With already toasty temperatures set to rocket in the city, Edinburghers are flocking to the city’s beaches and that’s only likely to continue as the heatwave rises this weekend.
Although as a city we’re better known for our historic castle, vibrant arts scenes and hills (so many, many hills), Edinburgh’s proximity to the coast is one of the high points to living here.
Portobello Beach is the best known spot for sea, sand and surf but in recent years Granton’s Wardie Bay has become something of a hot spot for in-the-know wild swimmers. And while some of the regulars are in the water rain or shine well into winter, for most of us this nice weather is a rare chance to enjoy Edinburgh’s beaches.
The history of Edinburgh’s seaside is as colourful as the rest of the city, so whether you're die-hard beach-dweller or a first timer, here are some interesting facts about Edinburgh's beaches that you can casually drop into some seaside small talk.
You might get to swim with dolphins
The Firth of Forth is known for its incredible biodiversity and marine life, but humans aren't usually lucky enough to get up close and personal with them.
However, if you pop down at the right time and are very lucky, you might get to spot a dolphin like Szandra Békei did this week when she saw "three or four" swimming in Portobello. And it's not just dolphins - Edinburgh fishermen found themselves sailing alongside some magnificent minke whales, which are typically found North Atlantic Ocean but also off the coasts of Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and in the northern Pacific.
Even nuns want to paddleboard
If you think dolphin sightings are rare, we've got something even more surprising. Proving that the most popular beach in Edinburgh appeals to everyone, a Polish nun named Agnes was spotted paddleboarding alongside her sisters earlier this summer - still wearing her full habit.
How Portobello got its name
Known as Porty to locals, it's likely that the popular beach derived its name from the battle of Porto Bello in Panama. In its early days it had a bit of a rough reputation, but from the late 19th century it became the summer hotspot it is today.
The 99 ice cream was (probably) invented in Portobello
With shops like Mary's Milk Bar and Moo Pie Gelato, you're never far from a delicious frozen treat on a hot day in Edinburgh. But did you know that one of Britain's classic ice creams may have been invented to cool down beachgoers in Portobello?
Up until it closed in 2005, Acari’s Ice Cream was a Portobello staple and although although Cadbury’s claim one of their salesmen invented the 99, Edinburghers know differently - we have Steven Acari to thank after his granddaughter Mandy broke a flake in half and stuck it in some vanilla ice cream .
So there you have it - where better to spend your summer weekends than Costa del Edinburgh? Enjoy it now - because judging by the forecast, the weather won't last forever...
