10 Best Breweries and Beer Places in Pentland Hills Regional Park

"Cold Town House is a venue on Grassmarket, at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It is owned and run by the local brewery Old Town Beer. The brewery’s own craft beers, as well as prosecco and several whiskeys, are served in a relaxed urban atmosphere with a spectacular view of the castle."

"Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town, this bar is anything but old-fashioned. The styling is industrial featuring exposed brick and stainless steel but fret not, the atmosphere is warm and lively as residents and visitors flock to sample the now world renowned, headline grabbing beer. Perhaps unsurprisingly the beer offering is vast and not just from the brand itself, which can be sampled in a range of measures."

"Born and bred in Scotland, Brewdog is such a successful brand that it’s gone global, with 78bars spread around the world. Though founded in Aberdeenshire, three are located inEdinburgh. Choose between the Lothian Road or the Cowgate location (which is a little bit more central)."

"Brewdog is a popular anti-mainstream Scottish brewery, established in 2007. Its Edinburgh HQ is a former karaoke bar, renovated with stainless steel fixtures, reclaimed furniture and lots of exposed brickwork. Basically, it’s one of the coolest stag party bars in the Old Town."

"Perhaps a controversial choice as an essential Edinburgh craft beer, given that Paolozzi, the Edinburgh Beer Factory's flagship brew, only launched on October 18 - but in that short time, the crisp, sparkling lager has gained enviable comparisons (in our local bottle shop, anyway) to Munich's much-revered Augustiner Hell. Perhaps such a success straight off the mark is due to the wealth of experience behind it - the EBF is headed up by John Dunsmore, former boss of both Tennent’s owner C&C Group and macro brewing plc Scottish & Newcastle. Of course, the beautifully-labelled bottle (sporting designs by Leith-born Pop Art figurehead Eduardo Paolozzi) makes it a lovely drink to be seen holding as well."

"If you’re planning a road trip of Scotland we suggest celebrating your arrival into Edinburgh Airport by immediately sipping suds at Edinburgh Beer Factory. The brewery is located a short 8 minute drive from Edinburgh Airport, making it the perfect first or last stop on a Scottish beer tour. Edinburgh Beer Factory first opened in November 2015."

"Founded and operated by veteran brewer Andrew Barnett in the Summerhall former vet school, and on the site of the historic Summerhall Brewery (demolished circa 1913), Barney’s is a micro-brewery literally rooted in tradition. There’s no pasteurisation or filtration in the process, which is 100% natural. All of Barney's beers – including the humbly-named Good Ordinary Pale Ale plus a lager, a red beer and a dark porter – are cask-conditioned or bottle-conditioned."

"Barney’s Beer is a craft brewery located at the southeast corner of Edinburgh’s Meadows in Summerhall. Ranked as one of the best Edinburgh breweries, Barney’s Beer is housed in the stables of the city’s old vet school. Barney (Andrew Barnett) started working in his hometown brewery in Wolverhampton back in 1983 at 16 and has been in the industry ever since."

"Barney’s Beer offers public and private tours|Courtesy of Barney’s Beer. Housed at Summerhall in a former vet school’s stables, Barney’s has been brewing for the people of Edinburgh since 2010. The use of the Summerhall site as a brewery actually predates its use as veterinary college."

"Housed in the historic Cannongate Tolbooth, the People's Story Museum tells the story of the people of Edinburgh from the late 18th century to the present day. The three galleries explore life in an Edinburgh tenement during the eighteenth century and recount the stories of Edinburgh citizens during the twentieth century using waxworks, recorded oral histories and written sources. The museum also houses an impressive number of early reform flags and banners in support of political reform, trade unions and the anti-apartheid movement."

"The People's Story details the history of the residents of Edinburgh from the 18th century to the modern day. The museum is housed in the historic Canongate Tollbooth, an impressive Edinburgh landmark built in 1591, in the heart of the Royal Mile. The exhibition includes fascinating displays such as a recreation of the jail which was once housed in the building, an 18th century book binder's workshop and a wartime kitchen."

"This second free museum in Edinburgh is dedicated to the real working-class people of Edinburgh. Images, objects and personal stories are used to document the lives of locals between the 18th and 20th centuries. Spend an hour browsing."

"As the very last medieval building left on the Royal Mile the John Knox House is an exciting window into the 16th century. As you walk around the parlour, the dining room, the kitchen and the rest, you’ll see the way its past inhabitants (including Mary, Queen of Scots) used to live. Soak up the opulence and the drama of Scotland's turbulent past, before walking straight back into the bustling present on Edinburgh’s main drag."

"A stylish contemporary building appended to the 15th-century home of Protestant reformer John Knox, housing materials relating to Scotland’s rich oral culture.43–45 High Street, 556 9579, scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk. Mon–Sat 10am–6pm (also Sun noon–6pm during Aug only). Free entry to SSC; John Knox House £4.25 (£3.75; children £1; under 7s free)."

"Getting to John Knox House : Located on the Royal Mile, the museum is a 6 minute walk from St Christopher’s Inns Edinburgh. Photo credit: David Ross. John Knox (1514-1572) was a Scottish minister, founder of the Scottish Presbyterian Church and leader of the Scottish Reformation."

"Located within Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum explores Scotland’s history of war. The collections here showcase military artefacts and wartime materials, such as medals, uniforms, banners and posters. The museum examines Scotland’s place in war from the Highland-Lowland battles in the 17th and 18th centuries, all the way up to Scotland’s modern-day military presence."

"It was instantly clear that we’d found the hipster heart of Edinburgh, with several million boutique coffee shops, an analog still photography studio, and enough beards to braid an organic collar for your cockapoo. As we strolled down the steep cobbles, Southern Cross caught our eye, and ushered us inside. Immediately upon walking in there was a totally different vibe to Fortuna."

"This award-winning gourmet burger restaurant serve a range of mouthwatering burgers, crafted in-house daily. Situated on the bustling Royal Mile, their beer garden is a great place to enjoy beer & a burger as you people watch on this busy thoroughfare. Booking advised, but walk-ins also welcome."

"It’s often said that if you want to be a successful restaurateur, you need to specialize. At Burgers and Beers, they do exactly that. Burgers and Beers has the most extensive burger menu you’ll find in Edinburgh, and they proudly boast “Scotland’s Best Burger,” which I don’t doubt for a minute."

"This grill house reminds me of the restaurant we found in Nuremberg. The average menu item did not exceed 13£ and there is a dedicated children’s menu. The beer and drinks options are also fairly elaborate as well, suggesting there is a little something here for everyone."

"If you needed a reminder that you’re not far from the sea in Edinburgh, The Mussel and Steak Bar will serve it to you. This feels like a seafront restaurant, and though it might appear to be no-frills, the food here is incredible. If you like seafood, a bowl of rope-grown Scottish mussels with a glass of crisp, cold white wine is just about perfection."

"Summer is great for outdoor ventures and the Mussel and Steak bar is great for that outdoor chill vibe with your BFF. The menu itself also has a wide selection of great steaks, and this family run establishment means there is a personal touch and great memories to be made here."

"Other things to do in Dunkeld include walking along the river to see the Thomas Telford Bridge, checking out the shops along Atholl Street (and the Atholl Memorial Fountain), checking out the colorful exteriors of the “Little Houses” of Dunkeld which include twenty 18th century private houses restored by the National Trust of Scotland, and stopping at the National Trust owned Ell Shop, which is a restored weaver’s shop. If you have more time, there are a number of lovely woodland walks around Dunkeld including taking a trail through the Hermitage."

"A post shared by Mary Alexiou (@marilein_alexiou) on Aug 30, 2017 at 11:19am PDT. Small and cosy, Wildfire is a family-run steak and seafood bistro that offers a superb menu of food and drink coupled with a quality of service that makes every customer feel special. With exquisitely prepared, top-quality Aberdeen Angus beef and locally-sourced produce where possible, Wildfire is the perfect place to spend some quality time with a friend, partner or family member."

"This is a welcoming, family-run restaurant in the center of the city. Rose Street is a popular destination for pub crawls, but if you need something to eat after a drinking session, or you've been shopping on nearby Princes Street, then you'll find great steak and seafood here. The best Aberdeen Angus steak, Scottish lamb, West coast mussels, fresh fish, and delicious local cheeses can all be found on the menu."

"Source: Photo by user in Bourke Street, used under CC BY-SA 2.0. This shop is a little off the beaten path, but if you’re looking to take someone on a rainy day date (or you’re just too lazy to microwave yourself some soup – which I feel), head over to Maki Ramen and watch cars and people walk by while you guzzle down a bowl of hot ramen. Don’t forget to read the post-it note memories and doodles left on the wall by other customers, and maybe add your own to the mix!"

"Scotland is not especially renowned for its culinary highlights. However, if you are staying in Edinburgh, you will be blessed with a very rich food scene extending much further than Haggis and fish and chips. As every major city, Edinburgh has a very broad and multicultural food scene."