Favorite Places to Explore Nature in Edinburgh, Scotland

Today’s guest post is part of the “Favorite Places to Explore Nature” series and comes to us all the way from Scotland via Anna of LoveBaby LoveTravel. I’m inspired by Anna’s adventurous spirit – she took a 2,000-mile road trip around Europe when her son was only 5 months old! I’d like to extend a special thanks to her for contributing the first international post in this series!

When asked by visitors what there is to do in Edinburgh with kids, I often think about the usual tourist spots: the Royal Mile, the Castle, Holyrood Palace, the Parliament, the National Museums and Galleries … These are all must-see places. But sometimes it’s nice to take time out of the busy hustle and enjoy having some space.

One of the unique things about Edinburgh is that there are numerous places to explore nature without leaving the city. When walking in Princes Street Gardens, wandering around the Royal Botanical Gardens, or strolling along the promenade at Portobello Beach, you feel that you’re miles away from the hustle of Auld Reekie. An added bonus is that all of these things can be enjoyed for FREE!

Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street, Edinburgh’s most famous street, is situated in the heart of the city. While many people visit Princes Street for its shopping, most tourists enjoy the opportunity to walk in the beautiful gardens opposite. The Gardens are situated in what was once the site of the Nor Loch, drained when the New Town was created in the 18th century. They are divided in two by the Mound, a steep hill leading up to Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.

There is something to enjoy in the Gardens during every season of the year. The main path is lined with many types of beautiful deciduous trees, including birch and oak, and there are plans to plant palm trees in the west gardens in the near future. They are also great fun in winter when an ice rink is built as part of Edinburgh’s Christmas Winter Wonderland.

The floral clock, situated in the west gardens, is a must-see with kids. First commissioned in 1903, it is thought to be the oldest floral clock in the world.  The clock is replanted with a new design each season with around 35,000 plants. Not only is it stunning, it also tells the time accurately! Children will particularly enjoy the cuckoo, which emerges every quarter of an hour.

Royal Botanical Garden
Arguably the best place to explore nature in Edinburgh is the Royal Botanical Garden. The gardens are absolutely stunning and at 70 acres boast one of the world’s largest collections of living plants. Spending an entire day there with kids is easy because the gardens are extremely family friendly. The practicalities (lifts for the buggy, kids’ food in the café, etc) are all taken care of. But the real fun is to be had exploring the local and exotic plants the gardens have to offer. I am by no means a botanical expert but really enjoy exploring with my son and learning as I point things out to him (each plant is helpfully labeled).

Some of my favourite spots include the Glasshouse, the Chinese Hillside and the pond. The pond inside the glasshouse is no longer there and I wonder if I was the only child to fall into it. It is one of my earliest memories but I would not like to think I was responsible for its closure!

Portobello Beach
Portobello Beach is one of my favourite places to spend time outdoors with kids. Located about three miles to the east of the city, the beach is easily accessible by car or bus. The promenade is a mile long and is a great place to walk with a pram. Older children of course will want to paddle or even swim. Buckets and spades never lose their attraction for young children … or adults! When the weather is less appealing, the swimming baths situated on the promenade offer a fun activity at a reasonable cost.

Big Things on the Beach is a recent project in Portobello that has brought new and interesting art to the area. One of my favourites was the giant Avatar of Portobello, which was inflatable artwork on the beach that kids would love.

The Espy and The Beach House are both excellent places to take kids for something to eat (or to warm up!) after building sandcastles or paddling in the sea. The Beach House has plenty of high chairs, a great choice of ice cream and cakes to die for, while The Espy’s home made burgers are supreme. Both spots have fantastic views of the beach. Or you may fancy going for the traditional fish and chips while sitting on the wall watching the waves. A great warmer on a cold day!

A note from Anna: I have always loved traveling and didn’t want to stop when I became a mum. LoveBaby LoveTravel was born on our first family holiday abroad when my son Euan was 5 months old. A lot of people thought we were mad to take a baby on a road trip of Europe but it was an amazing experience that only served to fuel my desire to show my son as many different places as possible. Work obligations and limited finances mean that we don’t get to travel abroad more than once a year but we are lucky in that our home country of Scotland offers plenty of beautiful places to explore and enjoy.