Fisherrow Sands

📌 Musselburgh, East Lothian
★★

Fisherrow Sands officially lies just outside the City of Edinburgh boundary in East Lothian, and thus escapes much of the attention that its urban neighbour, Portobello Beach, receives by the capital’s residents. Close to a mile of sand fans out on either side of a tidal harbour which has been in use since the 17th century – originally by herring boats, today by pleasure craft. At low tide a massive expanse of less photogenic mud and stones extends well out into the Firth of Forth, but a softer, sandier strip is exposed at all states of the tide, drawing the bulk of the crowds. The village of Fisherrow has a long history, but commercial activity has today shifted away from the beach and into Musselburgh across the River Esk, leaving the coast largely free of tourism paraphernalia except for the odd seasonal snack van. Altogether, there may be better East Lothian beaches, but few are so easily accessible.