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South Queensferry and lunch at the Hawes Inn
Edinburgh

South Queensferry – Three Bridges, the High Street and Lunch

A few hours.

The route

South Queensferry is the old ferry town on the Firth of Forth, on the north-west edge of Edinburgh, where three great bridges from three centuries cross the water side by side.

Walk its little High Street to the shore right under the red Forth Bridge, then have lunch at the Hawes Inn, the old inn that appears in Stevenson's Kidnapped. It's an easy afternoon by the sea.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    West End Muse7 miles awayWest End MuseSleeps 4Old Town Chambers8 miles awayOld Town ChambersA place to stayMoment George IV Bridge8 miles awayMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2The Scott Hotel9 miles awayThe Scott HotelA hotel

  2. Book a table at the Hawes Inn

    Book a table at the Hawes Inn by Hawes Pier for lunch if you go at a weekend; it opens every day, from 7am on weekdays and 8am on Saturdays and Sundays.

The day

South Queensferry

Once you've parked, the afternoon is on foot along the shore of the Forth. Start with the view of all three bridges, wander the length of the High Street, and finish with a long lunch right under the Forth Bridge.

About two and a half hoursAbout 1.5 miles on foot

  1. Forth Bridge

    Forth Bridge

    An attraction

    Park at the Binks car park at the west end of South Queensferry's High Street, where the shore looks out on all three bridges. The red Forth Bridge of 1890 is to the east, with the road bridge of 1964 and the Queensferry Crossing of 2017 to the west. Then walk east along the High Street, past the old tolbooth and the little harbour, for about 15 minutes to Hawes Pier, right under the red bridge, which only trains cross. There are public toilets near the Binks and by Hawes Pier.

    More about Forth Bridge

  2. About 16 min on foot

    The Hawes Inn

    The Hawes Inn

    Lunch

    Lunch is at the Hawes Inn, across the road from the pier, a pale blue 17th-century inn that appears in Stevenson's Kidnapped. It opens every day, from 7am on weekdays and 8am at weekends, and it welcomes children and dogs. Book a table at the weekend. After lunch, walk back the same way to the car.

If it rains

In rain, drive straight to Hawes Pier instead of walking the High Street, and let lunch at the Hawes Inn run long: the bridge is just as big from its windows.

Worth a detour

  1. The Forth Bridges Viewpoint

    The Forth Bridges Viewpoint is at the south end of the Forth Road Bridge, a few minutes' drive from the Binks, with its own parking, toilets and a coffee kiosk. It's where the footpath onto the road bridge begins: the east footpath is kept open except in winds above 50mph, and from it you look out to the red Forth Bridge one way and the Queensferry Crossing the other.

Where to stay