A million miles away from the bustle of city life, yet close to Edinburgh, the Lothians are the perfect place to relax and unwind. The area consists of three distinct regions – East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, which together make up Edinburgh’s surrounding coast and countryside.
- East Lothian:
- East Lothian is the ideal place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With peaceful, unspoilt beaches, rolling hills and ancient ruins, this is the perfect holiday destination.
- East Lothian is the perfect relaxing day out from Edinburgh and an ideal base from which to explore the capital city and all of central and southern Scotland. With more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country, you'll have all the time you need to make the most of your visit.
- Midlothian:
- Lying less than ten miles south of Edinburgh city centre, Midlothian is probably best known for being the home of Rosslyn Chapel. The medieval stone building, perched on a rocky promontory at the foot of the Pentland Hills is featured in Dan Brown's blockbuster book, The Da Vinci Code. The chapel's extraordinary Gothic stone carvings were the backdrop for a Hollywood film crew's visit here for the making of the film, resulting in the world's spotlight firmly focusing on Midlothian.
- In Midlothian, the peace and beauty of the countryside is contrasted with the outstanding, award winning visitor centres and lively towns offering every amenity a visitor could want. From tropical butterflies to black diamonds and mysterious stone carvings, Midlothian has it all.
- West Lothian:
- History comes alive during visits to Cairnpapple, a prehistoric burial ground, and Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Nature is just waiting to be explored at Polkemmet Country Park and West Lothian's many other wildernesses. You can even try your hand at horse riding, motor racing, skateboarding, fishing and golf, without ever leaving the area. With so many attractions and activities on offer, West Lothian is a destination you'll want to return to again and again.
