Edinburgh and East Lothian's best beaches within one…

Edinburgh and East Lothian's best beaches within one hour of Fringe venues

Tourists, visitors and residents will flock in their droves to Edinburgh’s city centre this August as part of the Festival Fringe

And although catching a side splitting show or tear jerking performance is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, some may want an escape route to find some tranquillity amongst the madness.

With this in mind, we have collated a list of six beaches that are located within an hour of venues in the capital.

So if you are looking to avoid the mental Royal Mile and refrain from slaloming through ticket touts, then have no fear as we have the perfect spots for you to take a picnic basket in the car, bus or train for a little paddle.

For those that do not know, the Fringe this year will run from Friday August 5 until Monday August 29.

Six of the finest of beaches that would make the Seychelles blush:

1. Portobello

We have to start with Edinburgh’s crown jewel. Located to the east of the city, there is plenty to do for young love birds, fun seeking families and taking at their own pace pensioners. There are a host of ice cream parlours, fish and chip shops as well as the infamous arcade for any visitors to enjoy. Those looking to visit will be able to get there by bus from the city centre in around 20 minutes.

2. Cramond

A little hidden gem in the north west of the capital, this beach is for those really looking to escape the crowds. There are a number of café’s located in the area and visitors can also sit back and enjoy a cone as they watch ships travel along the Firth of Forth on their way to Rosyth. Dogs are also welcomed with open arms as there is a lovely walk out to Cramond Island that is only accessible at certain times of the day.

3. Musselburgh Harbour

For those heading to Musselburgh, we would advise that you travel with an empty stomach to take full advantage of the scran (or food for our non-Scottish guests). East Coast came in third place out of over 10,000 fish and chip shops across the UK and has been heralded for being affordable. Make sure you get the east coast tradition of salt and sauce as well as a wee deep fried Mars bar chaser. S Luca ice cream shop in the town centre is not to be missed - their Irn Bru sorbet is a real sugary treat.

4. Belhaven Bay Beach

This is a 44 minute drive from Edinburgh or you can hop on the train from Waverley if you want to enjoy the many bars within the local town of Dunbar. Belhaven Bay is a calm setting and perfect for families looking to enjoy some beach games - especially if they have a four legged furry friend. If you’d like to make a day of it, there is also the John Muir Country Park which has some idyllic walks. There is also East Links Family Park that has a colossal climbing frame with plenty of Alpacas that young whippersnappers are able to feed.

5. Gullane Beach

An ideal escape for those looking to get away from the crowds. Ideally those travelling to the beach would go by car and be sure to bring a swimsuit to take a little dip. If there are any budding golfers in the group then look into golf hire and a round at Gullane - it truly is one of Scotland’s most respected courses. If you are interested in a bit of history then Dirleton Castle is only a couple of miles away.

6. North Berwick

This is the perfect day trip to get out of the hustle and bustle of the Fringe. There is so much to do in North Berwick and the town is unbelievably picturesque. Trips to the Bass Rock are available from here but it is worthwhile checking they have the recent bird flu under control before banking on a visit. There is also the National Museum of Flight where you can take a peek inside the discontinued Concorde. There are also too many great food and drink venues to mention, so those travelling to East Lothian will be sure to get their fill.

There are of course a number of beaches on the outskirts of Edinburgh and further afield in East Lothian for visitors to enjoy the sun and a paddle.

Let us know your favourite beach in the comments below and what activities you like to get up to when visiting the seaside.

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