Edinburgh is such a beautiful place to visit, with its historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and moody atmosphere, but most people do not realise it is also home to a beautiful beach. I grew up in a seaside area called Portobello, which is actually located at the edge of Edinburgh so most tourists miss out on some of the most breathtaking ocean views Scotland has to offer.

Portobello has become famous for its extremely soft sand and for its many old Victorian buildings along its promenade, where there are so many restaurants, cafes, pubs and other shops to choose from. One of my favourite things to do when the sun is shining is sit on the beach with an order from Civerinos, which has been voted one of the best pizza places in the world by Time Out. However, my absolute favourite beach spot to eat is The Little Green Van, which has a beautiful setup decorated with flowers and some of the best sandwiches and coffee I have ever tasted.

Portobello Beach also has a lot of your classic seaside foods like fish and chips and ice cream, but there is so much to choose from that you are guaranteed to get something tasty no matter where you go.

When I was a child, my gran ran a café on the promenade, and I spent countless hours there while she babysat me. Even now, my favourite thing to do is sit on the beach with a book, and it is still my favourite place in the world as the area just has a more relaxed atmosphere than busy Edinburgh.

However, there is plenty to do around the beach, including arcades, Turkish baths, and saunas, and there is always some activity set up by locals, such as markets, festivals, or even a massive yoga class.

I also absolutely love exploring the high street as there are so many quirky independent shops, with my favourite place being The Portobello Bookshop. It is such a bright and welcoming shop with an interesting selection of books, and they always have author events or workshops.

Whenever I visit friends in Portobello, my first stop is always Greek Artisan Pasteries, probably the most loved bakery in the area, because the owners are so friendly whenever you pop in.

It always has such a mouthwatering display of pastries, whether you want something sweet or are looking for something savoury to dig into, like me, who always likes a cheese and ham bake.

I honestly think Greek Artisan Pasteries has the best pastries I have ever tasted, which is why I think visitors would really love Portobello if they like good food and a cosy atmosphere.

It is roughly a 20-minute car ride from Edinburgh city centre, a 30-minute bus journey, or a walk of around an hour.