Saughton Sports Complex is a smaller sports centre but with most things you need in a sports…read morecentre. They have outdoor pitches with astroturf for 5-a-side football and an athletics track with various other sports packages. In the past I have only used the 2 things named above but my time there was enjoyable. The complex is cheap, and the pitches are a lot cheaper to hire out than those of larger chains. The athletics track is large with grass verges at the side where ou can sit and watch, it's lovely on a summers day. Many a school uses the complex for their sports days or for their baseball classes. The changing rooms are spaceous and clean with plenty lockers. There is not a great deal of staff on the complex but normally a janitor who can assist who sits near the entrance.

I come here once a month with the running club. Facilities are basic (could do with being spruced…read moreup) but it's a warm place to meet and get changed etc. They're open to members on a Friday night for a few hours. The bar is run on a volunteer basis which is quite quaint. In summer this place is busy. Great place to join if you want to make the most of the fresh sea air! Also a good place to get the kids involved in sailing (provided they can swim of course ;) )

New members are welcome (children can sail from age 8). Fisherrow is an RYA Recognised Training…read moreCentre with 3 instructors. It is a welcoming and friendly community sailing club with a good-size function room, well-kitted kitchen, a training room and a cosy bar for members/ guests (open 9-11pm Fridays and at events). They were short-listed in 2017 as an RYA Scotland Club of The Year and published a book with the club's history in early 2018 to commemorate its Diamond Jubilee (60 years). FYC welcomes Sea Scouts, Runners, the Yarnbombers (demon knitters!) and the Eskmuthe Rowing Club. The club fronts on new Street plus has a boatyard opening direct onto the promenade with access across to the beach for dinghies going out racing, on funsails or for sailing instruction. Some members have yachts in the harbour, just to the west.

I would say this soft play is better for older children as there isn't much for the babies, mainly…read morea ball pit and not much else but yeah great for bigger kids as there is a huge apparatus and lots to do for them. There is also loads of seating but can get pretty busy and the cafe offers things like tea coffee, smoothies, cakes, hot food (which can be really salty sometimes)as well as children's snacks and pretty low cost so not bad but the baby area could be more imaginative.

Big. Well-lit. Expensive and it's 90 minutes maximum stay. It can also get very busy at times so…read morecall ahead. It is very good in terms of equipment and the little kid-big kid areas are well-appointed. The cafe is expensive and the seating is such that you cannot use the tables until your paid-for session begins. There are only a few tables in the waiting area so it's kind of lame that way. It could have been better thought out. Still, not bad and brand-spankin-new.

Rugby in Edinburgh and the Borders in Scotland is something of an institution, some would say a…read morereligion. Heriots is one of the oldest, proudest and largest clubs in the Scottish rugby system (bar the big professional Glasgow and Edinburgh franchises) and the set up here just reeks of tradition. This year, Heriots celebrate their 125th anniversary, such is their history in the sport in this country. I've been here twice now with my son's team, Biggar RFC, to play against the Heriots U15 team. A fine team, well coached and disciplined, and that extends to their hospitality. Heriots is a great, friendly and welcoming club to all, visitors and opponents alike. Our game this weekend was played on the main pitch in front of the impressive stand; it just seeped with history and felt like somewhat of an honour to be part of the history of the place. Plus, y'know - Biggar won, so there was that. It's a lovely ground, and somewhere I wouldn't hesitate to return to, either with the kids' team or even just to take in a Premiership match one day.

The Dalry Swimming Centre is located just off the Dalry Road in Edinburgh. It is a short walk from…read moreHaymarket station. The pool is a refurbished Victorian one and it is actually very pleasant. The changing area is unisex and my one complaint is the fact there is only one family changing room. As I visit with my daughter a lot, this causes problems as she needs assistance in the changing rooms. The main changing area is upstairs from the pool and there are lots of lockers to use to leave your valuables and clothing there. The pool itself is 25 metres long and is ideal for a quiet swim. I rarely find this pool to be too busy, probably because it is slightly off the beaten track and also because it is virtually impossible to park a car outside unless you have the relevant residents' permit. As a result most people either walk here or take a bus. The pool usually has a few lanes specifically for lane swimming and I find the lifeguards here to be particularly helpful. They have suggested play sessions for my daughter and are very pleasant. There is a small sauna next to the pool which I haven't tried. There is also a gym upstairs which I also have yet to try but have heard good things about. This is a great swimming centre in the heart of Edinburgh that is open to all.

I really wanted to love this place, but every time I went the staff would persistently harass me in…read moreone way or another. First off, they wouldn't let me keep my bag in the gym with me, but then the only place to put your stuff is in the lockers in the swimming area. This means taking off your shoes and walking on a dirty floor (yuck!) even if you're not going swimming. The area where the lockers are is also very humid and over time I believe my phone has been water damaged as a result of this, which is additionally frustrating. The staff have made no effort to work with me on this issue and when I pointed out that I have chronic fatigue and joint problems that make this endeavour more difficult for me than for others, they simply said that "no one gets special treatment here". I'm looking forward to trying Nuffield Health down the road, hoping that I won't be persistently harassed and scrutinized there.

I was really pleased to discover that my new house was near a swimming pool. I like to swim fairly…read moreregularly but previously have not lived walking distance from a pool. So I'm really grateful that this is just round the corner as, during the cold winter months, it was too easy to put off the cycle to the pool for another night. Now, since it's not such an effort to get to the pool itself, I'll be going far more often. I have been here for a swim several times now. - I really like it! I'm used to modern build pools or super sporty swimming centres but, with a restored Victorian pool, Glenogle Swim Centre is the first pool of its kind I've visited. I like the nostalgia that comes with it. Service is friendly, the pool is always immaculately clean and the premises are safe, with several staff members on site. The staff at the front desk are always really friendly too which makes all the difference on a miserable winter night. - I'm impressed with my new local pool!

I've been a member here for about two months and this is a pretty decent gym. Its by far the…read moresmallest one I've ever been a member of, but so far it hasn't been a huge issue (I attribute this to the fact I usually go between 10am and 3pm on weekdays). My only gripe is the fact I have to book my fitness classes so far in advance because there simply is not enough room to fit more than 12 people in the fitness room. The weights room is pretty good if you're the only person there, otherwise it can be quite awkward trying to find a good spot for yourself if there is another person trying to do weights.

Squeezed in between the railway line and the main road to Kinghorn, Burntisland Links is the main…read morepark in the town. In the past it used to have an open air swimming pool and a brilliant crazy golf. However, these things are mostly all gone, however the Links is still a place full of activity. The Links has a few play areas for young and older children , which always seem to be very popular with the locals. The main bulk of the Links is green grass, rolling up and down the low bumps and humps of the landscape where dogs run about and amateur footballers play there trade! During the summer, the Links is taken over by the shows. The shows are on the large side for the town and are dead during the day, however by night the dodgy disco music is pumped out at full volume whilst people try their hand at the dodgems!

If this team ever goes bankrupt, then the entire city of Edinburgh will need Hib replacements…read more First-Hand Experience: I've seen Hibs play at their home stadium of Easter Road twice... once was just last year. I've seen them play away once or twice too. It's not my fave stadium, but the club on the other hand is absolutely magnificent, historic, grand and glorious with excellent fans and an amazing pedigree. It's always a pleasure watching them play, and I do love their green kits as well. It's a little cold up here in Scotland but it's worth braving the howling wind to see a Hibs game if you're up here. And Hearts too of course. Hibernian are the second team of Edinburgh even though they'd like to think they are the first. They're from the posh rich East End of the city, whereas Hearts are from the West side (closer to Glasgow). They were founded by Irish immigrants, so they're the Irish team of Edinburgh, and play in green with a green badge to reflect this. They're the Celtic of Edinburgh if you will. Cabbage And Ribs is the nickname of the club, and their awesome stadium holds 20k fans which is more than Hearts, even though their average attendance is lower. They're usually in the Prem, but were outside it this season. They finished 2nd (behind Hearts but ahead of Rangers), and so will play off with Rangers and two other teams for a place in the Scottish Prem next season, and I'll let you know how that goes. They were formed way back in 1875. Hibernia is the Roman name for Ireland. They originated in the Cowgate part of Edinburgh. In other news I have three kittens cuddling me, yay. It's still a Catholic club no matter what anyone tells you. In the 1990s, Hearts tried to take over the club, why would they do that? The rivalry is great for both sides. The supporters did a "Hands Off Hibs" campaign thankfully. The clubs are friendly despite the religious motives behind the rivalry, nothing like the clubs in Glasgow. Hibs is the team that is supported by the characters in Trainspotting. The club plans to sell 51% of ownership to the supporters. They have won the Scottish League 4 times, the same as Hearts. 1903, 48, 51 and 52. They were runners up 6 times, most recently 1975. They've won the Scottish Cup only twice, 1887 and 1902, and never since. They've lost THIRTEEN cup finals, including 2001, 2012 and 2013. A very unlucky team then. 10 of their 11 cup final losses have been since their second and final cup win, so they are basically jinxed. They have won the Scottish League Cup though, in 73, 92, and 2007, so their recent successes are all in that competition. In 1950, 65k people came to see them face Hearts. Hibs are a classic team and get a full 5 stars just like Hearts do.

The club I have supported for over 40 years; my dad nearly 70 years; and now my beautiful son. It's…read morein my blood.