Ducks at Kilspindie House

Edinburgh & Lothians

Ashort hop from Edinburgh’s city centre (half an hour by car or 18 mins by train) this exceptional ‘restaurant with rooms’ is nestled in the seaside village of Aberlady. Aberlady Bay local nature reserve is famed for its bird watching, the highlight of which is in October when the skies are filled with 20 to 30,000 pink-footed geese flying in each evening to roost on the mud flats. The village is home to the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club HQ, Waterston House – a fantastic bird watchers’ resource centre and art gallery, which is open seven days to visitors.

Amongst the raft of other activities easily within reach are 22, mostly links, golf courses, Glenkinchie Distillery, The Concorde Experience and a new simulator at the Museum of Flight, indoor and outdoor go-karting (10 mins) and the Scottish Seabird Centre, with seasonal boat trips out to the gannet colony on the Bass Rock.

Ducks, a landmark restaurant in Edinburgh for twenty years, has migrated to Aberlady. Renowned for its quality, service and customer care, it is now thriving in its new plumage. Look out for exceptional winter deals on dinner and rooms between the end of October and April.