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Aircraft Spotting at Edinburgh City's Airfields and Airports
EDINBURGH - TWR 118.7, APP 121.2
On A8, just off J1 M9. For GA terminal turn right at roundabout outside Airport Hilton (which is on access road to the airport from the A8) - usually has a few biz parked outside. Past here is the Caledonian Aviation maintenance hangar. Drive up to the right past this to their car park for the based light aircraft, and some that are on the Cargo terminal can be seen from here. 1) "Ingliston": leaving the airport, turn right at the second roundabout (the one with the Hilton hotel off it). Go along to a T-junction, turn right towards the Quality Hotel but don't go into the hotel entrance. Instead, go virtually straight ahead (bearing very slightly left) and you'll be in the car park for the Ingliston Sunday market (so don't go on a Sunday). You can get very close to the runway here, and there are normally some photographers about. Check out the newsgroup free.uk.binaries.edinburgh-airport for some of the output of these guys. 2) "Cargo" or "Turnhouse" or "The Old Airport": leaving the airport, head towards Edinburgh on the A8. You'll come to a big roundabout at the end of the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720) with an underpass going through the middle of the roundabout. Take the underpass and you'll see a set of traffic lights. The Marriott Hotel is on the right hand side, also on the right is the Gyle shopping centre, which is a good place to leave family while you spot. Just before the traffic lights there is a slip road to the left (you'll see a shop called Marionville Models). Take this and turn left into (I think it is called) "Turnhouse Road". Follow this to the end where you will arrive next to the cargo ramp. You can also take landing shots from here if runway 24 is in use, which is the most common runway. Now if there is anything parked on Block 30, basically at the end of Runway 12/30, then here's where you get near enough to take photos. When coming along Turnhouse Road you first pass a factory on the right hand side. You'll go along for a bit, passing a farm again on the right. Then there is a road on the right (opposite a cottage on the left). This takes you down behind a farm and takes a 90 degree turn to the right onto an unpaved road. You cross a railway bridge and the road takes a 90 degree turn to the left. At that point there is a gate on the right from where it should be possible to photograph anything parked there. There are often bizjets parked here. Word of caution: if you decide you want to look at anything at the GAT (General Aviation Terminal) then proceed cautiously, I'm told that the FBO doesn't like spotters. The FBO (ExecAir) can be found behind the long stay car park, reached via the road down the side of the Hilton. Excellent viewing airside with the new pier giving good views of the cargo and biz jet ramps.
Hotels
The Quality Inn is ideal for spotting. It is located by the Highland Showground car park, which is one of the usual places to spot from. Only two storeys high, but with an airport facing room there are no obstructions so views are good. A 1st floor room would of course be the best.
For more info visit http://www.egph.co.uk/. For airport parking visit 
or 
Updated 19 April 2008
KIRKNEWTON (MOD)
Owned by MOD but some light aircraft here due to flying restrictions at Edinburgh. Take the A71 southwest out of Edinburgh to about a mile past Wilkieston, turn left on to B7031, up over the railway crossing and past Kirknewton village - the airfield is on the left after a mile. Home of Scotland Aero Club and Air Cadet gliders – they don’t welcome spotters
KIRKNEWTON-LATCH FARM
From Kirknewton (MOD) above, turn left out of the airfield, and turn right at the T junction on to A70. Take second left after 1-2 miles (Leyden Road?) and after a mile you will go over River Gogar Burn. Shortly after this Latch Farm is on your left. The airfield is on the right. There are gaps in hangars to view some regs if they are locked up.
Updated 6 January 2008