Guidebook for East Lothian
Sightseeing
Great place for kids and adults alike. Tour various hangars to see aircraft from all eras. Some interactive things for the kids too.
49 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Pambansang Museo ng Flight
B1347Great place for kids and adults alike. Tour various hangars to see aircraft from all eras. Some interactive things for the kids too.
Traprain Law is a hill with a walking path to the top and amazing views all the way to Edinburgh. An ancient tribe from roman times, the Votadini, made this hill their home.
Traprain
Traprain Law is a hill with a walking path to the top and amazing views all the way to Edinburgh. An ancient tribe from roman times, the Votadini, made this hill their home.
Stunning castle ruin on the clifftops near North Berwick. You can walk quite away up to the top, not for the faint of heart.
53 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Tantallon Castle
Stunning castle ruin on the clifftops near North Berwick. You can walk quite away up to the top, not for the faint of heart.
Free museum at the birthplace and home of John Muir.
16 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
John Muir's Birthplace
126 High StFree museum at the birthplace and home of John Muir.
Nice new playpark near the carpark, bathrooms, ice cream truck in warm weather. Good walk through wooded area or straight to beach. We like to walk to the left and head around to quieter beaches.
Yellowcraig Beach
Nice new playpark near the carpark, bathrooms, ice cream truck in warm weather. Good walk through wooded area or straight to beach. We like to walk to the left and head around to quieter beaches.
Free entry to this volunteer led walled garden, only 5 minute drive from Over Hailes down the A199.
The garden lies on the outskirts of Haddington. Dating from the late 18th century, it is one of the largest walled gardens in Scotland, with extensive herbaceous borders, fruit and vegetable beds, wildflower meadow, orchard and woodland plantings. It is being restored and developed as a community garden by the Amisfield Preservation Trust and a large band of volunteers.
No cafe on site, but you can bring a picnic and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. It is still a relatively new space so not many people know to visit, but is worth popping in and wandering around, no crowds.
Amisfield Walled Garden
Free entry to this volunteer led walled garden, only 5 minute drive from Over Hailes down the A199.
The garden lies on the outskirts of Haddington. Dating from the late 18th century, it is one of the largest walled gardens in Scotland, with extensive herbaceous borders, fruit and vegetable beds, wildflower meadow, orchard and woodland plantings. It is being restored and developed as a community garden by the Amisfield Preservation Trust and a large band of volunteers.
No cafe on site, but you can bring a picnic and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. It is still a relatively new space so not many people know to visit, but is worth popping in and wandering around, no crowds.
One of my kids' favourite playparks, from ages 2-10. There are apparatus for all ages, plus nice flower beds to wander around and a great cafe called The Wishing Tree. It's in a walled garden which also holds a Petanque Court. The park is good on breezy days as slightly sheltered, and the cafe's hot chocolates are very good.
Lauderdale Park
One of my kids' favourite playparks, from ages 2-10. There are apparatus for all ages, plus nice flower beds to wander around and a great cafe called The Wishing Tree. It's in a walled garden which also holds a Petanque Court. The park is good on breezy days as slightly sheltered, and the cafe's hot chocolates are very good.
Food Scene
Some quick links to places we like to eat, either sitting in or taking away!
Very yummy takeaway sushi rolls but be quick, they open at noon and sell out fairly quickly!
Minato Sushi
Very yummy takeaway sushi rolls but be quick, they open at noon and sell out fairly quickly!
Great Sourdough bread and other nice treats like the Bostock Almond, Cruffin, Almond Croissant, etc etc! Very busy and pricey but if you're due a treat, this is the one.
Bostock Bakery
Great Sourdough bread and other nice treats like the Bostock Almond, Cruffin, Almond Croissant, etc etc! Very busy and pricey but if you're due a treat, this is the one.
Great pub lunch and fun, friendly atmosphere. Big beer garden at the back for warmer days. The fried pickles are yum!
The Brig & Barrel
8 High StGreat pub lunch and fun, friendly atmosphere. Big beer garden at the back for warmer days. The fried pickles are yum!
Our local! Good selection of beer on tap, nice cocktails. Usually fairly busy at the weekends so book in if you want to sit in for food. Nice menu and sometimes they do a burger deal mid-week. You can walk along the river from Over Hailes to earn your meal (and a pint!) and then get the bus back up the hill (the X7).
12 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Crown & Kitchen
25-27 Bridge StOur local! Good selection of beer on tap, nice cocktails. Usually fairly busy at the weekends so book in if you want to sit in for food. Nice menu and sometimes they do a burger deal mid-week. You can walk along the river from Over Hailes to earn your meal (and a pint!) and then get the bus back up the hill (the X7).
Food truck parked at Longniddry Bents - fish n chips, etc. Great place to take the kids as they can run around on the beach while you wait for your food. Very tasty.
Alandas Longniddry Bents
Food truck parked at Longniddry Bents - fish n chips, etc. Great place to take the kids as they can run around on the beach while you wait for your food. Very tasty.
We have never had a bad meal here! It's an upscale Italian Restaurant, ( expect Italian waitstaff) who are very friendly and serve the most delicious food. Not very child-friendly, however, so best to leave them at home!
21 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Main Course
40 Main StWe have never had a bad meal here! It's an upscale Italian Restaurant, ( expect Italian waitstaff) who are very friendly and serve the most delicious food. Not very child-friendly, however, so best to leave them at home!
BEST coffee in East Lothian. This small business is busy roasting and selling beans to customers, but they open their doors at the weekend for cups of coffee to go with a small selection of incredible brownies. I can personally recommend the dirty chai latte (iced or hot!) and the flat white.
It's found at the Mart, tucked away off the carpark so you need to have a keen eye. Well worth it :)
Hometown
BEST coffee in East Lothian. This small business is busy roasting and selling beans to customers, but they open their doors at the weekend for cups of coffee to go with a small selection of incredible brownies. I can personally recommend the dirty chai latte (iced or hot!) and the flat white.
It's found at the Mart, tucked away off the carpark so you need to have a keen eye. Well worth it :)
Essentials
Food shops, big and small.
Haddington, our market town, has a Tesco, an Aldi, and a Home Bargains. There is an award winning cheese monger - the Cheese Lady, on the high street, a butcher, a lovely green grocer called Foraging Goat, german bakery Falko, freshly made takeaway sushi at Minato, and many more eclectic options on the high street. Good selection of charity shops if you're into thrift shopping, too!
7 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Haddington
Haddington, our market town, has a Tesco, an Aldi, and a Home Bargains. There is an award winning cheese monger - the Cheese Lady, on the high street, a butcher, a lovely green grocer called Foraging Goat, german bakery Falko, freshly made takeaway sushi at Minato, and many more eclectic options on the high street. Good selection of charity shops if you're into thrift shopping, too!
The closest option for food shopping is East Linton, just a 3 minute drive away. Small grocery stores there include: The Mart (open 9-5) and the Co-Op (7-late). East Linton also has a Butcher (closes at 4) and Bostock Bakery 8 - 3pm.
The train station here opened in December 2023 and service to Edinburgh city centre takes 18-23 minutes only.
There is also a small pharmacy in East Linton if needed.
For a big food shop there is Tesco, Aldi, Food Warehouse in Haddington (8-12 minutes away) or Asda in Dunbar (12 minutes).
East Linton
The closest option for food shopping is East Linton, just a 3 minute drive away. Small grocery stores there include: The Mart (open 9-5) and the Co-Op (7-late). East Linton also has a Butcher (closes at 4) and Bostock Bakery 8 - 3pm.
The train station here opened in December 2023 and service to Edinburgh city centre takes 18-23 minutes only.
There is also a small pharmacy in East Linton if needed.
For a big food shop there is Tesco, Aldi, Food Warehouse in Haddington (8-12 minutes away) or Asda in Dunbar (12 minutes).
Walks
A nice, short, fairly steep walk with fine views over the Firth of Forth, the agricultural landscape of East Lothian and the far distance city scape of Edinburgh.
The tower is open to climb but take care - very steep, no lighting. Bring a torch if you plan to go up. Not recommended for kids under 7.
Hopetoun Monument
A nice, short, fairly steep walk with fine views over the Firth of Forth, the agricultural landscape of East Lothian and the far distance city scape of Edinburgh.
The tower is open to climb but take care - very steep, no lighting. Bring a torch if you plan to go up. Not recommended for kids under 7.
45 minute drive down the coast to St. Abbs and Coldingham. Great cafe at the harbour for sandwichs and then walk along the Nature Reserve but take care, very steep cliffs, not advisable with children under 10.
14 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
St Abb's Head Nature Reserve
45 minute drive down the coast to St. Abbs and Coldingham. Great cafe at the harbour for sandwichs and then walk along the Nature Reserve but take care, very steep cliffs, not advisable with children under 10.
Nice wooded walks with several signposted walking routes to take. Good for the kids and the dog. Path is well laid and wide so kids can even take bikes if its suitable weather.
Binning Wood
Nice wooded walks with several signposted walking routes to take. Good for the kids and the dog. Path is well laid and wide so kids can even take bikes if its suitable weather.
Less than 10 minutes from Over Hailes. Big carpark and toilets, next to a huge play area (no dogs allowed) and picnic tables. The Country Park itself has nice paths running to the Tyne Estuary and then out towards Belhaven Bay. It is a beautiful place in all weather. Sadly a winter storm knocked down many of the trees in 2021, but they are slowly being tidied up and taken away.
21 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
John Muir Country Park
Less than 10 minutes from Over Hailes. Big carpark and toilets, next to a huge play area (no dogs allowed) and picnic tables. The Country Park itself has nice paths running to the Tyne Estuary and then out towards Belhaven Bay. It is a beautiful place in all weather. Sadly a winter storm knocked down many of the trees in 2021, but they are slowly being tidied up and taken away.