Port Edgar open weekend brings fun on the water

More than 500 watersports taster sessions, shopping, streetfood, DJs and kids’ activities will be on the menu at this year’s Port Edgar open weekend on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May.

The annual open weekend takes place at Port Edgar in South Queensferry, which features the largest watersports and activity centre in Scotland. The number of watersports taster sessions has increased – to around 250 per day – due to the phenomenal interest at last year’s event.

Expert instructors from Port Edgar Watersports will provide the chance to try dinghy sailing, paddle boarding, windsurfing, keel boat sailing, canoeing and sea kayaking.

The one-hour sessions cost £10 per adult and £5 for children over 8 years old. It is highly recommended to book in advance of coming along.

A new addition to this year’s watersports options is an introduction to powerboating session, which cost £25 per adult and £20 per children (over 8), with a maximum of three people on board with an instructor.

Sightseeing trips under the three bridges will also be available on Forth Tours’ Forth Princess and exhilarating 30-minute trips on The Maid of The Forth’s Seafari RIB. While Edinburgh Boat Charters is offering discounted sailing sessions on board their luxury catamaran during the weekend.

Once again, the open weekend will feature a feast of food and drink treats at the Canteen Street Food Festival, from renowned pop-up specialists Rogue Village – in addition to Marina favourites Down the Hatch, there will be Chick & Pea’s legendary halloumi fries and Fox Hat’s authentic, American smoked BBQ food as well as Moo Pie’s handcrafted gelato and Crema Caravan, the UK’s first Crème Brûlée van.

Thirsty revellers can take their pick from three bars – Poco Prosecco, Herringbone cocktails and the local Ferry Brewery.

The dry land activities will include plenty of kids’ activities such as face painting and crazy golf. There will also be live DJ sets from Four Corners DJs.

Paddleboarding at the Port Edgar open weekend (Photo: Mike Wilkinson)

Shoppers can peruse an extensive range of country, marine and casual clothing and accessories at the Marina’s shop, Beacon. The shop will have amazing offers over the weekend and features brands including Dubarry, Joules, Schoffel and Fairfax & Favor.

More than 7000 visitors attended last year’s event at the marina which sits between the iconic Road and Rail bridges and the Queensferry Crossing.

Due to the popularity of the Open Weekend event and with the 200-capacity restaurant, Scotts, now on site, car parks are expected to be very busy, so visitors are being encouraged to travel by public transport. Local residents are encouraged to cycle or walk.

Less than 30-minutes from Edinburgh city centre, on the southern banks of the Firth of Forth, Port Edgar Marina boasts stunning views of the Queensferry Crossing and the Kingdom of Fife beyond.

As one of the east coast’s largest marinas with berths for over 300 boats, Port Edgar is also the home of Port Edgar Yacht Club and a number of major marine businesses.

Port Edgar Marina’s managing director, Russell Aitken, said: ‘Due to the success of last year’s Open Weekend, the team from Port Edgar Watersports have added even more taster sessions to this year’s event, with around 250 options each day.

‘Away from the water, we’re delighted to be teaming up again with Rogue Village and their Canteen Street Food Festival, while there will be loads to do for all the family, from shopping at Beacon, as well as face painting and crazy golf for our younger visitors. Dogs are welcome too!’

The Port Edgar open weekend will run from 10am-6pm. Parking charge of £5 on entry will be donated to SAMH.

For further information, visit www.portedgar.co.uk.

To avoid disappointment, it’s recommended to pre-book a taster session by contacting Port Edgar Watersports on 0131 319 1820 or email bookings@portedgarwatersports.com. It is £5 per child age 8-16 and £10 per adult.