Stirling or East Neuk for overnight trip from Edinburgh

[ilparadodosdoltos]

I’m visiting family in Edinburgh soon with 12 year old DS and DH and planning a night in a hotel somewhere out of town while we’re there. I’m not sure whether to go for Stirling, somewhere like Anstruther, or third choice Peebles Hydro.

We live in London but I’m from Edinburgh so we’re very familiar with it, hence planning a little bit of countryside while we’re there. Can’t decide between fish and chips by the sea, or castle and Wallace monument. We’d be coming up by train but could hire a car in Edinburgh. Anyone have a strong preference either way? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I'd go to the seaside, .Strling is "fine" I live nearby, but you can do history better in Edinburgh and also the museums are great.

So Stirling might seem a bit meh after Edinburgh.

Peebles Hydro is lovely especially if you are planning a nice night away.

@Coffeeishot that’s so helpful thank you!

East Neuk lots of places to visit on the way up from Edinburgh each more lovely than the last. Anstruther does have a hotel but St Andrews may be better for accommodation for one night. Depends what you are after lots of AirBnB

Things for the 12 year old:

Lower Largo for Robinson Crusoe
Elie chain walk plus other water sports
St Monans zig zag sea wall
Pittenweem has St Fillans cave and a chocolate shop cafe
Anstruther Fisheries Museum and fish and chips. The wee Chippy is better than the famous one but I prefer Crail chippy.
Crail is just gorgeous and has fossils, crabbing, rock pools. Secret Bunker close by if it rains.

You might need a few nights!

Ok I think we’ll just move there!😁 Thank you!

I love the East Neuk the chippy in Crail was nicer than the one in Anstruther I've not stayed since the kids were young but we always have a few days out during the better weather.

This chippy info is very welcome! All this is so helpful, thank you. We never went there as a child - had a but and ben near Aberfeldy that was our go-to - so I’m woefully ignorant of this part of Scotland.

I'm from Edinburgh but live in Stirling. I think the castle is better but tbh I don't think it's significantly "different" enough to take a trip from Edinburgh for. I'd do seaside in fife or borders countryside somewhere personally if getting even further north wasn't possible.

The Crusoe Hotel in Lower Largo is really lovely, and they were offering collection from the new train station. East Neuk can be a bit tricky with no car (mostly bus not train) but I would recommend Crusoe for a romantic night away.

Thank you - I did take a look at the Crusoe so good to know it’s lovely. The presence of a 12 year old boy may somewhat dent the romantic nature of the trip but we’ll bring him anyway 😁. We’ll definitely hire a car if we head to Fife.

Haha oops - missed that detail.

MIL has a caravan equivalent in the East Neuk so we have had many trips there every year for the last 20 years. I'm going to go against the grain with regard to chippies in the East Neuk. The one time we had fish suppers from the Wee Chippy, the chips were overdone and the fish was burnt. The Anstruther Fish Bar has never failed us, either as carry-out or sit-in; if the carry-out queue is too long (usually if the May Princess has recently docked), we opt for the Waterfront where we have also had great sit-in meals. We also had great fish suppers from the chippie in Pittenweem but sadly it is no more following a devastating fire and then the death of the owner.

I’m from Stirling. I do think that the Wallace Monument is a special thing that has no equivalent in Edinburgh, but you can easily go through to Stirling for the day while you are staying in Edinburgh if you want to. It’s really quick on the train, my Dad commuted it daily for years and a day out in Edinburgh was my favourite thing to do as a Stirling teen.

I wouldn’t do Stirling and Edinburgh castles in the same trip, too similar.

East Neuk is more variety for an away stay and the chips really are out of this world. I loved going there as a kid.

OMG my Stirling Granny is turning in her grave 😂

😂 I'm from Edinburgh & that comment made me gasp a wee bit too!

Do museum & galleries in Edinburgh then head to Stirling for the castle - so much better than Edinburgh Castle!! Stirling would avoid the car requirement too.

If castle's aren't the draw then enjoy Fife in all its glory!

Stirling and Edinburgh are quite similar. I’d go to the east neuk. Don’t be scared to get the bus there. The x60 and x61 go to elie and crail.

@BBelindabelle , is the crail chippy good then, we always go to Anstruther?

I’m so glad I started this thread!

I'm from Edinburgh and return a lot so the tourist aspect of Edinburgh is less important and dh and ds have ‘done’ the main stuff there so it’s more getting a bit of a break away. For that reason, I think the beach is winning. Not that we don’t love a castle but Linlithgow would work for that - my son went there when he was little but probably wouldn’t really remember it.

I'm just really enjoying all the thoughts about parts of my country I’m less familiar with. ❤️

Just to say Linlithgow palace has loads of scaffolding up & covered/protective tunnels in the courtyard (due to large pieces of stone falling off!) so sadly it's not looking at its best.
Blackness Castle isn't far & is fantastic- caponier, walls etc plus beach.

@ssd I like Crail, the menu isn’t as extensive as Anstruther but the smoked haddock is first class. Really well organised and you never have to wait too long for your order.

Lovely wee sit in area and the toilets are splotless.

For Anstruther fish and chips the Waterfront chip ship is way better than the Fish Bar. The Fish Bar is resting on their laurels. Better yet is the Ox and Anchor burger place which has phenomenal food. For a fancier meal the Dory in Pittenweem can’t be beaten. The West End Bar also in Pittenweem does great food too. The ice cream shop in Pittenweem has a fabulous selection of sweets. I live in the East Neuk, it’s a great little spot.