I Maid of the Forth Hawes Pier. South Oueensferry. 031 331 4857. £5.50(£4.50). Sunny skies and the fresh. salty sea breezes of the great outdoors are to be had on the Maid of the Forth cruises and sailings. Daily trips to the sanctuary of lnchcolm Island with its preserved medieval abbey. picnic area and sandy beaches. Nature trekkers can observe the abundant wildlife and colony of grey seals basking on nearby rocks. Ten miles from the city centre.

I Spirit of Fife Granton. 031 552 3631 . £4 (£2.50). Everything is ship shape and Fife- bound on this modern. 250-passenger ferry which sails daily from Granton to the shores of Burntisland morning. noon and night. Edinburgh‘s equivalent tothe Statten Island ferry. Evening cruises promise entertainment of the musical variety to make your trip even more pleasu rablc. Three miles from the city centre.

SAILING

I Port Edgar Marina South Oueensferry. Edinburgh. 331 3330. A two-hour instruction session costs £7.90 for canoeing and windsurfing and from £8—£26 for sailing. A two-hour hire session costs £5 .70 for canoes and windsurfers. and from £6.50—£I7 for sailboats. Opening hours are 10am—9pm. ‘Splice the main brace Jim lad and we‘re starboard bound.‘ Sailing isn‘t all sea shanties and stripey tops. though. as you‘ll find out when you visit one of the many sailing centres based in the neuks and crannies of the Firth of Forth. As well as the vast number of private sailing clubs. there are larger centres like Port Edgar and Lochore which also offer canoeing and dinghy hire and instruction. For the experienced sailor. the Forth offers plenty of scope for exploring ports of call like Cramond.

‘r OUR

ADVENTURE BEGINS WIT ll SPICE

The original and largest multi activity/adventure/social group for ordinary people who want to do extraordinary things. Choose from over 400 exciting events each year from tandem skydiving to theatre visits, bungee jumping to badminton, sub aqua to rambling. plus holidays and weekend breaks. Over 5000 members nationwide from 18-80's, both couples and singles. For a free Information pack and details of our next preview night, ring

Morna on 031 557 3954. Or has your .

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got up and gone?

WHITE WATER RAFTING Enjoy the fun and excitement of running rapids. Absolutely no prior experience required and all equipment supplied by us. For further details of our summer half day trips, champagne trips and autumn full day trips please phone or write to SPLASH 9 Nicoll Drive, Bankfoot, Perth, PH1 48L tel (0738) 8743

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14 The List 3— 161uly 1992

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Dunbar or lnchcolm Island. while amateur sea-dogs may prefer the protection of sheltered waters to get to grips with wind-awareness and rigging procedures. Ten miles from the city centre.

CYCLING

That green and eco-friendly mode of transport. the bicycle. has come a long way since its rather awkward-looking prototype. the Penny Farthing and equally uncomfortable and rather naff 70s invention. the Chopper. I-lowever. the ultimate 90s accessory is the sturdy mountain bike. which is selling in vast quantities. Taking advantage of Edinburgh's geographical position in this green and pleasant land. a company called Greenwheels now specialises in designing and running tailor—made cycling courses around the Edinburgh area. As well as fun rides. halfand full day outings and weekends conquering the challenging Highlands. they also organise instruction courses for the mountain bike novice. For the free spirits and independent-minded. Greenwheel is happy to hire-out bikes and suggest routes.

I Greenwheel 10 Murdoch Terrace. Edinburgh. 228 6333.

I Spokes 232 Dairy Road. Edinburgh. 313 21 14. Those veteran fighters for the right to cycle. and The Bike Bus 4 Barclay Terrace. Edinburgh. 229 6274. also organise easy day trips to The Trossachs. Loch Tay and the Borders so there‘s no excuse for not easing yourself into those lycra shorts and hitting the highways and by-ways.

HORSE RIDING

Many an adult weaned on that epic stables saga. Black Beauty. may well be harbouring a secret fantasy ofgalloping through the countryside. wind streaming through their hair. palomino mane brushing their face. Now is the time to realise that childhood wish. as well as firming up those sagging. cellulite regions. I Tower Farm Riding Stables Liberton Drive. Edinburgh. 664 3375. Group lessons cost £9 and private tuition starts at £14. Catering for riders and pony trekkers alike. with stables housing fifteen ponies and horses. Approved by the British Horse Society. all standards of rider are catered for. With a packed summer season ofcross-country and beach rides. this is

definitely more fun than My Little Pony.

Five miles from city centre.

I Edinburgh and Lasswade Riding Centre Kevock Road. Lasswade. 663 7676. Private lessons cost £9. Offeringtrekking and hacking through surrounding greenery. Classes for everyone from tiny tots to those of dressage level. Nine miles from city centre.

COUNTRY PARKS

I Blair Drummond Safari and Leisure Park Near Stirling. 0786 841456. £5 (£3).10am—4.30pm. Open until 5 October.

We‘re definitely in Johnny Morriscountry here with a fine collection ofexotic animals from the world‘s ark. Llamas. zebras. camels and Siberian tigers all roam unfettered in this wildlife paradise. Other crowd-pullers include Chimp Island. the penguin waterfall and giant astraglide while the Kitchen Ranch is on hand if you‘re feeling pcckish. Anyone fora bison-burger? 40 miles front the city centre. I The Scottish Deer Centre Bow-of—Fife. Cupar. Fife. 033 781 391 . £3.25(£2) 10am—5pm. April—October. Jostling with

; the hairy haggis for number one position as Scotland's most famous wildlife is the

majestic red deer. Expert rangers will take you on a nose-to-nose informed and entertaining guided tour to observe the deer and tame stags in their natural setting. Aerial walkways allow you to enter the land of the woodpecker with walks through the woods. Nature trails. adventure land. theatre and winery all make for a healthy day out. 42 milesfmm the city centre.

STATELY HOMES

I Hopetoun House South Oueensferry. 031 3312451.10am—5.30pm.£3.30(£l.60). Billed as ‘Scotland's finest stately home‘. Hopctoun aspires to the Sun King's Palace of Versailles. near rival Paris. As well as the original furniture. paintings and tapestries inside the house. outside. visitors can wander around the 100 acres of parkland. woodland walks. nature trails and a Red Deer Park. 'I‘welve miles from the city centre.

I Traquair House Innerleithen. Peebleshire. 0896 830323. l0.30am-5.30pm. £3 (£1 .50). Once a pleasure ground for Scottish kings. now a tranquil and romantic home to craft workshops and its own distinctive Bear Ale brewhouse. Secret stairs. spooky

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cellars. a maze and a bed whose sheets Mary Queen of Scots is said to have creased. Traquair Fair. held in the first weekend of August. heralds a time of summer mayhem. with theatre. dance. mime. clowns and general festivities. 29 miles from the city centre.

I Dalmeny House South Oueensferry. 031 331 1888. Sun—Thurs 2—5.30pm. £3(£1.50) The family home of the Earl of Rosebery. Superb collections ofpaintings. furniture. porcelain and tapestries. Highlights include the Napoleon Room containing memorabilia associated with the vertically-challenged Emperor. Fresh-air fiends can take the minute-long row boat | trip across the River Almond and walk along the shore to Robert Louis Stevenson country at South Oueensferry. Eightmiles from the city centre. I Falkland Palace Falkland. Fife. 03375 7397. Mon—Sat 10am—5.30pm; Sun 2—5pm. £3 (£1.50). About one hour‘s drive from Edinburgh lies the Royal Palace of Falkland. Bursting with historical importance. it was built by Jameses IV and V and was once the hunting residence of the Stewart monarchs. includingthe soon-to-be-headless. Mary Queen of Scots.This year marks the 450th birthday I ofthe latter and the National Trust is organising a series of plays. costumed concerts and garden open days throughout the summer to mark the occasion. 30miles from the cty centre.

I Linlithgow Palace Linlithgow. Fife . (131 244 3107. Mon—Sat 9.30am-6pm; Sun 2—6pm. £1 .50 (80p). Another one on the Mary Queen ofScots trail. this impressive ruin was once her birthplace. Notable features include the chapel. the great hall with its gargantuan fireplace. the kitchen and the royal apartments. Seventeen miles from the city centre.

I Thirlestane Castle Lauder. Borders. 057 82430. Sun—Fri 2—5pm. £3. One ofthe

Rapid rafting

‘Totally awesome’ was one novice rafter’s breathless response to her baptism into white-water rafting. Surf City, Scottish-style, comes in the shape of Perthshire’s leading exponents of the sport, Splash. If a quick splish splash in the bath leaves you feeling a tad dissatisfied and you’re looking for a more exhilarating water experience, then head for the River Tay to shoot the world famous rapids at Grantully.

Having been modified somewhat since its inception in the heady days of the Arizona adventurers who rode the Grand Canyon rapids, nowadays the sport attracts everyone from Brownies to businessmen. The modern rafter is

VDava Srnith

kitted out with helmet, life-jacket and other safety attire, before embarking on a five-mile journey, battling it out with a few million litres of H20. Not only do Splash offer the thrills and spills of careering down this watery road, but the quieter stretches allow you to absorb the surrounding beauty as you float on by.

No prior experience is necessary and you don’t even have to be a swimmer. Expert tuition, together with the ‘Rolls Royce’ of rafting equipment ensure a totally safe and exhilarating experience. It costs £14 for a half day session, with a minimum booking of six people. Contact Splash, 9 Nicoll Drive, Bankfoot, Perthshire. 0738 87430.