Lothian

This area of Scotland takes in the city of Edinburgh and the rural areas of West Lothian, Mid Lothian and East Lothian.  ‘The Lothians’ offer peaceful countryside and stunning beaches, which include the award-winning Belhaven beach with its low, sheltering sand dunes; the tiny sandstone harbour at Seacliff; the seaside charm of North Berwick, Yellowcraigs and Portobello, and the pretty coastal villages of Cramond and Gullane.  Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle sits on a volcanic rock overlooking the city, and Arthur’s Seat, a 250-metre hill, dominates the cityscape.  The main area for shopping and socialising is around Princes Street.  But the city is perhaps most famous for its annual summer Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world, which hosts a range of comedy and theatre events.  Performances, including those by heavyweights such as Eddie Izzard and Billy Connolly, are mainly held around the city’s Royal Mile.