Ratho is home to the Bridge Inn, which is regularly included on lists of Scotland’s best beer gardens.
The Bridge Inn, Ratho.(Image: The Bridge Inn)
The recent bout of warm weather has lifted spirits and heightened anticipation for summer. And when the sun makes an appearance, there’s only one place on everyone’s mind – the beer garden.
Outdoor drinking as soon as temperatures soar past 15C is a quintessentially British summertime ritual up there with beach days, cider at music festivals, and strawberries with cream during Wimbledon. Despite the often unpredictable Scottish weather, there’s no shortage of options to choose from.
For those in search of the perfect spot to spend a leisurely day, a village pub boasting a sizeable beer garden might just be the ticket. This is precisely what awaits in the quaint village of Ratho, a mere seven miles from Edinburgh.
The Bridge Inn, nestled by the Union Canal as it meanders from Falkirk to Edinburgh, is frequently touted as one of Scotland’s top beer gardens. It serves up traditional pub fare alongside seasonal specialties, complemented by an extensive range of wines, whiskies, cocktails, spirits, and beers.
Touted as the “perfect place to watch the world go by,” the Bridge Inn’s beer garden operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with no option for advance reservations. Despite its proximity to the city centre, Ratho retains the charm of a rural village, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Dating back to the 1200s, the historic heart of the village is a conservation area, home to numerous ancient buildings primarily constructed from whin stone sourced from a nearby quarry.
Ratho is home to the Union Canal and the Bridge Inn which overlooks its waters(Image: Wikicommons)
The canal provides an idyllic setting for waterside walks, while those seeking more vigorous activities can head to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho, which held the title of the world’s largest when it opened its doors in 2003.
Adjacent to the climbing centre is The Lost Shore Surf Resort, the globe’s first inland surf resort. A mere six-minute drive away lies the breathtaking Jupiter Artland Sculpture Park, exhibiting outdoor pieces by renowned sculptors and artists.
The Lost Shore Surf Resort just a five-minute drive away.
The Jupiter Artland Sculpture Garden is just a short driver from Ratho
Ratho enjoys a strategic location near the junction where the M8 and M9 motorways intersect, and is only a few miles from Edinburgh Airport. The city centre is a convenient 30-minute drive away.
Despite being a rural village, Ratho is part of City of Edinburgh Council. It used to be part of Midlothian.
At the 2011 census the population was just over 1,600 people.
The name Ratho comes from the Scots Gaelic word Rath, which means hill fort.
Ratho was named one of the top 10 villages in the UK for travellers to visit.
It was awarded the status by TripAdvisor and has been described by residents as a “sleepy retreat”.
But locals said they were surprised to hear that the village had been given the award because they feel like they’re living in a “forgotten Community” due to the lack of transport links.