Thinking of coming to visit us in Harbour Lane in Queensferry? We’re about 10 miles outside of Edinburgh city, so come, make a day of it and check out the rest of our ancient Royal Burgh and all the treasures it has to offer.
How to get here
You can get here by the very reliable 43 bus from various stops in Edinburgh city centre, by a very scenic bike path, by train into Dalmeny Station and then a delightful walk down quite a few steps, or by car. Be warned though, whilst driving may seem like the easiest option, parking in our very old village is a problem. We weren’t built with cars in mind, so you’re limited to parking in a few small places like Hawes Pier (cars generally end up parking all the way up the hill here as our High Street is one-way, so if you come in this way, you can’t keep driving through), the wee car park down Rose Lane at the Binks, or a handful of on-street places which are generally not free. If you can, we’d recommend one of the public transport methods, cycling, or bringing as many pals as you can. Better for the planet, better for the parking.
FOOD
If you’re coming to visit Queensferry you had better bring your appetite. If you’re starting your Queensferry adventure at Harbour Lane, you can turn left at the top of the lane and start eating your way down the High Street at the Little Bakery. Our manager Jenni is a particular fan of their hefty cinnamon buns, although you can’t go wrong with a giant pancake breakfast.
Next stop would be Orocco Pier (which is also a hotel) where you can grab yourself a fancy cocktail or maybe lunch, depending on what you opted for in the Bakery. If you want something a little bigger and with even more Instagram appeal, Rogue Bros have recently taken over the Boat House, offering a range of very fancy plate meals for dinner, and also tapas upstairs, or if you visit their sandwich shop just along from the Priory, sandwiches and pre-order pizza in the weekend evenings.
We would be remiss not to mention Dune Bakery and their viral pastries (we’ve yet to get our hands on one of those pistachio croissants), which sell out almost every day they're open. Strap in if you’re in the mood for delectable delicacies, there’s usually always a queue and they don’t hang around long - but it’s well worth the scramble. If you don’t make it into Dune, diagonally opposite is the Manna House who can provide you with a cracking coffee, and also make an excellent cake. Their chunky sandwiches, salads, tarts and quiche are where it’s at though - an excellent shout for lunch. Finish up your epic high street feast with an ice cream from the Little Parlour; they have a lot of flavours to wrap your tongue around.
Want more than a snack?
But wait - we’re not done! If you’re after a larger meal, we can recommend Scotts for fancy eats, nestled under the road bridge at Port Edgar Marina (once home to the Navy’s destroyer base in the first World War). In the summer you can eat outside in their Outboard, covered location just next door with terrific views of the Forth. There’s also a spot of shopping to be done at Beacon and the Chandlery if you need boat supplies… and for a more lighthearted (but incredibly hearty) meal you can grab burgers, poutine and other Canadian inspired delectables at Down the Hatch.
Across the other end of town near Hawes Pier under the Rail Bridge is Thirty Knots (owned by the same company as Scotts) and the Hawes Inn - which is a comfy pub whose building is featured in Kidnapped - the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
SHOP
Whilst Harbour Lane isn’t on the High Street per se, we’re very proud to be part of a wee community of entirely independent businesses.
If you fancy treating yourself to a new outfit then Joyce Paton is the place to go. She has an ever changing selection of quality clothing and gifts with the most excellent customer service and will have you in the outfit of your dreams in no time.
Flowers by Emily Henderson is a lovely local florist who also stocks a delightful collection of kids clothes and toys, candles and gifts, right there on the High Street.
We’ve also got a nice, well-stocked Debra charity shop, and don’t forget the Ferry Fair Bookshop. Second hand books, CDs, and records, the shop exists to raise money for the annual Ferry Fair, but you’ll usually find it incredibly well-stocked and full of hidden treasures.
Bringing a Four Legged Friend?
We love getting to say hi to your fluffy pals when you're shopping so as long as they are well behaved and kept on a lead then we are very dog friendly in Harbour Lane and the good news is that a lot of the pubs and restaurants are too.
Queensferry even has it's own Dog Grooming and Boutique right on the High Street. If you're not wanting your fur baby to miss out on a bit of a treat then head along to The Little Pad where there is a huge selection of dog accessories and snacks to keep any pooch happy.
HISTORY
If you thought South Queensferry was just another seaside town - you’d be wrong. There’s evidence that this was a popular crossing point and settlement as far back as the mesolithic era! But most notably we’re associated with Saint Margaret - it’s her ferry that we get our name from. The Ferry was in operation until the Road Bridge opened in 1964. Nowadays, it’s the bridges that dominate our town and views, and they’re pretty epic. The Forth Bridge (the big, red railway one) was the first to be built, in 1890. It continues to be the world’s second longest single cantilever span (stripped of its number one spot just over 100 years after opening by a Canadian bridge) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s considered a symbol of Scotland, and it really has stood the test of time, still looking absolutely stunning whatever the weather.
The Rail Bridge was joined in 1964 by the Forth Road Bridge, which is ever-so-slightly more ramshackle now and has been designated for buses and pedestrians only since the opening of the Queensferry Crossing in 2017. You can still walk over the Forth Road Bridge, and get some spectacular views. Just make sure you pop in and see us afterwards, we have the best bridge-themed goodies to commemorate your epic journey.
Our High Street also sports the Black Castle - the oldest house in the village. The original owner, a sea captain, was lost at sea. His maid was accused of paying a beggar woman to curse him, and both women were burned for witchcraft. Dark. You can also visit the Priory Church (just round the corner from us), which was built in the 1450s. It is the only medieval Carmelite church still in use in the British Isles.
Still want more?
A little further out you can visit Hopetoun House and Dalmeny House, which are spectacular stately homes… Also locations featured in Outlander, The Princess Switch: Switched Again, and A Castle For Christmas, for those of you fans of quality television.
For more Queensferry history we recommend this summary from the Queensferry History Group, or even better, a visit to our Museum.