The market town lies right on the point where the River Esk meets the sea, and was developed as a rival town to Edinburgh in the 12th century. The world famous Musselburgh Links golf course is said to be the oldest in Scotland and was even alleged to have been used by James IV, in 1504.
Modern Musselburgh is a busy town which has certainly seen the benefits of the recent economic boom in Edinburgh. It’s an attractive town that has plenty of interesting buildings, a harbour, and some really spectacular views across the River Forth, not forgetting the Newhailes stately home and the Inveresk Lodge Garden. The harbour is used mostly for pleasure boating and fishing.
The town is now something of an education hub, since 2007,when all of Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University schools were relocated from Edinburgh to Musselburgh. The new QMU campus was officially opened by HM The Queen in July 2008.
Nearby Portobello is a suburb to the east of the city of Edinburgh that’s popular for its amazing long sandy beach which looks out across the beautiful Firth of Forth. One of the focal points of the town is the busy high street which runs almost parallel with the coastline, just a little way inland. Portobello has two town hall buildings; the most recent of which dates back to 1912, and is directly opposite its predecessor, the original town hall which was constructed in 1877 and is now used as the police station. It also has it's own monthly market with local craft and food stalls.
Although it has an urban feel, Portobello still keeps its seaside charm, with the help of its Blue Flag beach, complete with old- fashioned sweet shops, arcades, ice cream stalls and everything else you’d expect from a popular seaside town. You’ll also find a handy selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants along with a sailing club and an indoor swimming pool for those cooler days when the water in the Firth of Forth isn’t so enticing.
