Edinburgh and Lothian self catering accommodation guide

Holiday in East Lothian and Edinburgh

holyrood Palace, Edinburgh

Scotland's historic capital city, Edinburgh, offers a fabulous choice of self catering accommodation for visitors from both from the UK and abroad. An Edinburgh self catering flat to rent or an Edinburgh apartment to hire is a wonderful base from which to explore all the attractions of Scotland's first city. Rent a luxury flat in central Edinburgh and have the delights of the city on your doorstep. There is so much to see and do in the city that even a 2 week stay in Edinburgh here won't be long enough to explore all the delights. Edinburgh is a wonderful city to walk round but there is an excellent bus system too if you prefer - and soon there will be tram routes too! The New Town and Old Town have some of the most beautiful architecture in Europe - the Georgian elegence of the New Town with stunning squares and crescents contrasts with the medieval buildings of the Old Town, leading from Edinburgh Castle, down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. Short breaks in Edinburgh are very popular and it is a wonderful place to stay for a city break. The theatres, museums, art galleries and shops are all world-class.

Edinburgh accommodation is of an extremely high standard as befits a capital city - there are contemporary city centre apartments to hire, many with fabulous views of the castle and city skyline, and traditional self-catering close to the city centre which are ideal for a short break as well as a longer holidays. Many of Edinburgh self-catering properties have their own parking space and that is a great boon in the city - of course if you are staying in the heart of Edinburgh you don't need a car at all. If you want to visit Midlothian or the Borders then you can take a train on the newly reopened Borders Railway.

Which Cottage to stay in when visiting Edinburgh and East Lothian?

Choose a cottage in the surrounding area and have the best of both world's: easy access to the city and a country cottage to come home to after a busy day sightseeing where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh! Staying in a cottage near Edinburgh is a perfect way to explore the gorgeous East Lothian countryside and coast. There are also houses to rent in West Lothian - the choice is varied from 5 star rentals to a vacation house with a swimming pool to golf houses within easy proximity of 30 golf courses - this part of Scotland has the full range of holiday properties. Finding pet friendly self-catering is always hard in cities, so renting near Edinburgh solves that problem as many of the cottages around Edinburgh allow you to bring your dog on holiday with you.

Bass Rock - Island

The East Lothian coast is stunning - beautiful coves, sandy beaches with fabulous houses on the beach where you can relax on the beach and swim the the North Sea (wetsuits are usually a good idea!). East Lothian beaches are some of the best in Scotland (Yellowcraigs and Belhaven aren't to be missed) and there are some beach houses to rent with amazing views over the sea. John Muir was born in Dunbar and the nature reserve named after him includes some of the best coastline in the area. There are lots of self-catering cottages in Dunbar, and the pretty coastal town is a great centre for a holiday. There are lots of things for children to enjoy near Dunbar such as Foxlake Adventures and East Links Family Park - it also has an excellent swimming pool with a wave machine. There are some great castles to visit in East Lothian - Tantallon Castle near North Berwick is a particular favourite of mine. There are lots of fascinating churches to visit too, as well as battle grounds and historic sites of interest. Walk in the Lammermuirs or along the coast - both are rich in birdlife and offer spectacular views.

East Lothian is also home to some of the best golf courses in Scotland, including the world-famous Muirfield - it also has many superb other links and parkland courses. Boat trips from North Berwick to see the puffins on the Isle of Mey are a highlight of many holiday - you can also do boat trips to the Bass Rock and you can also stay in a luxury house with hot tub or rent the tower of a very historic house in East Lothian. A visit to Musselburgh Race Course is an excellent day out and you might be lucky on the horses too! Choose your holiday accommodation, make the booking and have a relaxing holiday in or near the Scottish capital!