5 Must-Visit Beaches In East Lothian

Dear Diary,

I like to call myself an oceanholic.

The sea is what drives me, what keeps me going. Maybe I’ve got seawater flooding through my veins, who knows …

The best way for me to relax and calm down is simply by looking at the sea. Listening to the waves. That’s where I get my inspiration, my ideas.

Hence why I moved to Scotland. Being able to go for long walks on the beach without having to board a plane. A dream come true!

And let me tell you, there’re plenty of stunning beaches and walks in the Edinburgh and Lothian area. The stunning beachline stretches from Seton Sands all the way down to North Berwick.

So here comes my wee beach guide, featuring my 5 favourite places in the Lothian area.

1) Aberlady Bay & Gullane

Aberlady Bay became Britain’s first local nature reserve in 1952. It covers almost 600 hectares and is home to more than 500 plants, birds, deer, rabbits and much more.

It’s a vast sandy beach with high dunes, salt marsh and unique rock formations. The best time to go there is during low tide when the beach stretches for miles.

The walk starts by crossing the ‘footbridge to enchantment’, so named by local author Nigel Tranter.

The path will lead you to a small pond and through a tunnel of buckthorn trees before you’ll eventually reach the dunes with the golf course on the right and a wide muddy marshland on the left. Once you’ve climbed the dunes, the beach will reveal itself in its full glory. Magical!

2) Yellowcraig

Yellocraig is located near Dirleton and has just been named one of Scotland’s best beaches.

From here, you can see Fidra Island, a small, uninhabited island in the Forth of Firth. The lighthouse was built by the uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson and was, in fact, the inspiration for his famous book Treasure Island.

If you keep walking on the beach (facing south) you’ll eventually reach my next favourite: North Berwick.

3) North Berwick

North Berwick is definitely one of my absolute favourite seaside towns. And there is so much to do, apart from walking along the beach with the best views of Bass Rock.

First off, there is the Scottish Seabird Centre. From here you can go on boat trips to see the largest puffins colony on the east coast of Britain.

Then there is North Berwick Law, a smaller version of Arthur’s Seat. Known for its wild Exmoor ponies which live on the hill and the giant replica of a whale’s jawbone on top.

If you fancy a coffee, you have to stop by at Steampunk Coffee Roasters. For lunch the Lobster Shack (located in the harbour) is the perfect spot for fresh seafood.

4) Tyninghame Beach & Ravensheugh Sands

For me, Tyninghame and Ravensheugh are the perfect mix of woodlands (an old pine forest) and a huge endless sandy bay. Also quite popular for wild camping.

You can literally keep walking for miles and miles along the beach with stunning views from the cliffs.

By the way, the beach was also featured in Outlander (episode 5.10) when Claire and Bree face Bonnet.

5) Dunbar & Belhaven Bay

Dunbar has everything you’d expect from a typical fishing village. Three harbours, a fortified artillery Battery and cute little high street shops. Plus, it’s also the birthplace of John Muir, a famous American naturalist and explorer.

Overlooking the harbour is Dunbar castle, now ruins. The castle once sheltered Mary Queen of Scots when she fled Edinburgh after the murder of Rizzio in 1566.

From the harbour area, you can walk along the Cliff Top Trail with spectacular views over the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock.

The surfaced path eventually ends at the golf course. If you keep walking, you’ll reach Belhaven beach, a popular place for surfing.

As mentioned before, those beaches are all linked. It’s still on my bucket list to walk the whole beachline in a day.