Only a short bus ride away from Edinburgh, Queensferry on the Firth of Forth makes for a charming day trip. There are lots of things to do on a day trip to Queensferry. Spend a day popping in and out of boutique stores, enjoying ice cream and coffee on the promenade, marvelling at the Forth bridges, and walking through the Dalmeny Estate.
SOUTH QUEENSFERRY / SCOTLAND
Known as the location for the Loony Dook, Queensferry is a charming little town at the foot of the Forth bridges, less than an hour from Edinburgh. It is accessible by public transport which makes it the perfect car-free day trip option. For such a small town, there are lots of things to do in Queensferry! We loved walking down Main St., marvelling at the handsome bridges and the cute little houses, the eclectic sculptures, (including one of a raven and one of Nessie) that are displayed across town, the cafes, and the gift shops. There were boats bobbing in the harbour and fluffy dogs playing in the seaweeds and sand at low tide. We had a hearty breakfast at The Ravenous Beastie, wandered around for hours, then walked to Cramond through the Dalmeny Estate.
Also read: Planning to move to Scotland? Read Moving to Scotland on the Skilled Worker Visa: A Complete Guide for information on applying for visas, booking flight tickets, finding accommodation, and more.
A Short History of South Queensferry
The Gaelic name of Queensferry is Taobh a Deas Chas Chaolais which means “[the] Southern Side of [the] Steep Strait”.
Both South Queensferry and North Queensferry derive their English name from the ferry service established by Queen Margaret in the 11th century for pilgrims on their way north to St. Andrew’s. Along with Dunfermline, Queensferry controlled the ferry passage. By the early 14th century, Queensferry had become a Burgh of Regality along with Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, and Musselburgh. A weekly market and an annual fair furthered the town’s trading activities and by the 17th century, it had become a flourishing seaport trading in coal, wool, and hides and importing wine, silk, linen, and timber from Europe and Scandinavia. In 1627 the town was declared a Royal Burgh. Several buildings from this period still survive, and as such the town is today safeguarded as an Outstanding Conservation Area. By the 18th century, the ferry service between North and South Queensferry was the busiest in Scotland. The ferry service continued to operate until 1964 when the Road Bridge was opened. To know more, see this post on the history of Queensferry.
How to Reach South Queensferry
Queensferry is a short bus ride from Edinburgh which makes it a fantastic car-free day trip destination from Edinburgh.
BY BUS // Lothian Country Bus 43 takes about 45 min from Prince’s St. in Edinburgh to the Queensferry Police Station bus stop. Stagecoach Bus 747 goes to Queensferry from Edinburgh Airport.
BY TRAIN // The nearest railway station is Dalmeny. A short 10-minute walk that goes underneath the Forth Railway Bridge will bring you to the Hawes Inn.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT QUEENSFERRY? Queensferry is an all-season destination. It is best visited in spring, autumn, and winter. The weather is lovely in summer. However, bear in mind that cruises bring hundreds of tourists to this sleepy town in the summer months. Summer is also the season of haar (sea fog), and it makes for some atmospheric photographs of the Forth Bridges.
Things to do on a Day Trip to South Queensferry
There are some lovely things to do in Queensferry on a car-free day trip from Edinburgh!
Wander along the Promenade
Start your day trip to South Queensferry with a wander down Main St. The pretty pastel-painted houses that line the street are a joy to see! Cute cafes and artsy boutiques line the stretch. The three Forth bridges dominate the skyscape. There are benches along the promenade; have a seat and take in the beauty of the Firth of Forth. Across the waters, you can see the town of North Queensferry. Walk along the promenade from the bus stop to Hawes Inn and enjoy the vista.
Explore the Conservation Area in South Queensferry
One of the best things to do in Queensferry is exploring the conservation area. There are quite a few historic buildings in the heart of South Queensferry and you can see them all on a day trip to South Queensferry.
The Tolbooth is part of Rosebery Hall and was erected in the 17th century as a prison. In 1770, the first floor was renovated and turned into a courtroom and council chamber. The K6 telephone kiosk outside the building was gifted to the town on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. You can read more about Rosebery Hall here.
The Priory Church is the only Carmelite foundation in the British Isles still in use for regular worship. Directly in front of the Priory church’s rose garden are the ‘Binks’, a natural harbour where a plaque indicates the spot where a ferry first ran to take pilgrims to Dunfermline Abbey across the Forth.
The Black Castle is an austere-looking building on East Terrace and one of the oldest dwellings in town. Despite its unusual name, the building does not resemble a castle and it likely adopted the nickname during the witch hunts of the 1640s. According to locals, the Black Castle belonged to a local coal merchant and sea captain who was lost in a storm at sea. The rumour was his maid had paid another woman to cast a spell on him. They were both accused of witchcraft and burned.
The 17th-century Plewlands House was built for Samuel Wilson and his wife Anna Ponton, whose initials are carved above the entrance along with the motto ‘Spes Mea Christus‘, meaning “My Hope is in Christ”. The property was restored in 1955 by the National Trust of Scotland.
Walk across the Forth Road Bridge to North Queensferry
You can walk across the Forth Road Bridge from the Lothians to Fife. There are footpaths on either side of the road; the east footpath links into National Cycle Route 1 and is kept open at all times except in high winds above 50 mph. The 2.5 km walk offers iconic views of the Forth Rail Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing, and across the firth to the North Sea.
South Queensferry to Cramond: The Shore Walk
The walk along the shore threads through the Rosebery Estate, home to the Barnbougle Castle (not open to the public) and the magnificent Dalmeny House. You can spot many birds and fluffy sheep along the trail. In spring, there are patches of snowdrops and daffodils. There are new leaves sprouting and things are awakening underneath the soil. In autumn, when the leaves turn, it is like walking amidst a riot of red and gold. It is an easy walk and takes about 2 hours.
Also read: Edinburgh has some incredible fine walks and you can read all about them on The Best Walks in Edinburgh. Edinburgh’s walking paths will take you up an extinct volcano, along rivers, along canals, along the Forth of Firth, and many more places.
Photograph the Forth bridges
Photographing the Forth bridges is perhaps the top thing to do on a day trip to South Queensferry! When the Forth Railway Bridge was completed in 1890, it was the longest cantilever bridge in the world. The bridge is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Forth Road Bridge was opened to the public in 1964. A new bridge, the Queensferry Crossing, was opened in 2017 to ease traffic congestion. It is the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world and will also be, by far, the largest to feature cables that cross hatch in mid-span. To read more about the history and architecture of this trio of bridges, see The Three Bridges. The bridges are best photographed in the golden hour or when they are partially shrouded by the haar.
Go on a Cruise and Explore Inchcolm Island
Forth Boat Tours and Maid of the Forth run the Three Bridges & Inchcolm Island Cruise from Queensferry. The cruise is 3 hours (£18 for adults) but you also can opt to go ashore at Inchcolm Island (not accessible by wheelchairs). The island is known for its historic abbey and wartime fortifications and guided walking tours are available in the summer. If you plan to go ashore, add another 1-1.5 hours to the trip and book a landing pass (free for the 2022 season because of masonry inspections at the abbey. Also free for Historic Scotland members) in advance. If you have time, certainly book a trip as this is one of the best things to do in Queensferry.
Also read: Scotland’s islands are the jewels in its crown! Join us as we explore the Isle of Arran and find out about all the fantastic things you can do here.
Visit the Dalmeny House
The Dalmeny House is a stately house, home to the Earls of Rosebery. It sits in rolling parkland overlooking the Firth of Forth and is open for guided tours during certain times of the year. Dalmeny House is the first Tudor-revival house to be built in Scotland and features octagonal towers, mullion and transom windows, and carved chimney pots. Though most of the rooms are Regency in style, the building features a hammer-beam ceiling, stained-glass windows, and Gothic-style fan-vaulted corridors. It is also said to house one of the largest collections of Napoleonic memorabilia outside of France.
Join the Loony Dook Parade
The Loony Dook is part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities and sees hundreds of people from across Scotland coming together to immerse themselves in the icy waters of the Firth of Forth. The parade is led by the Noise Committee drummers and people dress up in wacky costumes. It was cancelled due to Covid in 2021 and 2022 but we totally intend to experience it next year!
Also Read: Looking for free things to do in Edinburgh? We have you covered! In 20+ Free Things to Do in Edinburgh, we list all the fabulous things you can do for free in this magical city.
Where to Eat & Drink in South Queensferry
A day trip to South Queensferry cannot end without food. Here are our recommendations for the best places to eat in South Queensferry.
Manna House Café & Bakery / We have been there twice already for their rolls and sandwiches and soups and quiches and tarts and cakes. Everything is so good! They do theme weeks often; for the Mexican week, they had a Chicken Posole Verde soup and it truly warmed our souls on that rainy afternoon! Certainly one of the best places to eat in Queensferry!
The Ravenous Beastie / The Ravenous Beastie is a family-run café serving filling breakfasts, soups including Scottish Cullen Skink, and excellent cakes and tray bakes. We had a very pleasant morning here! They also have rooms should you want to stay at Queensferry.
Hawes Inn / Known for its connection to Stevenson’s Kidnapped, the Hawes Inn serves traditional British fare and is an excellent place for lunch.
The Little Parlour / For ice-cream. They also have a café that serves coffee, breakfast rolls, etc. Definitely on our list for the summer!
Lou Lou’s Coffee Shop / Another place for coffee and ice cream that we will absolutely visit next time.
The Boat House / Highly recommended by a lot of folks but sadly beyond our budget at the moment.
The Ferry Tap / Definitely on our list!
Where to Shop in South Queensferry
A day trip to South Queensferry is incomplete without a round of the pretty gift shops that sell souvenirs and collectibles too hard to resist.
Harbour Lane Studio / Tucked cozily in Harbour Lane is this cute little studio. Pop in for their illustrated lampshades! If you are not in need of one, browse their collection of prints, notebooks, and homeware.
Sea Kist / Stop by for a lovely collection of antiques and curios. They stock a well-curated selection of nautical-themed collectibles! For a quick peek at their selection, see Sea Kist.
Allium / Allium sells original artwork by Scottish artists, jewellery, ceramics, and other beautiful gifts.
Have you been on a day trip to South Queensferry? Share your story with us.
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