North Berwick

‘North Berwick is reportedly Scotland's finest seaside town, an unspoilt gem with a quaint high street, leafy gardens, velvety links golf courses and heart-stopping sea views.’

North Berwick is under an hour east of Edinburgh in East Lothian – officially the sunniest area of Scotland.  Big Victorian villas line the front behind the two main beaches, which stretch either side of a small harbour filled with fishing boats. The town has all the amenities you might need, including restaurants to cater for all tastes as well as classic fish n' chip shops and ice cream parlours. The pretty town park has a playground and there is a very popular putting green on the grass front that runs between the Victorian Villas and the beach.

The High Street has an eclectic mix of cafés, bars, restaurants, galleries and a good range of shops - all within walking distance of the apartment. There are two supermarkets on the edge of town that are useful for stocking up.

The coastal scenery is stunning in both directions. The town looks onto the Firth of Forth and the islands of Fidra, The Lamb and the amazing volcanic island of Bass Rock, home to 100,000 gannets which come to breed each year. You can watch the birds, including puffins, on cameras at the Scottish Seabird Centre, or get closer to them by taking a boat trip around the Rock.

Golf  North Berwick is located in the centre of a string of famous golf courses along this coast which is recognised as The Scottish Golf Coast.  West Links and The Glen are the two in North Berwick. There are many courses in the area for all standards of golfer: championship courses of Muirfield and Gullane are a 10 minute drive but the West Links, which is 100 metres from the front door, is not only challenging but has amazing views of the islands on the Firth of Forth. Children are encouraged to play in the area and there is a free nine hole course for them in Gullane. An East Lothian Golf pass is available which gives discounts. Should you require information on where to play we are happy to help with arrangements.  

Tennis   There are excellent tennis courts at the east of the the town that are open to the public.

Yachting  East Lothian Yacht Club frequently hold sailing regattas in the area.  

Walking  There are many excellent walks in and around North Berwick.  From a gentle stroll along the beaches to taking on the long distance path 'The John Muir Way' which passes through the town. Many a visit to North Berwick is not complete without climbing North Berwick Law - an old volcano plug that can be climbed in approximately one hour and gives amazing views of the region. 

Bird watching  The Scottish Seabird centre is located in North Berwick and is an excellent centre to visit for both adults and children.  From here you can view close up the bird activity on the famous Bass Rock and the other islands in the bay. Bass Rock is home to one of the largest colonies of gannets in the UK. Aberlady Bay, which is a few miles west of North Berwick, is undoubtedly one of Britain's finest bird sites. It has been declared a Grade One Site of Special Scientific Interest on ornithological, geological and botanical grounds.  

Children's activities  The beach is probably the main attraction for families but there are also the rocks at both ends of the beaches that children enjoy climbing. There is a very large children's open water paddling/swimming pool at the east beach. North Berwick has a sports centre with an excellent traditional swimming pool but many families enjoy a trip to the Dunbar leisure pool that has flumes and waves.  An excellent 'wet day activity' is a visit to Finger and Thumbs, which is more or less next door to 45 Westgate, to paint pottery.