7 Most Beautiful Edinburgh Villages to Live or Visit

Are you looking for the best Edinburgh villages to move to?

Few can argue when it comes to beauty, Scotland is blessed with more than its fair share of impressively attractive villages.

It may be an inland village surrounded by a windswept highland landscape.

Alternatively, one of Scotland’s coastal villages either one is equally as beautiful.

Whether you are searching for a weekend getaway or somewhere quiet to live, there are a host of places that sit close to Edinburgh which make perfect locations to live or visit.

If you want to find out a little more about some of Scotland’s most beautiful villages you are in the right place, here are seven of them for you to consider.

Currie

Currie is a village and suburb situated 7 miles southwest of Edinburgh city centre.

Sitting between two main arterial roads, the A70 to Lanark and the A71 to The Calders, this little village is absolutely ideal for commuting the short distance into the city.

It is a lovely location offering plenty of rural charm. The south side of the village overlaps with the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

Although it seems a world away from busy Edinburgh it has more than enough amenities to fulfil day-to-day necessities of life.

If you are searching for a home here with children, the village also has a primary school and a high school.

Plus, it is possible to buy a three-bedroom home here for £280,000.

Abercorn

The village of Abercorn is located close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth.

With a population of just under 500 people, it makes a stunning setting for a peaceful rural life.

Winding country lanes sided by acres of green fields and forests along with wild deer are the norm here.

Although it is a particularly scenic location, you do need to be able to drive. Edinburgh is 14 miles east of the village, around a 35-minute journey by car.

The village is also a tourist destination.

Offering a number of pretty cottages for hire and some interesting activities to enjoy.

Cramond Beach is a popular place to visit. 9 miles away, the small sandy beach is a popular choice with Edinburgh residents as well as tourists who head here to walk and cycle on the beachside.

The centrepiece of the village is Abercorn Castle. Now mostly ruins, it does provide walkers with a very atmospheric spot to explore.

Gifford

This East Lothian village is inland, around 20 miles from the city.

Gifford’s old paper mill industry was once the source of the Bank of Scotland’s bank notes.

Today it is a charming hamlet with much-desired properties, such as its 18th-century estate cottages.

Set at the foot of the Lammermuir Hills, the village makes an ideal base for exploring the history and scenery of the surrounding countryside.

Gifford has a school, church, several shops, two traditional hotels, and a garage.

The village community is very active and holds a variety of seasonal events and activities throughout the year.

A bus service, run by Prentice Coaches, connects the village to Haddington and Pencaitland.

Surrounded by unspoilt countryside, yet only a twenty-minute drive from the capital, Gifford is truly “the best of both worlds”.

Pittenweem

Pittenweem is a stunning seaside village. The area is otherwise known as the East Neuk.

It may be a bit off the grid as far as location goes, but this has allowed the village to retain its much-desired character and charm.

Home to a bustling working harbour, where you can watch the fishing boats go about their day, this village is a must-see location.

Many of the picturesque houses around the harbour are of traditional Fife design.

Scotland’s National Trust has sympathetically restored many of the red pantile or grey-slate roofs and crow-step gables, to their original state.

Several notable landmarks of Pittenweem include the 130-year-old outdoor swimming pool, which is right on the beach and is filled twice a day by the tide.

Pittenweem also hosts a thriving arts festival each August.

Another village that offers a welcome break from the fast lane. A bolthole where you can kick back, chill and breathe the fresh sea air.

Culross

Around 40 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, Culross is another perfect example of the Edinburgh region’s coastal destinations.

Originally, Culross served as a port city on the Firth of Forth and is believed to have been founded by Saint Serf during the 6th century.

The village owes its prosperity and its stunning buildings spanning the 16th to 18th centuries, to two exports that were once readily mined here – sea salt and coal.

Culross is a tiny village, home to under 400 residents. However, though small, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its historic ‘palace’.

Culross offers visitors (and locals) picturesque walks through streets that have remained unaltered for over 200 years in addition to a tour through history in the ruins of Culross Abbey.

With Dunfermline only a short 20-minute drive from Culross, you are quickly connected to all the modern conveniences only a city can offer.

Roslin

This tranquil little village is well within easy reach of Edinburgh.

Roslin is surprisingly well-known, for two reasons.

At the heart of the village is the atmospheric Rosslyn Chapel was featured in the movie of Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code. Plus, it is also where Dolly the sheep was cloned (a world first).

This part of Scotland is extraordinarily pretty and there are lots of walks in the area that make for a great day out, with a visit to Rosslyn Chapel being the icing on the cake.

Like many smaller locations, Roslin has a very active local community that comes together to enjoy a host of clubs, societies, and annual events.

It is also a very practical location too. Just two miles from the village and you will find Straiton Retail Park.

The park is a popular retail destination providing residents with an opportunity to shop in its fashion brand stores, large supermarkets, and restaurants.

Roslin makes an enchanting location for both locals and visitors alike.

A place to call home that is not too far from all the bright lights of city life should the need arise.

Dean Village

One of the oldest Edinburgh villages that lays around the original Royal Burgh, Dean Village sits nicely in a large bend of the Scottish river Water of Leith.

It was once known as the “Water of Leith Village”.

The village was a successful grain milling area for more than 800 years.

At one time there were no fewer than eleven working mills there, driven by water from the Water of Leith.

Though no longer used, many of the mills are protected but still in operational order and interesting to visit.

Dean Village is super quaint and a far cry from the general hustle and bustle of city life however, it is just a short ten-minute drive from the city’s main shopping district, Princes Street.

Narrow cobbled streets are lined by little houses, once homes to the many mill workers, now commanding high prices.

During the 1970s extensive restoration works were undertaken.

The village became recognized as a place of calm in the middle of a capital city.

Packed with historical charm this peaceful little village is ideal for everyone. A place that is well connected but a haven to come home to.

Ready to Move to One of These Edinburgh Villages?

Have you decided which one of these Edinburgh villages you would like to live in?

Edinburgh is home to some amazing villages that are ideal for families, young professionals and retirees alike!

If you want to live in one of these beautiful Edinburgh villages and have found your dream home, we are here to help you get moving.

You can start planning your dream move with the assistance of our Edinburgh Removals service from White & Company today.

White & Company are also pleased to announce our new video survey service.

During these unprecedented times, we can safely conduct remote removals surveys.

We can gather all the relevant information for your move from the comfort of your own home.

So, give us a call today or fill out a quick quote form to see how we can get your dream move to one of these Edinburgh villages in the works.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.