Middle Meadow Village

Edinburgh, of course: after emptying your wallet on Princes Street, you might want to amble along to some of the city’s many free attractions: its parks, gardens and many green spaces; museums like the acclaimed National Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Edinburgh and The People’s Story; the masterpieces in the Scottish National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, and churches including Greyfriar’s Kirk at the top of the Royal Mile, where the faithful Greyfriars Bobby sat by his master’s grave. Sniff.

Heading out of the city on the cheap, you can comb the beaches and coast of East Lothian: Gullane is a hit with surfers and is only twenty minutes from Edinburgh, or tire feet out again by walking part of the John Muir Way along the coastline, from North Berwick towards Gullane and Cockenzie, or from Cockenzie towards Edinburgh and the Forth bridges of South Queensferry.

Podders who like parks will find two within walking distance: the Gore Glen Woodland Park is half a mile away and open all year round, with woodland and riverside walks, regular events and views towards the Pentland Hills. Vogrie Country Park is a couple of miles from Gorebridge and is a parkland estate with a 9-hole golf course, miniature railway and the Victorian Vogrie House.

Or go on a castle trail instead: natch there’s the famed Edinburgh Castle to rock around, but we’re also adding to our Lothian list seeing the world’s longest herbaceous border at the medieval Dirleton Castle, gazing over the Tyne from Crichton Castle or wandering around the ruins of Roslin Castle among the cliffs of Roslin Glen; while you’re in Roslin, go on the trail of the Holy Grail too at the famous Rosslyn Chapel and say a nervous hi to the 110+ Green Men.

Wannabe ghost hunter? Ferret out spectres at Dalhousie Castle, eight miles south of Edinburgh or hunt down spooks in the Red Room at Borthwick Castle twelve miles south-east, with even more phantoms to be found on the several ghost tours available back at Edinburgh.