Sports in Edinburgh

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Just a few miles out of town near to the airport (though away from the plane noise) Great fun and safe as well. Andy and Hugh at Clay Shooting in Edinburgh should ensure that you have a good time.

Climbing

There's indoor rock climbing at Alien Rock, Old St Andrew's Church, Pier Pl, Newhaven, Tel: 5527211. Climbing walls of various degrees of difficulty and a bouldering room.

The Ratho Adventure Centre is even more amazing with is huge, I mean huge indoor walls are absolutely amazing for climbing.

Football

Edinburgh has 2 Scottish Premier League teams, who play at home on alternate Saturdays during the league season. Heart of Midlothian, or Hearts, play at Tyncastle, on the Gorgie Road about a mile west of Haymarket, and Hibernian (Hibs) play at Easter Road, east of the centre near Leith. Rivalry between the two is fierce, but thankfully free from the religious bigotry of their Glasgow Glasgow counterparts.

Golf

There are many fine golf courses around Edinburgh, especially along the coast of East Lothian, but most are private. Public courses in and around the city include the two at Braid Hills, Tel: 4476666, Silverknowes, Tel: 3363843, Torphin Hill, Tel: 4414061, and Lothianburn, Tel: 4452288. If you plan on playing a lot of golf, then you should buy the Lothian and Edinburgh Golf Pass, which costs £5 and allows you to play on 20 courses throughout the region at discounted rates. For details, contact the tourist board, Tel: 4733800, www.edinburgh.org/golf.

Horse Riding

Edinburgh & Lasswade Riding Centre, Kevock Rd, Lasswade, Tel: 6637676. Pentland Hills Icelandics, Rodgersrigg Farm, Carlops (south of Hillend Ski Centre), Midlothian, T01968-661095. Tower Farm Riding Stables, 85 Liberton Drive, Tel: 6643375.

Rugby

Scotland's national side play at Murrayfield Stadium, a few miles west of the city centre and reached from Corstorphine Rd or Roseburn St. For tickets Tel: 3645000, though these are scarce for major internationals.

Skiing

Midlothian Ski Centre, at Hillend, take the A702 off the City Bypass at the Lothianburn exit, Tel: 4454433 (open Mon-Sat 0930-2100, Sun 0930-1900). Artificial ski slope for ski and snowboarding practice and instruction. Also downhill mountain bike trail and chairlift for those who want to admire the view.

Sports Centres

Meadowbank Sports Centre , 139 London Rd, Tel: 6615351. The city's main venue for athletics meetings. Indoor and outdoor multi-sports complex with fitness room, squash courts, all weather pitches, velodrome and climbing wall. Open Mon 0930-2300, Tue-Sun 0900-2300. To get there, take bus no 15 or 26 from Princes St (north side) or a no 45 from the Mound. Craiglockart Tennis and Sports Centre, 177 Colinton Rd, Tel: 4430101. Indoor and outdoor tennis courts, squash, badminton, pulse-centre gym, fitness studio and free weights. Open Mon-Thu 0900-2300, Fri 1000-2300, Sat/Sun 0900-2230. Take bus no 10 from Princes St (south side) or no 27 from the Mound going south.

Swimming Pools

Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, 92 Pilton Rd, Tel: 5512400. Swimming pool, sauna, steam room, spa, pulse-centre gym, fitness suite. Open Mon-Fri 1000-2200, Sat/Sun 1000-1800. Take bus no 28 or 29 from the Mound to Crewe Toll, or 27 to Ferry Road. Leith Waterworld, 377 Easter Road, Tel: 5556000. At the foot of Leith Walk. Good children's facilities. Open Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat/Sun 1000-1700 during school holidays. Royal Commonwealth Pool , Dalkeith Rd, Tel: 6677211. The biggest and most popular in the city, with a 50 m pool, flumes, diving pool, children's area, sauna and gym. Open Mon-Fri 0900-2100, Sat/Sun 1000-1600. To get there take a no 14, 21, 33, 82 or 83 bus south from North Bridge.