth of Forth. The Eskmill complex on Station Road in Musselburgh, now a contemporary art centre, office and restaurant space, was once Stuart Mill, producing fishing nets which were exported all over the world.

Musselburgh Racecourse is the oldest racecourse in Scotland, and has seen some extensive modernisation in recent years. Within Musselburgh's town centre historic sites include the Tolbooth on the high street dating from 159, The Mercat Cross dating from the 1700s and the splendid Newhailes House, home of Edinburgh lawyer and historian David Dalrymple. The rococo interior and extensive library at Newhailes is not to be missed. First Edinburgh Buses run regular services to Musselburgh from Edinburgh (see website right and search Musselburgh to bring up the list).

Likewise train links are excellent, with the Scot Rail Edinburgh to North Berwick line stopping first at Musselburgh from Edinburgh's Waverley Station. The rail journey takes under 10 minutes. See the Scot Rail link right for timetable.

• Accommodation near Edinburgh
• Hotels around Edinburgh
• Bed and Breakfast near Edinburgh

Falkirk, Linlithgow & West Lothian Holidays

Scotland's historic canals, particularly the Forth & Clyde Canal from Grangemouth to Bowling south of Dumbarton and the Edinburgh Union Canal from Edinburgh to Falkirk, are seeing a revival. Both canals join at the design masterpiece - the Falkirk Wheel, now one of Scotland's most popular attractions and a marvel of modern engineering and design. Both Falkirk and Linlithgow sit at the heart of this regeneration project, with the Falkirk Wheel being the major attraction and the superb Scottish Canal Museum based at the Linlithgow Canal Centre at the Manse Basin.

The ruins of Linlithgow Palace aside Linlithgow Loch are beautifully set, and a major attraction particularly as the site of the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

• Hotels near Edinburgh
• Holiday Cottages near Edinburgh
• B&B near Edinburgh