Edinburgh Weather: More sun for Easter Monday

Cooling off on Easter Sunday at Portobello beach. Picture: Toby Williams

Pubs in Portobello reported a brisk trade as hundreds flocked to the promenade to enjoy a drink, paddle in the sea or walk on the beach, while Princes Street Gardens were also busy. Temperatures in Edinburgh reached as high as 16C, five degrees hotter than Rome, and about the same as Barcelona’s.

Annabelle Williams, who works behind the bar at the Espy on the Promenade, said the pub and beach had both been “extremely busy”.

A staff member from the Dalriada, Edinburgh’s Bar on the Beach, said the pub was too busy for her to “stop and chat”, adding that the beach was “packed”.

Meanwhile, even indoor attractions reported bumper crowds over the Easter weekend.

Abbye Eva, retail duty manager at underground venue the Real Mary King’s close, said: “This Easter has been one of our busiest and we have welcomed over 3000 people already. This is projected to be 40 per cent up on Easter weekend 2014.”

Earlier in the day, temperatures started off much lower at about 12C but once the low cloud and mist burned off from inland areas to allow some sunny spells, temperature started to rise.

The highest temperature this year so far was 17.5C, recorded in Northern Ireland on March 7, the warmest day of the year so far.

Today early morning mist and fog patches look set to burn off, leaving a dry and bright day with the best of the sunshine in Lothian and Borders. Light westerly breezes are expected later on, with maximum temperatures of around 16C.

A spokesman for the Met Office said that today would be another “pleasant” day, with sunshine expected across large parts of the country.