Walks

East Lothian offers a great variety of landscapes for walking, with the Lammermuir Hills to the south, a coast of beaches and cliffs, and an expanse of arable farmland in between. Many of the paths go to, or pass vantage points offering views of the surrounding rolling landscape. Amongst the features are many hidden gems – river valleys, woodland, secret bays and historic sites.

A number of walks leaflets have been produced by East Lothian Council and other community groups, highlighting walks along the coast and around towns and villages

Golf Heritage Walk

Recent research has identified over 120 young men and women that left East Lothian between 1894-1924 and joined the professional ranks in America, Canada, Australia and Europe. From that list, 45 have been selected to be honoured with a green plaque placed on the property where they were born, lived in or worked. These buildings form part of a Golfing Heritage Trail, which is detailed on a leaflet and map with various other points of interest around North Berwick.

North Berwick Law

A visit to North Berwick would not be complete without climbing to the top of the Law with its panoramic views of East Lothian and beyond. To the west you can see Edinburgh Castle and the Forth Bridge; to the north the Firth of Forth and Fife coastline; to the east the ancient curtain walls of Tantallon Castle and the Lammermuir Hills to the south.

From the car park at the foot of Berwick Law follow the track round the base for a short distance before starting the ascent. The path on the south west leads to a plateau over the former quarry and then wynds its way to the summit, 615 feet above sea level.

North Berwick harbour to Fidra Island

Start your walk at the harbour and proceed along the west beach where the golden sands lead to Pointgarry Rocks. It was here that Robert Louis Stevenson played as a child with his friends as smugglers and pirates in a small cave which you can still see today at low tide.

Continue along the beach with the famous West Links golf course on your left and the three islands, Craigleith, Lamb and Fidra on your right.

A 45-60 minute moderate walk takes you through the Fort’s ramparts and up onto the large plateau summit where there are fantastic views across East Lothian to the coast.

John Muir Way

The John Muir Way is a continuous path, which extends for almost 73km, linking East Lothian with the City of Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.

The route offers magnificent views of East Lothian including much of the coastline and a chance to see the natural history and historic sites of this unique landscape. It links with many other paths, so small sections can be tackled on their own or as part of a circular route.

Guided bird watching walks

During the year we run a number of bird watching courses for beginners. These take the form of a series of guided walks led by experienced birdwatchers to sites in the Lothians. Cost is £24 for a course of four walks of approx three hours – a great way to get started! The walks are very popular and there is usually a waiting list. For more information and to register your interest, please contact Waterston House.

Murder Mystery

Fancy solving a mystery during your visit? This case involves a local rocket builder Archie Morrison, who angered locals with his early morning blast offs and noise pollution. He is found dead in his garden shed. Police have confirmed he did not die of natural causes and are asking for assistance in identifying the guilty party. If you can successfully do so, you could win a prize!

Click here to find out more.