I’m reminded every day how fortunate I am to be living in the most sought-after town in the country and now I learn that this county here East Lothian boasts the best of beaches in Seacliff… get our drift.
Only this week (and it has been a few months since the last time) we rehashed why we left another prize-winning idyll, Greystones in County Wicklow, in Ireland.
For North Berwick on the east coast of Scotland.
Of course, I hear husbands everywhere screaming ‘just say you’re right’, and they would be correct, and I did.
As much as I miss the land of my mother, it makes it ever harder to push my case.
When praise is continuously heaped on this little corner of Scotland, just a half an hour east of Edinburgh.
For a place I like to joke is ‘God’s waiting room’ with its own ‘Olden Mile’ it is hotting up.
And that’s not just the balmy climes that are drawing visitors far and wide.
Golfing and gigging
The Scottish Open Golf Championship has attracted the world’s top players to the Renaissance Golf Club in Archerfield.
Where, shameless plug here, the likes of Nick Faldo have been known to pop in to the Archerfield Walled Garden.
To buy the wares from the best horticulturalist in the business (She told me to say that).
And the Boomtown Rats, the Bluebells, Ezra Collective, Irvine Welsh and Rory Stewart are among the acts who will perform at the Fringe By The Sea next month.
Of course with so many luminaries passing through the upmarket coastal town we’re tempted not to keep Seacliff to ourselves.
Rock up to the Drift
But then the Drift cafe, with arguably the best views of Bass Rock, even more so than the Seabird Centre in North Berwick, then the secret’s already out.
And you’ll want to book ahead for a window seat.
A Mecca for cyclists and trekkers, you can also drive up to it.
Seacliff fans are known to make a day of it in getting there.
And when there, descending the cliff to go for a dip and then returning to avail of the sauna pods outside the cafe.
Escape Sauna offers an open session or you can book privately for a session for up to five people.
And a nod to Portstewart in Ireland
Well seen then that travel journalist Chris Haslam picked Seacliff out as his best in Scotland.
After visiting 756 beaches and 51 resorts throughout Britain and the North of Ireland.
Now with all this on our doorstep we’re not going to be churlish about Portstewart Strand in County Derry winning the overall award.
And the only way to approach it is on the train.
From Belfast around the strand en route to my Mum’s own Co. Donegal.
