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HIT THE ROAD Ex plore the best Sco tland has to o ffer by rail, b us and ferr y
When it comes to exploring Scotland, it’s as much about the journey and admiring the stunning landscapes on your way to your destination. Many of us are looking for simple ways to make travelling more sustainable, and using public transport is an easy step to get started . . . 62 THE LIST 1 Nov 2019–31 Jan 2020
KATIE EASTON MAMA SAYS . . .
SOPHIE DAVIES A CONSIDERED LIFE
The Borders is an area that provides a golden opportunity for those who dare to venture off the beaten path. Getting to the Borders was much more straightforward than I had anticipated . . . a train to Edinburgh and then onto the Borders Railway line to Galashiels. For our trip we had a daily Borders Explorer ticket which allowed us to get the train from Edinburgh to the Borders and then hop on and off the buses.
If you’re trying to be more mindful of the impact your travel has, there’s nothing better than booking a trip closer to home using public transport. I took a comfortable train journey to Edinburgh and then a short 30-minute trip on to North Berwick for my most recent trip to Scotland. Train journeys always feel like an adventure in themselves as you watch the rolling scenery shift and transform.
We stayed in The Watson Lodge Guest House, When considering where to stay, look for a
which was five minutes’ walk from the Transport Hub so made an ideal base for us. We headed off on the bus to Melrose and the Abbey. I could have spent ages here soaking up the history and atmosphere.
Next it was all about Hawick. We took a lovely walk to Wilton Lodge Park which has a brilliant play area for kids and is home to the Hawick Museum. Then we went to the Borders Textile Towerhouse, which celebrates the famed Borders textile industry, followed by the Borders Distillery, the first in the area since 1837.
welcoming B&B like No 12 Quality Street. Take time to explore the local area by foot as there’s plenty to see in North Berwick. Stroll along West Bay to the Scottish Seabird Centre, round to Milsey Bay Beach and back up through the pretty streets. Visit the Coastal Communities Museum or walk up North Berwick Law to take in the view. After travelling by bus to Tantallon Castle, on the
coastal walk back to North Berwick stop off halfway for lunch at Drift café, a repurposed shipping container, where you can sit and overlook the sea.
On our last day we took a short train ride to Plan a trip to Dirleton Castle and stop by Gullane
Tweedbank to explore Abbotsford. Once the home of Sir Walter Scott, he wrote many of his famous masterpieces from the study in this house. Slowing things down and travelling around the
for lunch at The Bonnie Badger where the food is exceptional. Walk through the green to visit the ruins of St Andrew’s Church, and then back to North Berwick on the bus.
Borders the way we did was ideal. It let us truly enjoy the sights and experience it in a more relaxed and sustainable way.
The rolling countryside, fresh sea air and good food make East Lothian, and North Berwick in particular, an ideal location for a long weekend away.
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