Borders Extended Self-Guided

Essentials

Accommodation-

The standard accommodations for this region's self-guided itineraries are guesthouses and bed and breakfasts (B&Bs). Generally, these have between 4 and 10 guest rooms and the owners/providers live on the premises. In almost all cases the bathroom facilities are ensuite (self-contained within the room), and the room facilities usually include a television and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a communal reading / television lounge. Small family run hotels are also used in a few locations. The providers are excellent sources of local information.

Breakfast is always included. Most guesthouses do not offer an evening meal.

When you book a tour, your pre-trip planner will have more details about the specific facilities and services provided by the accommodations.

Examples of our guesthouses in this region include;

• Glede Knowe
• Old Bank House
• Six Murray Park

Getting there-

Edinburgh Airport is situated about 8 miles west of the city centre.
Edinburgh's main rail stations, Waverley and Haymarket, are in the city centre.
Edinburgh’s main bus station is in Elder Street in the city centre.

Trains

Rail passengers can get between airport and station by taxi or by bus. The Airlink 100 service calls at Waverley and Haymarket stations. Journey times are 25 to 30 minutes in normal traffic.
A night bus, the N22, also runs between Waverley station and the airport.
Alternatively, the AirDirect 747 bus links the airport with Inverkeithing rail station in Fife. Combined train and bus tickets are available to or from any rail station in Scotland.

Rail services to Edinburgh

Further information

National Rail Enquiries: For timetables, service updates and station information UK-wide,
call +44 (0)8457 484950 / +44 (0)8457 484950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Traveline Scotland: For journey planning within Scotland, visit www.travelinescotland.com.
Transport Direct: To plan a journey to or from somewhere outside Scotland, visit www.transportdirect.co.uk/.

Edinburgh Trams

Construction of the new Edinburgh tram system is now under way. The service is due to start in 2011 and will link the airport with Edinburgh Park, Haymarket and Waverley rail stations, as well as Murrayfield Stadium, Princes Street and Ocean Terminal.

Buses

Buses to Edinburgh and other local destinations stop on the terminal forecourt, outside the main entrance.
Map of bus routes from Edinburgh Airport (112KB PDF)

Buses into Edinburgh Airlink 100

This express bus service runs from the airport to Waverley Bridge (near Princes Street and the main rail and bus stations).
Buy tickets at the airport information desk, at the bus stop, from the driver or in advance online.

• Frequency: Every 10 minutes (early services every 20 minutes).
• Journey time: 25 minutes (Waverley Bridge).
• Fare: Single £3.50, return £6 (reductions for children).

Visit the Airlink 100 website

Night bus N22

This service runs from the airport via South Gyle to the city centre and on to Ocean Terminal in Leith between 00:47 and 04:13, seven nights a week.

• Frequency: Every 30 minutes.
• Journey time: 28 minutes (Waverley Steps).
• Fare: £3 flat fare (unlimited travel for one night).

Visit the Lothian night buses website

Service 35

This Lothian Buses service runs to the city centre and on to Ocean Terminal, with stops including RBS World Headquarters, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Buses run every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes evenings and Sundays.

• Frequency: Every 15 minutes.
• Journey time: About an hour depending on traffic (Holyrood).
• Fare: Single £1.20, day ticket £3 (reductions for children).

Visit the Lothian Buses website

Other local buses Airdirect 747 (Fife)

This Stagecoach service connects the airport with Inverkeithing rail station and Ferrytoll Park & Ride (for connections to Megabus services).

• Frequency: Mon-Sat every 20 minutes (hourly on Sundays).
• Journey time: 25 minutes.
• Fare: £4.50 single or day return; discounts for children and combined bus/train tickets.

Visit the Airdirect website

Long-distance coaches

Operators including National Express and Scottish Citylink run services to and from Edinburgh's main bus station in Elder Street. Some services also call at Waverley Bridge (for connections to the Airlink 100 airport service).

• Edinburgh bus station website
• National Express website
• Scottish Citylink website
• Megabus

More information

For general information on Scottish public transport, visit the Traveline Scotland website.
Bus timetables are available at Edinburgh Airport from the Onward Travel desk in UK Arrivals and the information desk in International Arrivals.

Taxis

There are three options for taxis and cabs at Edinburgh Airport, and separate ranks for each.

• Private hire Airport taxis are managed by Onward Travel and are located outside the east (UK Arrivals) end of the Terminal building.
  Tel +44 (0)131 333 2255 / +44 (0)131 333 2255.
• Pre-booked private hire taxis can be arranged via Edinburgh City Private Hire. The collection point / rank is located on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park, directly opposite the Terminal.
  Tel +44 (0)131 477 4000 / +44 (0)131 477 4000.
• City "Black Cabs" can be found outside outside the east (UK Arrivals) end of the Terminal building.

Passengers arranging pre-booked taxis from other areas will find the collection point / rank is located on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park, directly opposite the Terminal.
A journey to the city centre typically takes about 25 minutes. Many taxis are wheelchair accessible.

Bicycles on public transport

Buses: Most buses cannot carry bikes.
Trains: First ScotRail carries bicycles free, subject to space being available; reservations are needed for some services. Cycle reservations are compulsory on National Express East Coast and Virgin Trains services

Climate-

The Scottish climate is temperate, and though very changeable, is rarely extreme, except in winter. The country is bathed by the Gulf Stream and is therefore much warmer than many countries in similar latitudes.

The prevailing winds are from the south west, bringing warm, wet air from the Atlantic.

Most visitors come to Scotland between May and September when they can enjoy the best weather and long hours of daylight – due to the country’s northerly latitude. The east coast has a consistently lower rainfall than the rest of the country.

The best times to go biking in Scotland are the spring and summer. However, although a little riskier in terms of weather, the autumn can also be a good time to visit – the colours can be glorious!

Photos