Coastal Cities, Towns, Villages A – Z

The charming town of Queenborough lies on the western side of the Isle of Sheppey, along the edge of the Swale, the channel that separates the island from the mainland. It is a rather picturesque place, with a village-like town centre made up terraced cottages from the 18^th and 19^th century, and a quaint pub named the Old House at Home, which overlooks the Swale. A stone-built Medieval church is placed in the town, along with a heritage museum (located in the Guildhall), and a harbour built along the edge of a small creek. The earthworks of Queenborough Castle – a Medieval fortress that was demolished in 1650 – are located just to the east of the town centre, in a park that is open to the public.

Queensferry (or South Queensferry), is a small town that sits on the southern side of the Firth of Forth, around 13 km/8 miles to the west of central Edinburgh. The Forth Railway Bridge passes to the east of the town – completed in 1890, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and widely held as a symbol of Scotland, it is a remarkable feat of engineering, built to provide an efficient railway link across the vast firth. Two road bridges – completed in 1964 and 2017, also cross the Forth, passing to the west of the town. Amazing views of each crossing can be seen from The Binks – an area of rocks and open grass that sits on Queensferry’s seafront. The town itself is rather picturesque, with a small harbour, cobbled streets and quaint buildings, many of which are painted in different colours. A handful of guest houses, cafes and shops are also located in the town.