Due to essential maintenance the WEST Footpath/Cycleway is CLOSED except during weekends, please use the EAST Footpath/Cycleway.
Access RestrictionsQueensferry may be just over 15 minutes by train from the centre of Edinburgh but it feels like a typical east coast fishing village.
Spend a while here to ‘get under the skin’ of everyday life in a historic Scottish community. There’s plenty to see and do and you can easily explore on foot for a relaxed alternative to the shuttle bus.
Take a look at the itineraries below to make the most of your time in this charming wee town and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As you disembark, you'll be met by a team of CruiseForth welcome volunteers in purple jackets. They'll be happy to answer any questions and point you in the right direction.
Queensferry is named after Queen (Saint) Margaret who, in the 11th century, established a ferry to carry pilgrims travelling to St Andrews and Dunfermline.
By the 17th century, the town was a flourishing port, trading in coal, wool and hides and importing wine, silk, linen and timber from Europe and Scandinavia. Many fine 17th century buildings survive. One of Queensferry’s oldest buildings, Black Castle, dates back to 1626. An imposing building on the High Street, the castle was associated with witch hunts of the time.
By the 18th century, trade had declined until, in 1883, the construction of the Forth Bridge bought renewed prosperity. The bridge workers, known as ‘The Briggers’ were well served by the town’s hostelries, and it is said that at the end of each shift, Hawes Inn would line up 200 pints on the bar. Featured in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped, Hawes Inn remains a popular watering hole.
Forth Boat Tours and The Maid of the Forth operate from Hawes Pier or Port Edgar and offer a variety of cruises to suit all tastes.
Trips include sightseeing cruises, wildlife watching, and evening cruises with music. Both operators also offer trips to the beautiful Inchcolm Island with its well preserved monastic buildings.
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