Holidays close to Edinburgh for late July

[theotherfossilsister]

Anyone have any ideas? Neither of us drive, and would both prefer a nearby UK holiday to flying somewhere. Banks of a loch would be lovely, swimming, long walks, we don't need to eat out

Are you travelling from Edinburgh?
Loch Lomond-train to Balloch.
Or Northumberland, it's only an hour on the train to Alnmouth which has stunning beaches.
Aviemore is a good base if you're using the train.

Are you arriving by train?
If so you could change at Edinburgh and go to North Berwick and maybe visit other coastal towns like Dunbar or Berwick on Tweed. Or get the train north to Leuchars for St Andrews. From there you could do day trips by bus around the East Neuk. Crail, Ansthruther, Pittenweem, Elie are all lovely.
If you want a loch instead of coast I would head to Glasgow for Loch Lomond, stations at Balloch and Tarbet. Or go further north to Oban or Fort William.

OThe East Neuk is lovely. Lists of cliff walks. No sea swimming unless you're 'hard'. You could drive to to Kirkcaldy, drop the car, head to Edinburgh. Or drive up to St Andrews for the day, that's pretty. Falkland and Culross are nice spots to visit.

Take the train North to Pitlochry from Edinburgh. Everything you need is on foot or a train ride away.

That said, you'll struggle to find any accommodation now, Scotland seems about booked up for self catering. Hotels are available.

To add: do you need to be near Edinburgh for anything other than lack of driving?

You'll not get banks of a loch and Highlands without a travel....

If you have never visited Edinburgh, take a couple of days out and stay there. It's a lovely city, lots to do in city or you can just chill watching the world go by