Edinburgh 7 Day itinerary

If you’re only planning to spend a short while in Edinburgh, spend what time you have by exploring the city’s breathtaking Old and New Town districts on foot which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Start at the bottom of the cobbled Royal Mile and take in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the strikingly modern Scottish Parliament building before making your way to Edinburgh Castle, built in the 12th century atop an extinct volcano. After that, cross over to the New Town to admire the Georgian elegance of Princes Street, George Street and Charlotte Square.

First up on our list of attractions for today is the Scottish Seabird Centre. The Discovery Experience is currently closed but when the exhibition space reopens, get to know more about the wonderful marine life who reside on Scotland's East Coast. Take a closer look at what they're up to with the interactive live cameras and zoom in on all the action. Make sure to pop into the café and shop which are both open as normal. It's a great stop for a tasty bite to eat and for treating yourself or loved ones to a special gift.

Looking to take advantage of the nicer weather? The Scottish Seabird Centre run a fantastic offering of wildlife boat tours from spring to autumn. The Three Islands Seabird Seafari and the Isle of May boat trips are a great way to see a variety of seabirds in their natural habitat as well as having time to explore the natural wonders of the islands themselves. See puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes in all their glory.

The sea views alone at this part of east Scotland are remarkable. But then you add in Tantallon Castle and it's simply stunning. The semi-ruined fortress sits on a dramatic clifftop, and you can climb the towers of this ruined castle and see right along the coast. Below ground you'll find a scary pit prison, a reminder of Scotland's warring past.

Belhaven Bay in Dunbar stretches from Belhaven to the north of the River Tyne in East Lothian, offering amazing views across the Forth Estuary. This beach is surrounded by low sand dunes, salt marshes and rich grasslands. It's the perfect spot for walking, enjoying a picnic or soaking up the warm weather.

Discover a world-class collection of aircraft and hear fascinating stories from the people who built and flew them. During your visit, you'll learn about the history of aviation from the First World War to present day, immerse yourself in interactive galleries and step on board Scotland's Concorde.

The Glenkinchie Distillery is just a short drive outside Edinburgh and can spirit you away on a fascinating tour through the process behind making Scotch malt whisky. Having recently reopened after a large redevelopment to create the 'lowland hub for Johnnie Walker', this Victorian distillery has orchard gardens and is set within farmland and sweet-scented wildflowers, just 15 miles from Edinburgh. They distil the Edinburgh malt which makes up the Johnnie Walker whiskies, a rare Lowland-style whisky evoking fragrant flowers, dried cut grass and nutty cereal.

Head to Rosslyn Chapel and admire the extraordinary architecture and medieval stone carvings which provided the backdrop to Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code book and the movie adaptation. Walk in the footsteps of Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) as you explore this stunning chapel.

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a living, working landscape which consists of around 10,000 hectares of countryside and 100 km of paths. It's a protected landscape containing a rich mosaic of farmed land, heather moorland, reservoirs, woodland and hills.

Follow one of their recommended circular routes suitable for different abilities, and make a donation knowing your contribution will help make environmental improvements to the hills. Check out the Glencorse Reservoir to rent boats, the Threipmuir Reservoir for stunning scenery and the Flotterstone Inn for traditional Scottish fare.

Situated in Newtongrange, this visitor attraction tells the story of coal for Scotland through exhibitions and guided tours. Visitors will be able to see the machinery up close and learn more about the struggles for miners and their families.

Described as Edinburgh's original craft beer brewery, Stewart Brewing was set up in 2004 by couple, Steve and Jo Stewart in Loanhead. These two and their staff have mastered the art of micro-brewing and offer tours to tell you more about what goes into making craft beer. Sample their award-winning ales, lagers and stouts including Hollyrood and Edinburgh Gold.

Explore over 150 shops, eateries and more at The Centre, Livingston, a purpose-built shopping centre in the heart of the town in West Lothian. You can shop for beauty, candy, teddy bears, luxury chocolates, diamonds, colourful stationery, clothing and much more. Or enjoy a beauty treatment, lunch for all the family, and learn about the local community.

Scotland's largest designer outlet offers retail therapy, entertainment and food and drink. The Livingston Designer Outlet is home to over 80 premium brands, restaurants and cafés from Hugo Boss to Lacoste, Molton Brown to Under Armour.

There's also a cinema and an adventure golf centre with two 18-hole courses to play.

Head to Almond Valley Heritage Centre, a family-friendly museum set on a peaceful riverside site surrounded by woods and fields. Meet the friendly farm animals in the traditional farm buildings and working watermill, with Highland cattle, rare breed sheep and Clydesdale horses. The museum itself has exhibits on the local history, while there are indoor and outdoor play areas including a simulated archaeological dig, trampolines, go karts, tractor and trail rides and a narrow-gauge railway.

With 160 species of mammals, birds and reptiles from across the world, Five Sisters Zoo has plenty to see on a day out. The zoo is dedicated to supporting animal welfare and is home to rescued circus bears and lions, as well as monkeys, otters and crocodiles. Look out for the lynx, gibbons, meerkats, owls and lemurs too.

Home to one of the largest collections of owls in the world, meet some new fluffy friends at the Scottish Owl Centre. You'll get to experience first-hand flying displays and the little ones can let off some steam at the adventure playground.