To blow away the cobwebs, take a tour on a high-speed RIB (rigid inflatable boat). Sea.fari runs trips from Newhaven, just north of the city centre, as well as from Dunbar and North Berwick, which are worth the journey, especially for birdwatchers. While the Newhaven tours take passengers on a one-hour blast to see seals and seabirds, its destinations from North Berwick include the Isle of May, where puffins can be seen in the summer, and Bass Rock, home to the extraordinary sight of 100,000 diving gannets.

For a more sedate cruise, Maid of the Forth and Forth Boat Tours both offer trips from South Queensferry to Inchcolm Island with an option to visit its medieval abbey, as well as evening cruises. Take a three-hour jazz cruise on the Maid of the Forth or enjoy a disco, jazz or salsa cruise on Forth Boat Tours’ Forth Belle. Both give you the chance to watch the sunset behind the famous Forth bridges while enjoying a drink from the licensed bar.

Forth Boat Tours
forthtours.com 0870 118 1866 Tours from £10 (£9)

Maid of the Forth
maidoftheforth.co.uk 0131 331 5000 From £10 (£9)

Sea.fari
seafari.co.uk From £22 (£19)