Just 20 minutes north west of Edinburgh is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Forth Rail Bridge, an engineering masterpiece finished in 1890. The bridge can be viewed from South Queensferry, a historic, picturesque waterside town with period architecture and some good places to eat.  If you’re looking for a day trip from Edinburgh then its an easy drive, bus journey or you can catch the train t0 the confusingly named Dalmeny Station which, it has to be said, is not a short walk to the centre of South Queensferry.

Queensferry is thought to have got its name because Queen Margaret, King Malcolm’s wife established the Queen’s ferry to transport pilgrims to St Andrews in the pre-bridge 1100s.  Today the village still has a ferry; instead it carries visitors and tourists to Inchcolm Island during the summer months.

To eat, try The Boat House (pictured above) or Oroco Pier; both have terrraces with good views of the iconic  rail and road bridges.  The Boat House is good for seafood, the bistro is cheaper than the restaurant but it doesn’t take bookings.  The large bowl of mussels in white wine sauce is good and the scallops on a bed of salad and new potatoes are tasty; if you normally order scallops then portions-size or lack of it, is not an issue for you.  Oroco Pier (pictured below) which is also a boutique hotel, has a restaurant and a busy bar area serving snacks.

If you have young kids The Rail Bridge is a large, fairly noisy place with a real fire.  The Dakota Hotel, (pictured below) has the dark, modern interior design the characterises boutique hotels.  With its location close to the main road it doesn’t have views but the food is of a high standard .

If you’re just looking for a pint of beer The Hawes Inn, a long standing South Queensferry institution, is close to the pier.  Or if you like noseying around stately homes, Hopetoun House and Dalmeny House are close by.

To work up an appetite you can take the bracing 2 kilometre walk over the Forth Road Bridge, which is more uphill than you’d imagine.