South Queensferry
| South Queensferry is situated 8 miles west of Edinburgh, on the banks
of the Forth Estuary. Its name is thought to have originated from the
frequent journeys made by Queen Margaret of Scotland from Dunfermline,
in Fife, south to over the estuary towards Edinburgh, in the late 11th
century. The burgh prospered and was a leading seaport in the 16th
century, as well as being the southern ferry port for the crossings to
and from Fife. The town expanded even more in the 1880s during the
construction of the Forth Rail Bridge, with its workforce of around
3000.The Navy established a base at the adjacent Port Edgar during the
1st World war. The other famous Forth Bridge, the Road Bridge, was
constructed during the 1960s. |  Spot Santa up the Clock Tower |
The central part of the town is still quite old fashioned and retained much of its charm as a protected area. At the western end of the Main Street stands the Jubilee Tower, to commemorate the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign. The Hawes Inn lies at the other end of the main street. The Inn has quite a literary heritage. The Scottish novelist, Walter Scott, described the inn in "Antiquary" and Robert Louis Stevenson, another Scottish author, is said to have found the inspiration for his novel "Kidnapped" while a guest at the inn. There is also a 200 year old yew tree in the garden of the inn.
View of the bridges looking north towards the hills of Fife
South Queensferry is pleasant to visit for a stroll along the main street and to admire the spectacular views of the bridges. In the Summer months you can take a ferry to the nearby Inchcolm Island. The town has a good selection of coffee shops and restaurants, several with good views. It can be reached by train from Edinburgh in a few minutes.
| You can stay at the Hawthorn Bed and Breakfast in South Queensferry. This is a family owned establishment in a refurbished 19th century building. Some of the rooms have sea views. A double room costs from £60 per night, including continental breakfast. I stayed at this B&B for one night in November 2006 in a double room at the back of the building. The location is great in a terrace above the cobbled High Street. The room has been recently refurbished. The room was comfortable and warm. The owner is very friendly and helpful. The best place to park in the nearby public car park, there are limited spaces in the High Street. The shower room was very small and the small sink was in the bedroom. Overall I would recommend the Hawthorn, mainly because of its location. |  |