Wandering around South Queensferry

It was a short journey today - Edinburgh to South Queensferry, via Edinburgh airport.

Today's journey - first part to airport by bus, then 2nd part by hire car

I knew I had 3 nights booked at The Hawes Inn at South Queensferry after the bus tour, because originally I wasn't sure that I would be able to do all the things I wanted to do in Edinburgh, but I had revisited the Royal Mile, had seen the Britannia and yesterday saw the Holyrood Palace. So I was wondering what would I do by going back into Edinburgh for another 2 or 3 days.

Also, I knew South Queensferry was not all that accessible by public transport, It's about 15 mins walk to the station, which is OK if it's dry, but thunderstorms are forecast over the weekend.

Another factor was I would need a cab to get to South Queensferry with my big cases, then back to the airport for my flight to Dublin on Monday.

So, all this added up to my decision to  hire a car for the weekend. Just gives me more options. It only cost me £4.50 to catch the bus out to the airport, then I could drive to Sth Queensferry, and I can also return the hire car there on Monday before I fly out.

No brainer in the end!!!

That's a long introduction justifying my picking up a hire car!

So.... I caught the bus out to the airport and picked up a Budget Car Rental (notice it's not Europcar!) which I had booked online last night.

It's actually a fancy little  number... I picked the cheapest variety, thinking I wouldn't be driving it far, then when I got to the airport I had a choice of a Peugot or a VW. I chose the Peugot, as my little red car was a Peugot and I figured I knew where things were on it! However the first hurdle was that the settings were all in German, and I didn't know how to change them! Also, it had the audio visual screen and built in GPS, so I had to work that out too. Couldn't turn the radio off to start with!!!

My new car

It's got lots of gears - haven't worked out how many yet. Had to problem solve the hand break. Then when I finally pulled up at Hawes Inn I realized it had a perspex roof which was open!

Phew.... back to problem solving again!!!

Anyway, arrived safely, but was too early to check in, so the nice young man (Callum) suggested I might like to go for a walk through the village of South Queensferry - which I did, and enjoyed!

You might remember yesterday I posted some pics of the Bridge over the Firth of Forth as I went over on the train. Today's pics are again of the Firth of Forth bridges, but from the land below!!!

Firth of Forth Railway Bridge

Firth of Forth Traffic Bridge

Train going over Firth of Forth Railway Bridge

It's a lovely little village - quite quaint. The main street is only one lane in parts (brings back memories!!!) and is made of cobble stones.
Here's a few pics..

South Queensferry

South Queensferry

South Queensferry

I kind of knew where the Catholic Church was, so I dragged out the Google Maps to make sure and followed it up a massive big hill and sure enough - there was the Church at the top of the hill... as most Catholic Churches are....

St Margaret's Catholic Church Sth Queensferry

St Margaret's Catholic Church Sth Queensferry

Inside St Margaret's Catholic Church Sth Queensferry

Lit a candle for you all again - top left!

 Mass is on at 5pm tomorrow night, so if I'm around I might try and go there. It's always interesting to attend Mass in different places. Some things are very much the same, but some things really reflect the local community. I picked up a  Bulletin in the foyer and its headline was about Archdiocesan restructuring and merging of parishes.... Some things are the same the world over!

Saw some interesting things along the foreshore....

Some WW1 history about the Firth of Forth's involvement with the Royal Navy....

Royal Navy and the Firth of Forth

Map of South Queensferry

Map of South Queensferry

On Sunday, looks like a cruise liner is coming in across the road, but it takes out all the local parking. Will have to find out how that affects me in the Hawes Inn carpark and if I'm allowed in and out etc...

Cruise Liner interrupting my comforts!!!

Local school children made a combined project - Guardian of the Bridges

Guardian of the Bridges

Guardian of the Bridges

So, after all that walking, it was about 2.45 and starting to drizzle with rain, so I found a coffee shop right next door to my pub and of course they had free wifi, so I caught up with all my emails and messages - thanks folks 😃

Out the front of this cafe was a little memorial...

Remembering all those who worked on the bridges, especially those who died there.

Now, I'm all checked in and my hero Callum brought my heavy case up the stairs for me. I have a lovely room facing the front so can see the Bridges through my window!

View from my window.

The rain was quite steady when that was taken, but has eased off slightly now. Too wet to go outside again, so might have to just go downstairs and have a beer to recover from my busy day!!!