Edinburgh is famed for its rich history; tourists flock every year to see the castle and hear the piper play Scotland the Brave down the Royal Mile, but there are so many beautiful spots outside of the city that are well worth making the trip to see. Here are our top 10 breathtaking villages within driving distance from Edinburgh that you may not have heard of.
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10 beautiful but lesser-known villages within easy driving distance from Edinburgh Photo: JPIMedia
1. Gifford
Gifford is a small village known for its picturesque scenes. Found just south of Haddington in East Lothian, Gifford is often where walkers stop off before heading into the Lammermuir Hills. Gifford has some gorgeous sought-after properties with beautiful, old cottages dating back to the 1800s. From the City of Edinburgh it will take about 40 minutes to reach Gifford by car. Photo: JPIMedia
2. Humbie
Humbie is a rural hamlet found in East Lothian, roughly ten miles south-west of Haddington. The area has a population of only a few hundred people and was once an old-settlement formerly part of the Barony of Keith. The parish has a rich history with a local church dating back to the 18th century and Haide Castle (Keith Marischal country house) which was built during the 14th century. Humbie is just over a half an hour drive from the city of Edinburgh. Photo: JPIMedia
3. Culross
Found in Fife, Culross is a historic village which has seen the National Trust help restore many of its crumbling buildings back to their original condition in recent years. Culross has also recently found fame as its featured on the popular television series 'Outlander'. It takes about 50 minutes to travel by car to Culross from the city of Edinburgh. Photo: JPIMedia
4. Limekilns
Limekilns is a gorgeous little village found in Fife, slightly to the west of the Forth Road Bridge and on the north shore of the River Forth. In the 1300s, Limekilns acted as the main port for Fife's Dunfermline just a few miles to the north. In the past the village has been home to many industries including shipbuilding and brewing. From the city of Edinburgh, Limekilns is about a half an hour drive. Photo: JPIMedia