Motorhome hire holidays: Explore the beauty of Edinburgh and its surrounding area

Posted on: 24/05/2024

Hopping north of the border for some time in the south of Scotland is a great way to spend a motorhome hire holiday. From Edinburgh down to the border offers a route featuring picturesque views and plenty to do – from seaside towns to the capital city itself. Simply hire your motorhome from Leisure World, point it in the direction of the east of Scotland and off you go.

1. Berwick-upon-Tweed

Berwick-upon-Tweed is a great place to begin a south of Scotland jaunt. This is a little bit of a cheat, as this small town is actually in the north of Northumberland – right on the border between England and Scotland. Over the years Berwick and its people have developed their own distinct identity containing very strong characteristics of both nationalities – with some residents considering themselves English and some considering themselves Scottish. Either way, visitors here can enjoy exploring the connection to Lancashire artist LS Lowry who often took holidays in Berwick and, as a result, made more than thirty artworks while visiting the area.

2. Eyemouth

This brilliantly named Scottish seaside town lies just six or seven miles over the border. Highlights include the museum, showcasing the ups and downs of small fishing town life, and containing a tapestry created by local women commemorating the fatal Great East Coast Fishing Disaster which claimed the lives of 189 fishermen in 1881. On the promenade, the Widows And Bairns sculpture features tiny figures of women and children (73 widows and 351 fatherless bairns) along a 16-foot-long stretch of wall. It's a relatively modest artwork with massive impact and is a vivid and poignant tribute to the impact of the event.

Eyemouth is, of course about far more than just this event, and you will find plenty of other things to see and do here when you’re on your motorhome hire holiday. Gunsgreen House, for instance, is a fascinating museum located on the town’s harbourside, detailing the story of John Nisbet, a respected merchant by day and illegal smuggler by night. Sometimes referred to as the House Of Secrets, Gunsgreen is filled with unique tales from its history since 1752, when it was built to perfectly disguise an illegal smuggling trade.

3. Traquair House

Originally a royal hunting lodge, Traquair is Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, dating back to 1107, and has been lived in by the Stuart family since 1491. This stunning property played host to Mary Queen Of Scots in 1566 and was visited by 27 Scottish Kings and Queens over the years. The Mary Queen Of Scots connection is astoundingly present. The house still contains many items related to her, including her bed and the cradle where she rocked her infant son (later to be James VI of Scotland and I of England) and her rosary and crucifix. Parts of Traquair are open to visitors, who can visit the house, grounds, maze, craft workshops, museum and cafe – and brewery!

4. Edinburgh

The northernmost point of your motorhome hire holiday tour of south Scotland, Edinburgh is a real jewel. The city centre, a mixture of streets old and new, is probably too difficult for motorhomes to navigate, so finding a park on the outskirts where you ca pitch up for a couple of days and travel in will ensure that you can make the most of this wonderful city. Must-see highlights include Edinburgh Castle, which houses important Scottish artefacts such as the oldest crown jewels in the UK and The Stone Of Destiny.

The National Museum Of Scotland features 20,000 unique artefacts, while the Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art features masterpieces from the 1900s to present day, including art by Matisse, Picasso, Tracey Emin and Barbara Hepworth. If you are of a fan of cinema and of a certain age, then you’ll find Edinburgh exciting for having been the primary location of Trainspotting, the 1996 adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s groundbreaking novel, directed energetically by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor. From the main shopping throughfare Princes Street to the steps from Leith Street to Calton Road, and the road beneath Calton Street Bridge, the film’s iconic opening sequence is vivid! Choose Leisure World. Choose motorhome hire. Choose Edinburgh…

Hopping north of the border for some time in the south of Scotland during a motorhome hire holiday is a great way to experience the pros of owning a motorhome without experiencing the cons! With various Burstner models available to hire from Leisure World, motorhome hire is a really smart way to see the south of Scotland.