North Berwick
home of the
Scottish Seabird Centre
Where is North Berwick ? |
At the most northerly point of East Lothian, about 10 miles north and a bit west of Dunbar. It's a bit bigger than Dunbar, with a lovely old town centre where it's very difficult to find parking for a car.
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How do we get to North Berwick ?
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Take a bus from the cross roads at the foot of Belhaven hill. |
What will we see on the way ? |
The bus heads through West Barns to the roundabout at Beltonford, then along the A1 to East Linton. It doubles back, past picturesque Preston Mill, and through the early 19th century "planned" village of Tyninghame (where there's an interesting coffee shop). |
An 11-year-old's view of the Binning Wood (Primary 7, Longniddry) |
Turning left, it climbs a dead-straight switchback road; the Binning Wood (where you may walk, and pick brambles in the autumn) is on the left near the top of the hill, opposite the road to the shore in the northern half of the John Muir Country Park. Two miles as the crow flies from the A1, the road turns abruptly left, and here under the trees you will see some wonderful spreads of snowdrops in February and March. |
Tantallon Castle The soil here is black, not red as around Dunbar |
Then the road curls through Whitekirk (with a very beautiful historic church), passes a newish golf course with restaurant (wonderful views) as it heads towards the sea, turns sharply north (be VERY wary at this corner if you are driving yourself!) and meanders on until you see the huge wall of Tantallon Castle away on your right, with the Bass Rock beyond. A few more right-angled bends, with whale's jawbone*-crowned (North) Berwick Law rising ahead of you, and (passing Safeway) you'll be in North Berwick.
*The jawbone became dangerous in 2006, and a replica is to be made. |