North Berwick Law walk
view of Bass rock from North Berwick beach
Tantallon Castle and Bass Rock
view of Bass Rock from beach at North Berwick
the beach at North Berwick © Kenny Lam
Discover hidden beaches on a walk with lovely coastal scenery in East Lothian - only a short distance from Edinburgh.
The charming old seaside town of North Berwick in East Lothian is a lovely place to enjoy an ice cream on the front, a round on the putting green and a doze in the sun on a sandy beach. But don’t get too relaxed – there’s a hill to climb.
At 613 ft high, volcanic North Berwick Law is a brisk climb with the reward of cracking views across East Lothian and over to the Kingdom of Fife.
Once you’ve done the Law, or if you don’t fancy the challenge, strike out along the coast into a wonderful world of sandy beaches, rocky islets and sandstone cliffs, habited by birds like shags, fulmars and eiders.
You’ll pass by the sublime Glen Golf Club, where you should pause to watch the action at one particularly picturesque hole which involves (hopefully) landing on a green right beside a beach. Miss the green and you’re on the beach or, if the tide is high, in the sea!
Further round the coast is Seacliff beach, which is revered as one of Scotland’s hidden gems, mostly thanks to its isolation. Accessed either on foot along the coast, or down a winding track through woods that comes out on a bluff under cliffs, you’ll really feel like you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of life. Seabirds wheel above and the surf crashes in over wee islands and jagged rocks.
Just beyond Seacliff is mighty Tantallon Castle, situated in an imposing strategic position on the cliffs looking out over the waves to Bass Rock and the Isle of May.
Further along the rocky shore, the coast turns southwards, opening out onto the broad sweep of Peffer Sands. You may encounter the odd horse rider trotting along the tideline, or you may have the place to yourself – just you, the sand, the sea, the sky, and hopefully the sun.
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Edinburgh and the Lothians sits on the eastern side of Scotland's central belt, in the heart of the country.
