Some of the best views of our cruise greeted us as the ship sailed into South Queensferry. Illuminated at dawn, two of the bridges spanning the Firth of the Forth shone resplendently, and onshore, the town was vibrant.
We took a ten-minute trip to the quayside by water shuttle and sailed under the red metal- fretwork bridge, a remarkable experience to see the structure from underneath.
The atmosphere was charged with music from a bagpiper and drummer as Mr Word Loft and I disembarked with everyone and headed along Hawes Pier to meet our taxi, which took us into Scotland’s capital.
I was enchanted with Edinburgh’s Princes Street, its grand, historical architecture and appealing shops. On a gloriously bright day, Princes Street Gardens were a delight; blue delphiniums and pink begonias lit up the flowerbeds by the entrance. Tourists and locals strolled along pathways through lush green parkland overlooked by the castle on the craggy hillside. I gasped at the dramatic scene, and I don’t think I’ve seen so many beautiful statues in one morning. All are meaningful, but the most memorable is a plain commemorative stone in a grove for writer Robert Louis Stevenson. He was born in the city and resided there for the first twenty-nine years. Edinburgh is the setting for many of his stories, including Kidnapped and The Body Snatcher.
After a quiet moment, the sound of tinkling water drew us to a huge regal water feature. The Ross Fountain, painted turquoise and highlighted with burnished gold, was formed in cast iron and erected during the Victorian era. The neoclassical work of art’s beauty bids passersby to stop and admire.
It made a splendid backdrop while eating lunch in an open-air café. Homemade quiche and Aperol Spritz – what a treat sitting in the sun.
Back to exploring, we came across St John’s Church hosting the West End Fair 2026 and spent an hour browsing stalls filled with traditional and quirky wares by talented artisans.
Continuing along Charlotte Square, we appreciated the Georgian buildings, discovered little mews and quiet streets before stopping in a pub; the interior was dark and moody, but its ambience was friendly. Refreshed and having booked a taxi, we returned to South Queensferry.
With a few hours left before sailing, we couldn’t miss spending more time in the picture-book town. Mr Word Loft used to stay in North Queensferry on the opposite bank for work, and the iconic rail bridge was featured in Molly and Mack, a CBeebies TV programme watched with my grandson.
Cobblestone lanes and quaint, pretty houses. Flower baskets trailing petals and vines down the walls of shops, inns and restaurants. Bunting festooning thoroughfares. Piers, old buildings, promenades, beach and waterfront scenery. South Queensferry has them all, and oh, how I wished I could have stayed longer.
Best wishes,
Sue. X