Portobello Travel Guide

  the pond
by uglyscot
  • the pond
      the pond
    by uglyscot
  • bridge over the burn
      bridge over the burn
    by uglyscot
  • trees
      trees
    by uglyscot
  • ducks and geese
      ducks and geese
    by uglyscot
  • walkway over the pond
      walkway over the pond
    by uglyscot

Explore Portobello

Things to Do  

Visit Figgate Burn Park
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the pond
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This park is not very well known but somewhere nice to go and let the children let off steam. There is a pond with yellow irises planted at the edge, a wooden walkway where you can stand and feed the birds- coot, mallard, geese, swans and seagulls.
Paths enable you to follow the burn and enjoy the trees and flowers along the way. It is very popular with dog owners.

Updated May 15, 2011

Address: Portobello

Related to:
 Travel with Pets
 Family Travel
 Birdwatching

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relax on the beach
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portobello
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The sand is clean and extensive. The beach is divided into two by a natural channel.
In the summer the beach can be crowded as there are facilities to cater for different tastes - roundabouts for children, Bingo for the older generation, ice cream etc. Competitions and sand sculpture.
One warning, there can be jellyfish.

Updated May 7, 2011

Related to:
 Road Trip
 Family Travel
 Beaches

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look at the tower
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old-style windows , though not actually functional
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The tower is an interesting structure. It was built by an 18th century eccentric, using medieval bricks. There does not seem to be a way to get into the walled off tower though.

Updated May 7, 2011

Address: just off the promenade near the Amusement centre.

Related to:
 Architecture
 Historical Travel

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Off The Beaten Path  

RESTALRIG
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St Triduana's well
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At Restalrig is a monument to St Triduana who was one of the virgins who accompanied St Regulus to Scotland in the 5th century. While visiting in Angus, she was persued bu a local chieftain, Nechtan, who was smitten by the beauty of her eyes. In response to the unwanted affection, she plucked them out and sent them to him impaled on a thorn.
By the late Middle Ages she had acquired the reputation for curing eye disorders, but why she is associated with Restalrig is a mystery.
for more on St Triduana see lou31's tip.

St Triduana's Chapel is to be found at Restalrig Collegiate Church off Restalrig Road South, east Edinburgh

The lower part of the chapel was built by James III around 1477 and houses the shrine of St Triduana, a Pictish saint. The Hexagonal vaulted chamber which lies next to St Margaret's Parish Church is supposed to be unique.The upper chapel no longer exists.
Water from the well-house was used to treat diseases of the eye, following St. Triduana's ability to heal the blind. The lower floor was later used as a burial vault, and it was forgotten that the building was actually a well-house.It was restored in 1906.

Opening Times:Access to St Triduana's Chapel Mon - Fri, 9am to 5pm by contacting St Margaret’s Parish Church, Restalrig, on 0131 554 7400

Updated Oct 31, 2006

Phone: 0131 554 7400

Related to:
 Religious Travel
 Road Trip
 Historical Travel

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A monument in the midst of houses
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William Miller monument
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Just off the main road to Portobello there is a street [Craigentinny Crescent ] where there is a most unusual monument. It was erected by a business man, so I was told, William Miller in memory of his parents [and himself?]. It is a massive rectangular monument on a huge base. On the one side ,where it can be seen, is a scene of a pharaoh fighting a battle. There is a carpark beside the site.
It is quite a strange thing to find in a street of suburban bungalows, on a plot obviously meant for a house to be built..

Updated Aug 11, 2006

Related to:
 Budget Travel
 Historical Travel
 Arts and Culture

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Map of Portobello