Edinburgh is a great city for spending time with an older person. There are so many places to visit and things to do! In this blog post, we will list six of our favourite places to go. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of coffee and some cake, play a game of pool or table tennis, or just take a walk in the park, Edinburgh has something for everyone!
Here are six of our most popular ways to spend time with an older person in Edinburgh:
1 – Coffee, Chat and Cake
There’s nothing like a cup of coffee and some cake to enjoy some quality time with an older person. In fact, “The Three C’s” – Coffee, Chat and Cake are probably the most popular activity among our clients. Edinburgh has no shortage of great coffee shops, and no matter where you are in the city, you’re sure to find a great cafe nearby!
Our regular haunts at the moment include the Corner Cafe and Blossom Tree cafe in Currie – ideal after a stroll though Colinton Dell and Colinton tunnel. We love Porto and Fi at Newhaven, The Garden Bistro in Saughton Park, and any of the three(!!) cafes in the Botanic Garden.
We love to combine the Three C’s with another activity like a visit to a garden centre, or a stroll around one of Edinburgh’s stunning green spaces…
2 – Parks and green spaces
Edinburgh has dozens of parks and green spaces to enjoy. These are ideal for getting fresh air, light exercise and a change of scenery.
The Botanic Gardens are a great place to visit at any time of year to enjoy the plants, relax with a coffee or explore the shop. Princes Street Gardens is perfect for a stroll and a snack, while Craigie’s Farm has a great cafe and farm shop, and you can meet the farm animals.
In West Edinburgh, Saughton Park has recently benefitted from an £8m restoration. Including walled gardens and a new cafe, the Garden Bistro, with plenty of outside seating. Nearby is Roseburn Park with it’s outdoor table tennis table!
For the more adventurous, there are great walks around Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill.
3 – Garden Centres
Garden centres are a relaxing and inspiring place to spend a couple of hours. We love to accompany our older clients as they have a look round the selection of plants and gifts. And of course there is always time to stop for a cup of tea or coffee and a blether.
Edinburgh has several great garden centres on the outskirts of town, such as Pentland plants, Dobbies, and Riccarton Garden Centre.
4 – A Game of Table Tennis or Pool
Many of our clients enjoy taking part in active games. Table tennis doesn’t require much equipment, and the low-impact nature of this game can help reduce cardiovascular disease risks and improve mobility.
As well as the outdoor table tennis tables which are now popping up in parks across Edinburgh, we often go to Pop in and Play at the Gyle.
Also nearby is Philly’s Bar in Edinburgh park, perfect for a game of Pool in relaxed surroundings.
5 – A trip down memory lane
The Wee Museum of Memory is a reminiscence project in Edinburgh, created by the Living Memory Association. Currently based in Ocean Terminal, visitors are invited to come in, pick up objects and look at the many nostalgic photographs. There is usually a member of staff available for a chat and to answer any questions.
Visiting the museum really is like stepping back in time to a bygone Edinburgh. The household gadgets and old woodwork tools, Box Brownie cameras and Singer sewing machines bring personal memories flooding back. There are musical instruments such as a piano and accordion, and anyone is welcome to play them.
Also situated at Ocean Terminal is the Royal Yacht Britannia. This majestic vessel was decommissioned in 2017 after 45 years of service. It has traveled over 1 million miles and visited 56 countries during its time as a Royal yacht – not bad for an old girl! You can now explore the whole ship and discover stories from it’s distinguished life at sea.
6 – Trips out of Edinburgh
As well as all the places to visit within the city, it is sometimes nice to go for a short drive beyond the bypass. We often jump in the car and visit places like Portobello, South Queensferry, and even The Kelpies*.
Portobello is a beautiful seaside suburb with a two mile long sandy beach – perfect for a stroll and a chat. There are several bars and cafes along the promenade, perfect for watching the world go by.
South Queensferry is of course nestled in the shadow of the 3 Forth Bridges. As well as taking in the views of this stunning backdrop, our clients enjoy exploring the narrow streets and quirky shops. Again, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to cafes and bars – many of which have outdoor seating for enjoying the view.
The Kelpies are two stunning 100ft tall Stainless Steel horse head sculptures, situated just off the M9, a 30 min drive west of Edinburgh. They are the focal point of the Helix, a huge new community space and tourist attraction. There are flat, accessible walks, and a visitor centre with gift shop and cafe.
* NB we need to charge for any mileage and parking expenses
Viva are here to help older people continue to get out and about in Edinburgh
So there you have it. These are just some of our favourite ways to spend a couple of hours out and about with an elderly person in Edinburgh. And there are so many other great places that we didn’t have space for this time – visits to book shops, Maison de Moggy for the cat lovers, Lauriston Castle, Colinton tunnel, the list goes on…. oh, and did we mention coffee and cake?
When you use Viva’s companion service, we are there to support each elderly person to do exactly what they want to do. We want to empower elderly people, help them maintain their independence, and also reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness.
So if you have a family member who might benefit from getting out and about, and just having some extra company, why not send us a message today. Viva Independent living provide a professional Elderly Companion service in Edinburgh. Click here to find out more about the type of service we offer, and meet our team of companions.
Please call 07885 602972 or send us a message to find out more.